Mrs. Mac stood and gave a reassuring pat to Ali’s leg.
“Take it from a woman who kens the lad wel —he loves you, Lady Aileanna, of that I’m certain. I ken what yer sayin’, but you’l see, everythin’ has a way of workin’ itself out.”
Ali wanted to believe Mrs. Mac, she real y did. She knew Rory loved her, but not enough. He only wanted to LORD OF THE ISLES
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marry her out of a sense of obligation, and for her that was no reason.
“If yer wantin’ a bath, I’l have Connor get started on it. Och, I almost forgot to tel you—Mari and Connor ken about the fairies and who you’d be.”
Ali’s eyes widened. “How? Who told them?”
“’Twas no’ that someone told them exactly. When the laird brought you to his room they fol owed us in, worryin’
aboot you, they were. They overheard Iain tryin’ to explain to the laird what happened. No one realized they were there until it was too late. But doona’ fash yerself, they’l no’ be tel in’ anyone. They ken it would be dangerous fer you if word got out.”
Mrs. Mac, Connor, and Mari stared at her in openmouthed astonishment. Face flushed, Ali blew out an exas perated breath. So maybe she’d let her temper get the better of her, but she couldn’t stand being in bed any longer. Or to listen to the three of them insist she had to fol ow the laird’s orders. She wasn’t dying, she had a sprained ankle for God’s sake, and it felt much better, at least good enough for her to go out and get a breath of fresh air.
“The laird wil be none too pleased with you, Lady Aileanna,” Mrs. Mac warned as Ali hobbled toward her chamber door.
“I’m sure I’l hear about it.” If Ali was honest, she’d admit at least some of her anger was due to the fact Rory hadn’t bothered to check on her himself. It was late after
noon and the man hadn’t come near her. Yesterday he’d made love to her, told her they would marry, and yet today he couldn’t spare her a single minute of his time. Just thinking about it made her mad.
“He’s a wee bit busy, so mayhap you’l be lucky and he’l no’ ken what yer aboot.”
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Ali harrumphed. “Busy playing his war games, is he?”
“’Tis no game, or won’t be. Laird Aidan arrived back early this morn from escortin’ the MacLeans home. He brought word the MacDonalds are on the move. The laird’s been shut in his study most of the morn, and the men are gatherin’ in the hal .” At this point Mrs. Mac avoided her eyes, and Ali’s heart pinched.
“They’re going to pressure him to marry Moira, aren’t they?” She wasn’t prepared for the wave of utter despair that washed over her. No matter that she had told him to go through with the betrothal herself, she didn’t think she could bear it if he did.
“Aye, some do, but he wil na’ do it. He’s promised him
self to you, and he’d no’ go back on his word.”
“And when men die in the battle, I’l be the one they blame.” There was no way around it; she lost either way. The three of them looked at one another, obviously unable to dispute the truth of what she said. When she opened the door, Ali was met by the sound of men’s voices raised in anger. Taking a steadying breath, she limped from the room.
“If you have yer mind set, my lady, Connor wil accom
pany you. Mari, we must see to Laird Aidan’s room. He’l be here for a wee while I’m thinkin’.”
Ali closed her hand over the smooth wood of the banis
ter and Connor took a light hold of her arm as they slowly made their way down the stairs.
“Why wil ye no’ just wed Lady MacLean?” yel ed a man in the hal .
Ali cringed, and Connor tightened his grip on her elbow.
“Aye . . . Aye.” The words repeated over and over again until Ali thought it would never end. She heard Rory’s deep voice rumble over the gathered crowd. “I canna’ do it. I’m marryin’ Lady Aileanna.”
Ali closed her eyes and slowly released the breath
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she hadn’t realized she held. Aside from the fact he’d just announced they would marry, and didn’t seem too con cerned she had told him they wouldn’t, she was relieved. Happy he hadn’t al owed his men to force him into a union with Moira MacLean.
Silence met his announcement until someone shouted in disgust, “Ye risk our lives to wed a thief.”
Grumbles of discontent fol owed.
Trembling with anger, Ali stepped careful y off the bottom stair. How dare they question him after al he’d done for them? The man spent every waking hour seeing to their needs, their wel -being. She caught a glimpse of Rory in his plaid, towering above them on the dais. The man took her breath away. He was magnificent, and she couldn’t help but wonder if it was true that highlanders wore nothing beneath their kilts. Watching him standing there, powerful and in command, she knew she wanted to find out. Aidan, Fergus, and Iain stood with him. Rory laid a hand on his brother’s arm to stop him from the protest he appeared ready to deliver. With a brief shake of his head,
