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“Pardon,” she said to a serving maid, “I am looking for my brother.”

“The MacKinlay chief?” she asked, already looking toward her lord’s solar chamber where they’d met the day before.

“Aye,” she said, and the maid led her from the hall, which was mostly empty.

“This way.”

When they arrived, the maid, without authority to enter, said she would fetch the steward to allow them entry.

“There is no need,” Avelina said, knocking on the thick wooden door with her knuckles.

“My lady. . .” The poor maid appeared appalled.

Avelina knocked again. This time, the chieftain himself opened the door. So, no servant to do so? He was perhaps less pretentious than Avelina had first thought him to be.

Her brother was, indeed, inside.

“Pardon the interruption, my lord. But I would speak to my brother on an urgent matter if it pleases you.”

The chieftain gestured for her to come inside. “Of course, my lady.”

Since this matter affected him as well, she blurted out the words that had been swirling in her mind all morn to both men. “Niall has gone to speak to Tannochbrae’s priest. We’d planned to speak with you both afterward, but. . .” She saw the chieftain sit from the corner of her eye, but Avelina watched her brother’s reaction. “We will be married at once.”

She need not have watched him so closely for his reaction. Her brother shot up from his chair and, for all of Tannochbrae to hear, shouted precisely the words she expected.

“You will not marry that man.”

Avelina sighed. “I will, Brother. We—”

“I forbid it. You cannae,” he said to the chieftain, “host a wedding I, as chief, forbid.”

“Nay,” he agreed. “I cannae.”

He was about to change his mind. “I am no longer a maid,” she told her brother, Unsuccessfully willing her cheeks not to redden. “So, aye, I will be marrying him.”

Avelina had never before seen her brother this angry. She’d expected it, of course, but ’twas still disagreeable to witness him in such a state.

“You,” he sputtered. “He. . .” Apparently, her brother could not speak.

So, she turned to their host instead. “I do apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, my lord. But would like to assure you, before my brother questions me further on the matter, I was very much a willing participant in the matter.”

The chieftain looked from her to her brother, his expression a combination of surprise and amusement.

“The matter,” he repeated.

“Aye. Of the loss of my virginity.”

“Lina.” Her brother finally found his voice. “You speak of such things as if they are a trivial matter. We’ve discussed your marriage many times.”

“And many times I’ve told you I have no interest in marriage.”

“Until now. With—” He struggled to compose himself. “The second to the clan chief of Duncraig. The son of the man who murdered your father. Your uncle.”

Before Ewan could continue, she said, “As I’ve stated before, Brother, he did not participate in that battle. Niall killed no one. And ’twas no murder besides. It was a battle sanctioned by the king of Scotland.”

“The lass speaks true,” the chieftain added. “And ’twas many years ago. Perhaps with this union, your clans can find a way to unite. MacKinlay and Duncraig as allies would make this region as formidable as any. ’Tis a fine plan indeed.”

“A fine plan,” her brother spat. “Nay, ’tis not a fine plan, as she—” He turned to her. “You will not be marrying Duncraig.”