Page 164 of Claimed Highland Brides

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Aileen smoothed down her burgundy gown, the black velvet sash cinched around her waist. Her hair was swept up in a bun, and she had on pearl earbobs and a black opal necklace.

I do look well if I do say so myself.

With a deep sigh, she made her way downstairs to the dining hall. There was a short silence as she appeared in the doorway, and then everyone began speaking at once.

“Aileen! Ye look sae beautiful. What is the occasion?” Maisie asked, getting to her feet and going over to hug Aileen.

Aileen smiled as she pulled Maisie tight to her before letting her go. “No occasion. I’m just used to dressing for dinner seeing as I’ve been among civilized folk for a few days.”

“Aha!” Maisie slapped her gently on the arm. “Ye think ye’re funny.”

She was replaced by her twin sister in Aileen’s arms, and then Ùna threw herself into her sister’s arms.

“I missed ye.”

“I missed ye too, button.” Aileen squeezed her close and let her go, smiling widely, all nervousness gone. She spotted Barclay and his cousins standing to the side and smiling at the reunion. She smiled back at him and his own widened before he stepped forward, pulling out a chair for her.

She sat down as her sisters resumed their seats, and Barclay took a seat beside her. There was silence while everyone watched them as they made a pretense of eating.

Fiona put down her spoon and fixed them with a jaundiced eye. “Alrigh’ then. Clearly, something is going on here that ye’re no’ telling us.”

Aileen took a deep breath. “Ye cannae just let us work up to it, eh?” she asked drily.

Fiona shook her head. “Spill it.”

Aileen exchanged glances with Barclay. “We’re marrit,” she said starkly.

The ensuing silence was deafening.

“I beg yer pardon?” Daividh said.

“We got marrit in Edinburgh, or rather handfasted, in order to convince the governor to help us oot,” Barclay said.

“Ye marrit my sister for yer own ends!” Fiona screeched.

“No, no, it wasnae like tha’,” Aileen tried to soothe her, waving her hands in denial. “We had awready spoken o’ it. But what wi’ Barclay’s grandfather whispering in the governor’s ear, we had tae do something…”

Fiona’s eyes almost bugged out of her head as she shot to her feet. “So ye marrit him? Did he force ye?” she growled.

“No!” Aileen could see that the conversation was spinning out of control. She looked helplessly at Barclay, hoping he would do something. He took a deep breath and smiled.

“Perhaps we are not explaining things well. What Aileen meant to say is that before we left here, we had discussed the prospect of marriage at some point in the future. Once we were presented with a situation in which it would be advantageous for us to be wed, we decided not to wait, on the advice of my solicitor.”

Fiona looked at Aileen. “And ye were agreeable to this?”

Aileen nodded. “O’ course.”

“Why?”

Aileen gasped, not having expected anyone to ask so baldly. She looked to Barclay who simply looked helplessly back. “I…” She exhaled, closing her eyes. “I’ve always felt responsible for him, ever since he came to us, newly orphaned. I didnae have any prospects anyway, and it seemed a good match.”

“Ye have plenty of prospects!” Jamesina objected, looking quite offended on her behalf.

Aileen smiled. “Thank ‘e for the vote of confidence, Jamsie, but I think I ken better than ye. It was to everyone’s advantage for me to marry Barclay. He will make me a guid husband.” She reached out and covered his hand, which lay on the table. He turned his hand and clasped hers.

“I will.”