“Aye,” Caelen began. “We received word of the delays as well.
Me brother Collin is there. He says there be far too much obstinacy among the clans McKee and Bowie to get much done.”
Aric chuckled.
“Aye, ’tis true.
But they’ll eventually come around to the right side of things.”
They rode in silence for a short time and all the while Duncan held a firm grip around Aishlinn’s waist. Caelen rode to their left, Aric to their right, with the rest of their men following behind them.
The roguish smile had not left Caelen’s face and he frequently cast glances at Aishlinn.
Normally she would have paid no attention to such things, but the manner in which he stared made her very uncomfortable.
After a few moments Caelen began speaking to Duncan, in the Gaelic again.
“Does she belong to ye?” he asked.
Duncan’s reply was short and to the point.
“Aye.”
Aishlinn understood his question and was quite glad for Duncan’s answer to it.
Not that she thought he meant it in any kind of romantic fashion.
She assumed he meant it as a way of protecting her from the McDunnah and she was very grateful.
The McDunnah looked at her with the same kind of hungry, lustful expression as the earl had done months ago.
It made her feel unclean and nervous.
******
Aishlinn was quite relieved to be back inside the walls of the keep.
Duncan let her down at kitchen entrance and asked that she let Mary know there would be additional men at the evening meal.
“Thank ya for ridin’ with me this day, Aishlinn,” he said before he left to see to their new guests.
He did not wait for her response before riding off.
Mary was not happy to hear about the very late arrival of at least a hundred men.
She cursed in Gaelic at their apparent lack of consideration for not sending a messenger ahead of time to warn of their arrival.
The evening meal was just a few short hours away and it meant much more work for her staff.
Lucky for the McDunnah that he was not standing within pan-throwing distance of Mary, for Aishlinn had no doubt he would have gotten both an earful of her Gaelic cursing along with something quite heavy crashing against his skull.
Aishlinn left Mary bellowing out orders and Gaelic curses.
She was on her way up to her room when Bree and her friend Ellen came rushing up the steps behind her. The girls were beyond themselves with excitement over the musicians’ arrival and chattered on about it all the way up the stairs and into Aishlinn’s room.
“We’ve a grand dress for ya!” Bree told her excitedly.
“We’ve much to do this night!”
Aishlinn was beginning to realize that this night might be more special than she had earlier anticipated.
“Why are you so excited?” Aishlinn asked with a giggle.
Both girls rolled their eyes as if Aishlinn were daft. “Tis a dance, Aishlinn!”
Bree shook her head when it was apparent that Aishlinn did not understand the importance of it.
“Tis not often we get musicians here!” she said as a wry grin came to her face.
“We’ll get to dance with the lads. I’m old enough now that mum won’t send me off to my room before all the fun starts!” she told her.
Aishlinn then understood the young girls’ excitement. Aishlinn knew there was one young lad in particular that Bree held a strong fondness for.
A dance was the opportunity for Bree to be physically close to him without anyone questioning it.
“I see.
Then we best make certain you look beautiful this night!” Aishlinn said.
“Aye! And ye as well!”
Bree smiled at her.
Bree had requested baths for both of them and soon one was brought to Aishlinn’s room and she wasted no time lingering in it.
Excitement can often be contagious, spreading faster than the pox or plague, and before Aishlinn realized what was happening, she found herself excited and looking forward to the festivities.
She would not have admitted it to anyone, but she truly did want to look special this night. Even if she did not win Duncan’s eye or his affections perhaps there would be someone else who might think her a wee more than just plain.
She had barely finished her bath when Bree and Ellen returned to her room.
“Have you decided who you wish to dance with this night?” Aishlinn asked them. Both girls giggled and smiled.
“All of them!” Ellen said as they burst out laughing.
Bree and Ellen were fussing more over how Aishlinn might look than they worried over themselves.
They helped to dry her hair and combed it until it was as smooth as silk.
Because her hair was so short the girls were puzzled about what to do with it.
“I say leave the bottom loose but pull it back on top,” Ellen offered as she stood staring at Aishlinn’s hair.
“Nay.
That would be far too simple.
Lets do a very intricate braid!” Bree said. Apparently Ellen agreed for soon they were both twisting and combing and pulling Aishlinn’s hair in all manner of directions.
It seemed to take forever before they were finished.
Once done, they each took a step back to eye their work.
Satisfied with what they had accomplished, Ellen gave Aishlinn the mirror and smiled thoughtfully at her.
Aishlinn had not looked into a mirror since the day she had laid in bed more than a month ago, still covered with bruises and marks.
Reluctantly she took the mirror and swallowed hard before looking at her reflection.
She did not recognize the person who stared back from the glass.
Her hair looked amazing! Bree and Ellen had somehow managed to weave a very intricate braid that made it appear as though she had far more hair than she really possessed.
“Do ye like it, Aishlinn?” Bree asked breathlessly.
“If ya do no’, we can change it.”
“Nay! It looks beautiful!” Never did she think she would utter those words when she spoke of herself.
Tears came to her eyes when she looked at her reflection more closely
.
I might not be too plain after all.
She was very surprised when that thought came whispering into her mind.
Bree and Ellen raced from the room only to return moments later.
In Bree’s arms was the most magnificent gown Aishlinn had ever seen.
It was made from the deepest of purple brocade fabric and it sparkled in the candlelight.
There was much intricate needlework around the bodice, neck and sleeves.
Beaming, the two young girls held it up for Aishlinn’s approval.
“Please Aishlinn, say ye’ll wear it!
We’ve worked very hard at it for days for ya,” Bree said.
“Days? But we’ve only just learned of the dance this day.” Aishlinn was puzzled.
Bree and Ellen cast conspiratorial smiles at one another.
“We’ve been workin’ on many dresses for ya, lass,” Bree admitted. Their secret was out.
Ellen added, “This was by far our favorite.
We were savin’ it for a special occasion. Please say ye’ll wear it.”
Aishlinn would not need her arm twisted this night. She couldn’t imagine another gown that would make her feel as special as she wanted to feel this night.
She was touched by the diligent work and thoughtfulness that had gone into the dress.
Her
dress. Not someone’s cast off but a dress made just for her.
“I could live a thousand years and never be able to repay you your kindness,” Aishlinn said.
“I used to wish for kind brothers.
I never thought to wish for sisters!”
She wiped a tear away.
“But now I have two in the both of you!”
As they hugged each other, their tears combined with laughter, something dawned on Aishlinn.
She had a
family
and it did not matter one bit that they did not share a bloodline.
What did matter was the love and kindness that was shared between the three of them.
Bree had decided they were wasting precious time and insisted they begin dressing Aishlinn.
They took great care not to mess her braided hair as they lifted the gown over her head.
It took a good deal of time to fasten all the buttons that trailed down the back of the gown. When they were finished, they attached a very fine, sheer veil to the back of her hair.
It cascaded down her back where it pooled into a fine purple puddle.
Aishlinn felt like a queen.
Once Bree and Ellen were satisfied with how she looked, they all went to Bree’s room where Aishlinn helped to ready them. Night had fallen by the time they were finished. Giddy with excitement and anticipation, the three young women walked down the torch-lit hallway and stairs to the gathering room. Each of them was lost in her own thoughts of how she wished her night might go.
His breath was taken from him
the moment Aishlinn stepped into the gathering room. Duncan’s heart began to pound mercilessly in his chest.
He had never seen her look more beautiful and the sight of her took his breath away.
His knees knocked and his mouth went dry all the while his hands trembled.
He knew in that one singular moment he could not live another night without telling her how he felt.
She walked with a grace and dignity he had not witnessed in her before.
He could not take his eyes from her.
God’s teeth but she was beyond beautiful!
Others in the room had noticed her as well.
Black Richard, Tall Thomas, and Daniel with Wee William bringing up the rear, had entered the room from the opposite side.
Black Richard took one look at the lovely Aishlinn and came to a dead stop, causing those behind him to come crashing to a halt and bumping into him.
When Wee William crashed into Daniel, he nearly sent them all tumbling to the floor.
“What the bloody ‘ell!” Wee William said angrily. ‘Twas then that he saw her too.
Wee William let out a low whistle.
“I’ll be damned!” he whispered to Daniel.
“Be that our young Aishlinn?” he asked.
“Aye,” Daniel said breathlessly.
Richard hushed them.
“She is a lady, and gentlemen none of ye are!”
Not one of them, especially Black Richard, could stop staring at her.
Black Richard swallowed hard and headed towards her.
Duncan had caught sight of Black Richard.
The way with which the man’s eyes seemed to wash over Aishlinn’s body caused a fierce surge of jealousy to shoot through him. If anyone’s eyes were to look at her that way, they would be Duncan’s and no other’s.
She was his.
Duncan swore that no one, especially not Black Richard, would be given the opportunity to woo Aishlinn this night.
Caelen and his men had seen her as well and Duncan could have thrust his dirk deep into the man’s heart for the way he looked at Aishlinn.
Caelen was already halfway into his cups and far more a threat to Aishlinn than Black Richard could ever think to be.
Caelen made no attempt to move from his table and it was a good thing for him that he didn’t.
Duncan would have no qualms about killing him if he so much as laid a finger on his Aishlinn.
Duncan all but flew across the room to reach Aishlinn.
He had to remind himself that there was proper protocol to be followed. It simply would not do to scoop her up in his arms and whisk her away to a quiet and secluded place where he could have her all to himself.
As always, Isobel stood guard over his soon to be betrothed. It mattered not that Aishlinn did not know yet that she would soon be married to him, for he had himself just realized it.
He would share that with her later, after he got a little more used to the idea himself.
If he had to beg for a chance to sit with Aishlinn, he would.
If begging didn’t work, he was not beyond bribery or kidnapping.
“Isobel,” Duncan said trying to regain some of his composure.
“May Aishlinn please sit with me this night?” He sent a silent prayer up to the Good Lord that Isobel would say yes.
Isobel paused long enough to study the way Duncan and Aishlinn were looking at each other.
Knowing she could do little to stop the feelings they so obviously had for each other, she gave a slight nod of her head. But before Duncan led Aishlinn away, she shot him a look that warned him to keep his feelings as well as his hands to himself.
A sweet smile came to Aishlinn’s face as Duncan took her hand and led her to one of the large tables in the center of the room.
Had he been chief, they would have sat at the high table together. That would have been enough to let every man in the room know she was his and his alone. But as it was, the high table would be filled this night with Isobel and the wives of Angus’ counsel.
Duncan touched the hilt of the dagger at his side and scanned the room.
There were many men who stared with mouths agape at his Aishlinn.
Nay, he wasn’t beyond murder if it was necessary to protect the innocence and purity of his betrothed. That was his as well.
He pulled a chair out and waited for her to be seated before taking the one to her left.
Black Richard, Tall Thomas, Daniel and Wee William nearly fell over themselves as they rushed to the table to get a seat near Aishlinn.
Black Richard took the chair to Aishlinn’s right whilst he shot Duncan a wry smile.
Duncan returned it with look of warning that said not to get too close to Aishlinn.
Wee William and Daniel had simultaneously grabbed the chair directly opposite Aishlinn.
One glowering look from Wee William was all it took for Daniel to relinquish his hold upon it and for the smile upon his face to disappear quickly.
He took the seat next to Wee William.
Aishlinn stared at the group of men, wondering what on earth had gotten into them.
It had to be the musicians and dance that was planned for later.
The excitement had to have gotten into everyone’s blood and made them all daft.
She smiled politely as she took her napkin and laid it upon her lap.
She found it quite odd that they were all so quiet and that they continued to stare at her.
Usually they were talking loudly and behaving boisterously.
When they continued to stare, she leaned into Duncan and whispered to him.
“Have I something upon my face?” she asked.
“Your men keep staring at me.”
He had been busy staring at her as well. “Aye, ya do,” he told her.
A look of dread washed over her.
“ I do? What is it?” She was aghast as she lifted her napkin to remove whatever offending thing might be upon her face.
Duncan’s lips curved upward and his eyes twinkled.
“Tis yer beauty,” he said as he brushed an imaginary hair from her forehead.
He had done it only for a chance to feel her skin against his own. Clearing his throat he turned and glared at his men. “Lads, ye’ve all seen lovely lasses before,” he warned them.
“Aye, we have,” Wee William said. “But none as bonny as our young Aishlinn is this night!”
He slapped Daniel hard upon his back, nearly knocking him into the table.
Wee William laughed loudly as he looked to his friends.
“Am I right, men?” His deep voice seemed to shake the entire room.
Aishlinn felt all the color drain from her skin only to be replaced with deep red. She wondered if perhaps they had not been into the chief’s whiskey for it was the only plausible explanation.
Men were such confusing beasts! She supposed for a moment that men were God’s attempt at humor.
Each of the men, save for Black Richard, nodded their heads in agreement.
Black Richard spoke quietly.
“Forgive the hellions, Aishlinn.
They apparently do no’ get out of the barracks often enough.”
He took a long drink of ale before gently setting the tankard down.
“They are no’ used to being in the presence of such a beautiful young woman as ye.”
Stunned, Aishlinn knew not how to respond to him.
She knew she had turned red with embarrassment again and wished she did not do that so readily.
She stared at the trencher in front of her and wished she knew how to properly respond to such a compliment.
Isobel had been busy teaching her to read and write and weave. Perhaps they should have a discussion of men, and soon, before she lost her mind completely.
Wee William took a long pull of his ale, though not as graciously as Black Richard.
He slammed the empty tankard down and cleared his throat loudly.
“Young Aishlinn!
Would ya do me the honor of the first dance?”
He asked as he winked at her. Soon, the other men were asking her for a dance as well.
She wondered if there would be any point in the evening where she would not be turning red.
She looked to Duncan for help, but he was staring at her with a daft and somewhat confusing expression. Perhaps he was bilious, or constipated, or worse yet, drunk.
It was hard for her to discern between the expressions at the moment.
As graciously as she could she told them yes, she would dance with them.
Duncan had to have put them all up to this, she was certain of it.
They were all simply being kind and brotherly. “But can we please eat first?” she asked.
Growing quite uncomfortable at the continued stares she was receiving, she let out an exasperated sigh. “And for heaven’s sake! Would you all quit staring at me as if you were starving men looking at a piece of roast venison!”
She was as surprised as anyone at the words that had just left her mouth.
But none was more surprised than Duncan.
He was glad to see that she felt comfortable enough put them in their places.
But in case she hadn’t been, his hand was ready to grab his dagger and plunge it into the gut of any man who tried to take advantage of her innocence.
Rapidly, the men diverted their eyes and began to focus on the fine meal before them.
Duncan found he had little appetite and that his jaw was beginning to ache from clenching it. He did not like how closely Black Richard sat to Aishlinn, nor the blasted smile that was upon the bastard’s face. Twere it any other woman who’s attention they wanted to garner; Duncan would have merely looked upon it as a challenge.
Not this night and not with this woman. She was his.
Throughout the meal, he watched Black Richard closely.
Was Duncan imagining things, or was the man’s chair moving even closer to Aishlinn’s?
And the way he spoke to her, as if they had been friends all their lives!
He had to remind himself that he had no official holds on Aishlinn and she none on him. Yet. But that knowledge did nothing to quell the growing anger and jealousy that boiled in his stomach every time Black Richard smiled at Aishlinn.
Black Richard had asked how her lessons went.
When Aishlinn told of her struggles with Latin, Black Richard,
in Latin
nonetheless, offered to help her should she need it! And the way the man would gently place his hand on Aishlinn’s arm when he wanted her attention? He swore to himself that if Black Richard did not stop, he would knock him on his arse!
At one point in the meal Duncan draped his arm around Aishlinn’s shoulders.
That should have been enough of a signal to the idiot on her left that she was spoken for.
But nay, Black Richard was not smart enough to come to that conclusion. The man was either blind or stupid. Duncan was not sure which.
When they were nearly finished eating, Manghus appeared at their table.
“Good evening, hellions!” he said to the men. “Aishlinn,” he said with a nod to her.
“Have ye taken the time to stop and see the most beautiful bairn in all this great earth?” He motioned his head towards the table where his wife sat with their newborn daughter.
Wee William jumped to his feet quite excited to learn the magnificent Catherine and her bairn were here. “Where?” Wee William boomed.
Manghus laughed along with everyone else.
“Settle down there, William!
Ye’ll make my daughter cry with that ugly face and deep voice of yers!”
Wee William went red.
‘Twas no secret to anyone he had a great fondness toward all children and bairns.
Aishlinn thought he would make a good father someday.
That is if he could find a woman not frightened to death by his enormous size and gravely voice.