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“Thank ye, Lady Aileen,” Davina said softly.

“I thought ye were going call me Aileen,” the older woman scolded in a teasing voice.

“Aileen.” Davina corrected herself with another blush. “I’m so relieved that ye understand and support my position.”

“I do, but ye must trust me, Davina. The McKenna has his mind set on Malcolm and James courting ye. He’ll be neigh on impossible to live with if he doesn’t get his way.” Aileen’s eyes came alive with devilish mischief. “Therefore, ye must allow my sons the chance to earn yer affections and try to win yer hand. ’Tis the only way to appease the McKenna.”

Davina’s shoulders tensed. “But I willnae—”

“Aye, aye, ye willnae marry,” Aileen interrupted, waving her hand expressively. “I understand. Ye willnae be forced, no matter how loud the McKenna bellows. Despite outward appearances, at his core, my husband is a reasonable man. If I counsel caution in this matter, he will listen.”

“But will ye? Counsel caution?”

Aileen’s eyes snapped with sincerity. “I make ye that solemn vow, here and now in this most holy chapel.”

Aileen’s promise sent Davina’s mind in a whirl. She would have preferred to have the matter firmly settled and avoid the discomfort of being courted, but according to Aileen that was impossible.

“I cannae help but feel that I am willfully deceiving yer husband and Malcolm and that makes me most uncomfortable,” Davina admitted.

“There is no deception in allowing yerself to be courted, even if yer mind is set against marriage,” Aileen insisted. “And who knows, ye might very well change it. People wed fer many reasons: fer alliances, fer property, fer companionship, and a lucky few marry fer love. But in the end, a marriage is what the pair make of it.”

“What about ye?” Davina asked.

Aileen smiled. “I thought my Brian was handsome, fierce, and far too full of himself. But I saw deep affection in his eyes whenever he gazed at me and I knew that if he ever fell in love with me, he’d be passionate, faithful, and loyal. ’Twas enough fer me to take the gamble.”

“Were ye in love with him?”

“He made my pulse quicken whenever he was near and his kisses curled my toes. But I dinnae start to truly love him until he left to fight with the Bruce, a few months after we wed. When he rode through those gates, he took my heart with him.

“Some couples start out in love and lose it, others find love through the years together and come to cherish it. For some love is a great passion, for others ’tis comfort and security. Sometimes it matters, sometimes not. There are those who feel betrayed by love and others who are relieved to be spared the complications. Ye have yer reasons fer refusing to take a husband, but I urge ye to put them aside and ask yerself what ye would want from a marriage.”

“To be left alone,” Davina answered ruefully.

Aileen burst out laughing. “Well, ye certainly are stubborn enough to be a wife. I ask only that ye keep yer mind and heart open to the idea of becoming my daughter-in-law.”

Bells of warning sounded in Davina’s head. She believed Aileen would keep her vow and not force a wedding. But it was also clear that Aileen held out hope that Davina would change her mind and indeed marry a McKenna.

If she was going to follow Aileen’s advice, Davina realized she needed to be cautious.

“Would ye care to join me in a game of chess, Davina?”

Davina looked up from the embroidery in her lap. Malcolm’s smile flashed with so much glimmering charm, she blinked. “I have little skill at the game. I fear ye would find me a most unsatisfactory opponent.”

“Yer modesty does ye credit.” He smiled again, pulled a small table between them, and began setting up the board and pieces. “I’m sure ye will lead me on a merry chase.”

“Sir?”

“Around the board,” he clarified.

Davina nodded, her mouth dry. She had spent the morning in the woman’s solar, but in the afternoon had chosen to work on her sewing beside the warmth of one of the large fireplaces in the great hall. It had been quiet and peaceful when she arrived; she assumed it would remain that way until preparations for the evening meal began.

Apparently she was mistaken.

Her stomach quailed at the idea of Malcolm paying court to her, but she had promised Aileen and was not about to go back on her word. Reluctantly, she put down her sewing and turned her attention to the board. The pieces were beautifully carved, with fine detail. Under different circumstances, Davina realized she would have enjoyed the opportunity to play with them.

They started the game in silence. Davina had not lied when she said she was not very experienced at the game, but Malcolm was quick to offer advice. He would hum, quirk his brow, or clear his throat each time she began a move. Rather than annoying, Davina found the silent advice helpful, for it caused her to rethink each move carefully before she made it.

“I’d forgotten how much this game is like warfare,” she commented, as Malcolm captured her bishop. “As a knight, ye have the advantage.”