Page 90 of How to Be a Scottish Mistress

Indignation heated Gavin’s face. “Ye were under my protection. I would never leave any female in my care without aid.”

Aileen’s brow shot up. “Even one ye are being forced to marry?”

“No one forces my hand,” Gavin declared.

“Really? Then ye’ll be wanting to make me yer wife as soon as possible. Is that what ye’re saying?”

Gavin cringed. The lass was too bold for her own good. Or rather his good.

“He’s yer betrothed, Aileen,” Laird Sinclair insisted. “Of course he’s going to marry ye.”

She gave her father a patronizing glare. “He might have fooled ye, and even himself in this matter, but I’ve seen it with my own eyes. He wants Lady Fiona and he’ll not give her up, no matter who he marries.”

Sinclair gave Gavin a hard look. “Is that true?”

Gavin clenched his jaw. The laird would learn the truth eventually, so there seemed little point in keeping it from him. Yet there had to be a way to explain it that would not offer such great offense. “There is no denying that I love Lady Fiona. With all my heart.”

Sinclair’s ruddy face grew even redder and he nearly spewed a mouthful of whiskey all over the room. Instead, he swallowed, took a second swig and faced Gavin. “Are ye saying ye won’t honor our agreement and marry my Aileen?”

Now how was he supposed to answer that without starting a lifelong feud? Stalling, Gavin rubbed his chin, trying to find the right words. He glanced at Aileen and his spirits immediately lifted. Mayhap he wouldn’t have to answer Sinclair. One look at the defiant tilt of Aileen’s chin said it all.

“I think ’tis important that we remember the reasons fer this marriage in the first place,” Gavin began in a rambling tone. “We need to secure and strengthen King Robert’s throne to keep the English—”

“It doesn’t matter what he says,” Aileen interrupted impatiently. “I willnae marry him, and that’s the end of it.”

“Aileen Margaret Gertrude Sinclair,” the laird bellowed, pounding his fist into his hand. “I’ll not be having a lass of yer tender years dictating to me what’s to be done. If I say ye’re to marry him, then by the holy rod, that’s what ye’ll do!”

Gavin waited for the storm clouds to break when Aileen’s temper ignited and she fought back. But she proved to be a far more clever lass than he realized. Instead of digging in her heels and acting like a shrew, she bowed her head, brought herself directly in front of her father and knelt at his feet.

“I know ye’re wise and loving and that ye only want what’s best fer me and our clan. But, Father, please, I beg of ye not to press this marriage. I beg that in yer mercy ye’ll grant me a reprieve from a loveless marriage that will bring me a lifetime of unhappiness, misery, and regret.”

Unhappiness, misery, and regret?That was a bit dramatic. Gavin lifted his brow, uncertain how he felt at being labeled such a poor husband. But then he realized she had the courage to speak the truth; it would not be a happy life for either of them.

They all waited anxiously for the laird to answer. Yet as one minute turned into two, Gavin realized no matter what Sinclair said, he would not marry Aileen. The woman who would share his life, and his bed, for the rest of his days was Fiona.

“I—” Gavin began, but Aileen cut him off.

“Please, milord. Have the decency to allow my father to make this all-important decision without any interference from ye!”

“I shall pray fer guidance,” Laird Sinclair finally answered, draining his tankard.

“If ye think it best,” Aileen replied meekly. “Though I vow if ye search yer heart, the answer will be revealed.”

Damn, she was good! Despite the gravity of the situation, Gavin smiled. Whoever Aileen Sinclair married one day would be a lucky man, though he would surely be led on a merry chase by his clever wife.

“Will ye truly be so miserable as the earl’s wife, Aileen?” Sinclair asked, peering down at his daughter, who remained on her knees before him.

“Aye. Today was a horror-filled day, being taken by those brigands. I’ve never been so frightened in all my life, nor in such grave peril. It made me realize how fleeting life truly is, how quickly it can all end. And when the end comes fer me, I want to have something beautiful and happy to remember.” She took a deep breath, her chest rising visibly with the effort. “I was willing to do my duty and I still am, but I cannae bind myself to a man in love with another woman and be happy. I know that fer certain.”

The laird gave a sharp hoot. “I suppose if I grant yer wish and dissolve this contract, ye’ll be wanting to choose yer own husband?”

“Nay. ’Tis too great a responsibility to be left to a young female such as myself.” Aileen’s shoulders sagged. “The choice will be yers.”

The laird eyed his daughter shrewdly. “Hmm. I’ll choose the man, but then ye’ll decide if ye’ll wed him. Is that what yer saying, lass?”

For a long moment Aileen simply stared at her father. Then she broke into a guilty smile. “That sounds like a fair and just arrangement.”

Sinclair threw up his hands, then turned his gaze to Gavin.

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