Page 49 of Highlander’s Dangerous Gambler

Aileen smiled, turning back to see the tall, dark servant chatting closely to Mary. Then she turned her attention back to Brodie.

"Aye, sir, ye’re most welcome," she said before taking his arm and leading him toward the walled rose garden.

On the outside, she was smiling, but inside, her mind was racing. Brodie was pleasant, but she could not keep her thoughts from wandering. Her thoughts were a million miles from scented gardens around them. All she could think about was Scott. Where was he? Had he returned to the McLeod lands yet?

And, the one thought that would not leave her in peace—would she see him again?

"One thing I still dinnae understand." Fiona smiled as she poured wine for Laird McLeod.

Tonight, she was sparkling. Even Aileen had to admit that her sister was in good form tonight. The candles cast a mellow tone over the grand hall table. Everybody in the clan seemed to have turned out to welcome the laird of McLeod to the Duncan castle.

At least, that was what it felt like as Aileen sat at the top table. Not usually the retiring type, even she found the constricting stares and constant watching a little overwhelming.

"What is it, my dear?" Laird Dunn McLeod flashed his famous smile at Fiona, who blushed and batted her eyelids in a flutter.

Aileen watched her, almost aghast. It was just as well her husband, Clyde, was not there. Unable to disguise her horror, Aileen pulled in to watch McLeod more closely.

"Well, I still dinnae ken just hoo Aileen came to be on yer land," said Fiona pointedly, her eyes piercing Aileen momentarily. Aileen stiffened in her chair.

Anxiously, she scanned McLeod's face, wondering exactly what he would say. The question was the same one that Fiona had been asking ever since she had gone missing.

Knowing her like she did, she did not see any hopes of fooling her any longer. Biting her lip hard, Aileen cast a concerned glance to the laird.

"Argh, she just took a wrong turn an' ended up on the land," said McLeod with a side smirk to Aileen. "Could ha' happened to anyone!"

This seemed to appease Fiona, and she beamed as she sat at the top table. Although she did hear her brother, Billie, muttering, "Wrong turn, it's nigh on twenty miles away!"

To make extra sure that this was the end of the subject, Aileen instead focused on Scott's intervention.

"The guard who found me saved my life," she said, smiling at Brodie. Across the table, in the great hall, Brodie nodded earnestly. But beside her, annoying sister Lissie begged to differ.

"Och, dinnae exaggerate," she pouted. Now sixteen, Lissie hadn't lost any of her precociousness; it was just wrapped up in a prettiness that seemed to grow every time Aileen looked at her. "I just would hardly describe a few broken ribs as life-threatening."

Aileen growled at her. "Ye can try it if ye want, sweeting!"

For a moment, this almost stopped the feasting dead. Then, Brodie let out a peal of laughter.

Actually, the laughter was rather alarming. Fiona whipped her head around so quickly that Aileen thought she must have twisted it. Brodie's laugh continued apace, galloping around the hall like a paralytic donkey.

"Sisters, eh?" he spluttered. He refilled his cup merrily without offering her or anyone else a dram. Aileen smiled.

"Aye, ye got any?" she asked, politely inquiring. But instead of concentrating on Brodie's reply, all Aileen found herself thinking of was Scott. She had asked about his sister, but he had refused to reply.

"Ach, no, there's only one o' me, darling. No brothers or sisters!" Brodie smirked as Laird McLeod nodded as if to confirm this.

Just as Aileen was thinking that this was a little bit sad, Lissie butted in. "Lucky ye!"

And everyone fell about laughing.

Trying to get the topic back on track, Aileen continued. Taking a generous dram of the wine, she added, "But seriously, if it wasnae for Scott, I wouldnae be here. At least, I wouldnae be walking."

Her eyes ran wistfully around the room but pointedly avoided Fiona's. Still, she could feel her gaze from the other end of the hall. She knew she was watching her.

"Aye, the lad helped," agreed Laird Dunn McLeod. His murky eyes flashed pertinently to her.

Aileen got a blast of his coldness immediately. She did not need to be a mind-reader to understand that she should stop talking about Scott.

"But I am sure a hearty lass like ye would ha' recovered yer strength afore noo, anyhoo," McLeod continued.