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“No, no, I cannot—”

“Clarissa.” Gillian took her hands, a wonder she could find them amidst the folds of fabric. “You are our sister now—”

“Nay, I am not—”

“Aidan will not stay angry with you.” Gillian looked at Allie. “Will he stay angry?”

“I should think not,” Allie said, grinning.

“You are a member of Clan Scott, and we will love and protect you, always. The gown?” She dropped her hands and stood back to look Clarissa up and down again. “’Tis a gift, so you cannot give it back.”

The words elicited yet another wave of emotion.

Oh no, not again . . .

“No,” Allie yelled. “You cannot cry!”

She had to laugh at the panicked look on her face, and that laughter chased away the tears. For the first time, she felt part of a family, a true family. If only she could keep them. Though Gillian and Allie seemed quite confident, Clarissa was not so sure she would be forgiven.

“We’ve told Graeme and Reid to meet us in the hall. So whenever you’re ready,” Allie said, grabbing her hand.

“And if I’m not ready yet?”

Allie pulled her, laughing. “’Tis no matter. You’re coming anyway.”

She followed the women through darkened corridors lit only by wall torches. For its many similarities to Theffield Castle, Highgate seemed to glow just a bit brighter everywhere they went. There was more activity, the sounds of the great hall already reaching their ears as they made their approach. And certainly there were more smiles, including the ones on her friends’ faces. They both beamed with delight as they ushered Clarissa into the hall. Neither seemed to be bothered by the sudden hush that descended around them.

“Keep walking,” Gillian whispered. She hadn’t realized she’d stopped at the entrance, looking for him. Clarissa should wonder at the sudden quiet. She should worry it was due to her, the woman that had led half of Aidan’s clan on a merry chase earlier in the day. Clarissa should wonder what everyone knew of her, exactly.

But she did not care at this very moment. Maybe she would later, but right now she only cared about seeing Aidan. And then she did.

Unfortunately, he now donned both a shirt and a surcoat.

Had Allie and Gillian dressed her in dark blue apurpose, knowing he would be wearing the same color?

Though he had not shaved, the stubble across his jaw made him appear fiercer than usual. Or perhaps she only thought so because she’d witnessed him toss a dagger into poor Jon from atop his horse.

As she walked toward the raised dais, she could see the slight curls in his hair that told her it had been recently wet. A bath? The river?

Clarissa forced herself to look away.

When she was guided to the seat next to him, she was none too surprised. She glanced at Allie and Gillian, whose secret smiles told her they had planned the seating arrangements as well.

The thought loosened her limbs, made her feel as if she were walking on air instead of a hard, rush-laden ground. Clarissa took a step up and was greeted by a standing Aidan, whose hand guided her to the seat next to him.

“Thank you,” she said, sitting, the velvet cushion under her soft and inviting.

“In England, the lord’s brother would be seated next to him,” she said. Instead, she and Aidan sat at the very end of the dais.

“The same is true here.”

Aye, Gillian and Allie.

“You are in high spirits,” Aidan said, his voice strained.

As their goblets were filled with wine, Clarissa tried to calm herself, but the air between them smelled of Aidan. Warmth radiated from him. Calm? Nay, it would not happen. “I am glad to be here.”

She would not hide anything from him this eve.