Page 3 of Tangled in a Highland Conspiracy
The summer blossoms and leaves were out in full bloom, and the path they were taking led them through patches of thistles and stinging nettles, so they were obliged to be very careful. Katrina picked flowers from the bushes as they went along and had a bouquet of mixed blossoms which she presented to Ailsa when they stopped.
“They are lovely, Katie,” Ailsa said warmly, as she hugged her sister and placed the flowers in the shade so that they would not wilt before they went home. “You are my treasure!”
“I know,” Katrina said, giggling. “But I am glad to have a big sister to look after me, Ailsa. Don’t ever leave me.”
Ailsa could think of nothing to say. Soon she would have to do just that, but she could think of no way of telling Katrina that would let her down gently. She changed the subject by pointing to the majestic heron who was sitting in a tree by the loch. He had the longest beak of any bird that Katrina had ever seen, and she remarked, “He looks so proud, Ailsa, as if he was the king and all the rest of the birds were his subjects.”
Ailsa laughed as she looked at the bird sitting staring down the length of his haughty beak. The big grey bird had its long neck bent back in an ‘s’ shape, and its great curved talons, which protruded from seemingly endless legs, were gripping a tree branch that overhung the shore of the lake. His gaze was firmly fixed on the water, and as she watched it, Ailsa was reminded of something, or rather someone else.
* * *
A month before, her father had summoned Ailsa to his study, where she had found him and her mother waiting for her, both of them looking a trifle apprehensive. She saw that her father had poured himself a measure of whisky, and her mother was twisting her hands nervously.
Ailsa’s heart sped up as she fixed her gaze on them. Something was wrong—she knew it. “Well?” she said. “Do you have something to ask me?”
The Laird cleared his throat. “Ailsa,” he began, leaning forward in his chair to look into her eyes, “you know how long I have been trying to negotiate peace with the Ormonds?”
Then, suddenly Ailsa knew what all this was about. Apart from negotiation or war, there was only one way to settle a rift between two clans, and that was by marriage. This time, it looked likely that it would be her marriage that would heal the rift between the Ormond and the McBains.
I am the sacrificial lamb,she thought.To be an offering to the god of war.
However, she tilted her chin up and looked him in the eyes, whereupon he dropped his gaze to the desk and said, “I do. And I presume you have a good reason to remind me of this?”
“A very good reason.” Her mother stood up and walked around the table to put a hand on Ailsa’s shoulder. Looking back at her husband, she moved her hand to Ailsa’s waist as if for support. “Tell her,” she said, firmly but gently.
The Laird nodded. “Ailsa, in the interest of fostering peace and an alliance between our two clans, you are to be married to John Ormond. I am sorry, I know this must come as a shock to you, but to keep the peace it is necessary.” He spoke fast, as if in a hurry to get the words out of his mouth, and then he paused for a moment to allow Ailsa to say something.
“Da, I have been expecting this for years, so there is no need to apologise.” She sighed. “It is my duty as your eldest child to do what has to be done. Nobody can change that.”
“John Ormond is not the man I would have chosen for you, to be sure, but he is not a bad man.” He looked up at Ailsa to see her reaction, but she only nodded silently.
“At least he is not a complete stranger,” Lady Davina said soothingly, trying to look on the bright side. “You have met him once or twice. Perhaps we should arrange a few more meetings.”
Ailsa forced a smile. “As I said, Da, Mammy, it is my duty.” She moved away from her mother’s touch. “I would not have my family shamed because I was unwilling to do what must be done in their interest. I consent to the marriage.”
“As far as I know, he is a good man,” Lady Davina went on as if trying to convince herself. “He has the respect of many of our friends.”
“Mammy,” Ailsa cupped her mother’s face in her hands and looked into her eyes. “I said I consent to the marriage. I have no objections, so you need not fight on John’s behalf.”
“I want you to be happy,” Lady Davina said, her eyes glittering with tears. “I want you to be with a man you can respect, if not love eventually.”
“And I am sure I will be, Mammy,” Ailsa said tenderly. She embraced Lady Davina tightly, then kissed her forehead and smiled at both of them, then she was gone.
As the door closed behind her, Lady Davina turned to her husband. “What do you think?” she asked. “I think she is trying to hide her sadness.”
“I think she is a sensible girl who knows what is good for her and her family,” the Laird replied calmly. “As you said, John Ormond is not a bad man, and I think he will treat her well.”
“God, I hope you are right,” Lady Davina said fervently.
* * *
Watching the heron, Ailsa felt as if she was in the same situation as the fish in the loch—scared to move in case someone ate her. She was bowing to her family’s will because she had no choice, not because she wanted to, and she felt like a prey animal with absolutely no defences. No one was going to come to her rescue.
Ailsa had always wanted to marry for love, but it was clear that it was never going to happen, so she decided that she might as well make the best of her situation. Although her heart was not in it at all, she would summon up some enthusiasm from somewhere and have the seamstress come to see her the next day about her wedding dress.
Ailsa had drifted into such a deep daydream that she jumped when Katrina started to shake her arm and wave her hand in front of her eyes.
Katrina giggled at Ailsa’s start of fright. “Where were you?” she asked, her eyes sparkling. “You looked as if you were away with the fairies.”
