Bound to the Highlander(15)

With each question, Aileana blushed deeper and said nothing. She slipped further into the tub and continued to wash herself. Gwen didn’t ask any more questions, but maintained a hint of her previous grin.

She tried to relax in the luxurious water, but just couldn’t remain still. Her skin tingled everywhere she touched it, so she washed, rinsed then stepped out of the tub to be wrapped into linen sheets and guided to the fire to dry. Gwen beckoned two maids who removed all the bathwater, threw it out the window and wiped the tub down. They helped Aileana into her linen night shift and left the room.

Gwen brushed Aileana’s hair until it was almost dry. The effect was soothing and eased some of her tension.

When she was finished, Gwen paused at the door. “I wish you pleasant dreams tonight, my lady. You deserve them.” With that, she smiled and closed the door behind her.

A climb to the tower required energy she didn’t have. Aileana crawled beneath the thick layers of quilts on her bed, curled on her side, and awaited sleep; but it would not come. Instead, she considered the ceremony that would take place three days hence.

A great number of visitors would arrive once the celebrations began. Every nobleman and his Lady within a day’s ride, not to mention their tenants, would grace the doors of Chattan Castle and the feasting would continue for three days. That was the tradition. Some would be dear old friends she’d be very happy to see, but most would be curiosity seekers wanting to see how she and the great Laird MacIntosh appear together.

News was bound to spread fast of her uncle’s wishes. Everyone would expect a feast to celebrate Aileana’s new engagement after the funeral, but no doubt there’d be surprise and shock over the identity of the groom. Rumours grew over the years that many opportunistic mothers and fathers alike had set their sights on him for their daughters, but he had declined them all. Some even speculated his dutiful younger brother might have to provide a MacIntosh heir. Her uncle’s legacy would prove them wrong.

Aileana sighed and turned onto her back, staring up at the crimson velvet encasing her canopy.

Too often these days, funerals and weddings followed one another. New alliances were forged in this way and without the consent of the unfortunate couple in question. Too often she sympathized with the sacrificial bride. Now it was her turn.

For the first time in her life, her future was unclear. What could she expect from this man and why hadn’t her uncle spoken of the arrangement? Sure she wouldn’t be of age for another month, but could this have been his idea of a birthday surprise? If that were the case, he had succeeded in surprising her, but she found no pleasure in it. And why were Father Addison and Andrews sworn to such secrecy on the matter? It made no sense at all. There was a piece to this mystery she couldn’t see and both men had made themselves scarce today so she couldn’t find an opportunity to challenge them. Of course, two visits from the MacIntosh and Gawain’s return had prevented her from seeking anyone to question either.

And what about her father? All her life she was led to believe the king was responsible for her father’s death and now she had to marry one of the monarch’s biggest supporters. Something must have happened to change her uncle’s mind in favour of James MacIntosh, but she couldn’t for the life of her figure out what that could be.

She understood the restrictions preventing him from passing on his estate to her. The only way to secure her future at Chattan Castle was through marriage, yet he had treated her like the son who would have inherited it all. He taught her the business of the estate and how to account for and manage everything right down to the last blade of grass. To her knowledge, Gawain had received the same training. Wasn’t that preparation so they could run the estate together? Why else would he have exposed Gawain to the essentials of management if he were not expected to use those skills?

Aileana turned onto her other side and the quilts tangled around her feet. She kicked them into submission and tried lying on her stomach.

She always enjoyed an enormous amount of freedom with her uncle and assumed she would have had much the same with Gawain. Would she have any now? How her uncle had concluded she would be better off partnered with a man who went through women like a hungry sheep in new spring pasture, she could not guess. A man like that wouldn’t consider his wife’s needs and feelings.

Aileana turned over again and fluffed the pillow before tossing her head upon it.

How could her uncle do this to her? How could he do this to Gawain? And why hadn’t he shared this decision with her at any point after he’d finalized it? The arrangement had been in place long enough.