Bound to the Highlander(44)

Aileana placed her hands together and raised them to her lips. “Was Gawain there the day Uncle died?”

“Aye.”

No. After all her uncle had done for Gawain. Her thoughts raced back over encounters she’d witnessed between the two men. Her pity vanished and blood pounded in her ears.

“Did he—” She couldn’t say the words.

“I cannot say. Gawain followed us and neither he nor the Laird was in my sight when the tragedy occurred. I couldn’t prove anything so couldn’t move to have him arrested. Thankfully, he’s in the king’s dungeon of his own doing and you’re safe and sound.”

Safe and sound indeed. How wrong she was to trust in anything she saw on the surface of Gawain Chattan. She’d mistaken his cool demeanour for shyness, instead it held his cruelty.

“John why didn’t you warn me after Uncle died?”

“Because there was no reason for me to think he meant you any harm. One would expect with the laird gone, he’d woo you to earn your favour.”

“I do not wish to point out how wrong you were.”

“You may, m’lady, but I don’t think you can punish me any more than the hell I went through last night.” Andrews lowered his head, his shoulders slumped.

“I am fortunate for your counsel and your service, John.” She meant it. Of all the people who could harm her, John Andrews was not one of them. Truth be told, she was pleased to have this quarrel over with. She needed all the support she could get.

When he looked up, his eyes were misted. He cleared his throat and smiled. There was the kind man who would throw himself in front of a battering ram to protect her.

“Aye, well enough of that, lass. You are away from danger and with an honourable man who will never mistreat you. As your uncle wanted.”

Therein was the problem. Aye, James was considered honourable, but on the score of mistreatment, she could not concur.

“Not so honourable I fear.”

Andrews puffed up his chest. “Oh I am certain you will make a fine couple. He might turn a few heads lass, but he’s a well-respected man, well admired by his tenants and at court.”

“That he may be, however, he believes Gawain and I were lovers, and is bent to break our betrothal once he leaves here tomorrow.”

Andrews deflated. “No.”

“Aye, ’tis true. He even called me a liar when I told him about the king’s involvement in father’s fate.”

“Your father. How did that topic arise?”

“It is no matter.” Aileana shook her head. “There is no convincing the man of my innocence either, although I do not understand why he will force us to go through with this dinner tonight, only to ruin me tomorrow.”

“Aileana, you must be mistaken.”

She would relish the error if it were so. “Father Addison said the MacIntosh required much convincing before he would sign the contract in the first place. Now, he has a falsified reason to get out of it. And if that is his desire, he can go - with my blessing.” With her uncle dead and Gawain a marked criminal, she had no one. Her betrothed would become her ward to do with as he saw fit, and considering his pigheadedness thus far, she wasn’t hopeful of any sort of peace in her future.

“I don’t know what to say. Would you allow me to speak with him on your behalf?”

“No, ’tis no point. He would counter you by saying I put you up to it. I don’t know of any way to prove my credibility.”

“What can I do?”

“God bless you for asking, but there is nothing except to help me get through this night and tell no one what we spoke of here.”

“I will do as you wish m’lady.”

“Thank you John,” she said and kissed him on the cheek. Aileana left him before her overcrowded emotions could betray her.

She struggled to rationalize her thoughts. What had passed between her and James in the solar, and what she’d learned about Gawain, were heavy burdens. She pulled every ounce of strength from within to give her the courage she needed to face her guests. No doubt they would bombard her with questions and insist on every last detail of the previous night. The topic of Gawain Chattan would consume most conversations for many hours to come. She must endure all this speculation whilst under his scrutiny. The fates were cruel.

Once she arrived at the great hall, she was greeted by her aunt and several of the guests, all rested and ready to celebrate the betrothal and the rescue. She turned her attention to the conversation and focused on it, trying hard to keep her thoughts clear. She was awash with such a span of emotions from nervousness to residual fear and fought hard to remain calm. The anti-climax of the previous night and the unexpected desire for James left her shaky and unsure how to behave. An uncommon feeling for her, and she didn’t like it one bit.