Page 52 of Claimed Highland Brides

7

INDECISION

I t was one thing to make a decision; it was quite another to convey it when Barclay’s face looked so hopeful. She cleared her throat and opened her mouth to tell him that she had thought it over and felt that a marriage between them would be a disaster. But he reached out a hand and closed it around her elbow, peering into her eyes.

“Miss Douglass, how are ye this morning? Did ye sleep well?”

She swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. His brow furrowed in answer. “Ye look troubled. Tell me.”

She tried taking a deep breath and getting the words out, but they stuck in her throat. She could not look him in the eye and say no to him. Perhaps she could write him a note.

He turned her around, fingers still curled around her elbow, and led her to the stairwell. “I do hope that it was not the nature of my proposal that kept ye from yer rest?”

“Who says I did not rest?” The words escaped her mouth before she could think.

He shrugged. “A wild guess on my part.” He put his hand on his chest, “If I have – again – misspoken, I apologize.”

Aileen felt the words like a dart to her chest.

Does that mean he did not mean to propose to me? What did he misspeak about?

She was too afraid to ask, so she merely nodded and allowed him to lead her meekly to breakfast.

“I must say that I am looking forward to reacquainting myself with ye all. In spite of all the trouble, I am glad it has brought us all together again. Do ye recall the time we ran off to seek our fortunes?” He grinned impishly at her.

She remembered the occasion well. Barclay’s father had admonished him for something or other, and Aileen found him sulking beneath a tree. When she’d asked what the matter was, he’d told her that he was planning on running off. “Come wi’ me. Let us go and make our own fortunes, and then our fathers wilnae be able to tell us what to do.”

Aileen laughed. “Aye, ye were a mere eight years old, and I, still in my leading strings. Ye said we could go to the mines and dig for gold. I was ready to follow ye wi’ nothing but my bare feet.”

Barclay’s eyes were shining as he gazed at her. “I’m surprised ye remember. Ye cannae have been more’n four years old.”

Aileen shrugged. “Aye, weel, I have always been good at recalling things.”

“We always kenned each other perfectly.” His voice was low, intimate sounding, and Aileen shivered, looking away.

“That’s how I ken that ye will marry me.”

Her eyes flew to his, and she shook her head. “Is it really that easy for ye?”

“Easy? No. None o’ this is easy . But I felt that it was the right thing to do, as soon as I asked ye. I kenned it was the right thing.”

Aileen took a deep breath, ready to tell him that she would not marry him. “I need more time,” was what came out instead.

He nodded. “Very weel.”

“Barclay! Buenos dias mi amigo .” Diego grinned as he came striding down the corridor, his brother trailing after him.

“Buenos dias Diego, Antonio. Did ye manage to sleep well?”

“Yes. It is cold in these hills, but the blankets are warm, and the fire was kept well-stoked.” Diego turned to Aileen. “Ze hospitality of your house is highly appreciated.”

Aileen smiled. She enjoyed the curious lilt of the Spaniard’s words that gave a curious romanticism to the English language. Barclay’s accent was a curious amalgam of Scots and Spanish, which made listening to him an enjoyable exercise for Aileen. He spoke Spanish like a native, and she wondered if his knowledge of Gaelic had survived his odyssey. There was just so much she wanted to know about him. Her curiosity was boundless.

They all walked together to breakfast, Diego falling in step beside her while Barclay fell back, to walk with Antonio.

“Tell me something, Aileen, if you will forgive me for asking,” Diego said.

Aileen nodded for him to go ahead.

“Your sister, Maisie, is she promised to anyone?”

Aileen laughed out loud in surprise but stopped as the Spaniard raised his eyebrows at her reaction. “I dinnae think so.” She could not wipe the grin from her face. “Why d’ye ask?”

Diego ignored her question. “What do you mean you do not think so? Do you not know?”

“I mean that as far as I know, she is available. I dinnae ken if she has any secret pacts, however. Ye would have to ask Fenella tha’.” Aileen grinned, enjoying his discomfiture.

“Do you make a lot of secret marriage pacts here?” Diego’s frown was quite deep, and he looked disturbed.

Aileen put her fingers on the bunched flesh of his forearm and squeezed lightly in reassurance. “No, ’tis nothing but gammon.”

Diego nodded. “Ah. I see.” He smiled, seemingly relieved. To Aileen’s disappointment, they had arrived at the dining hall and so she could not pursue the curious line of questioning that was on her lips. She turned back to smile at Barclay and found that he was glaring at her.

She quirked her eyebrows in surprise but then followed his gaze and found that she was still clutching at Diego’s forearm. She snatched her hand away, cheeks flaming, and went to find her seat, her mind churning at the anger she’d seen in his eyes.

What does it mean ?

Diego took a seat to her right, and Barclay took the one to her left. She offered him a tentative smile before focusing on her parritch.

They ate quietly for a while, with only Fenella and Maisie whispering amongst themselves. For everyone else, it was too early to be so animated.

Diego kept casting glances at them, his brow furrowed. Aileen bit back a smile as she watched him. She’d seen many a man be enamored of the twins’ magnetism. They tended either not to notice or took it for granted. Aileen was never sure which it was.

Finally, Diego leaned towards her. “What would you suggest I do? How do I attract her attention?”

Aileen tried to think about that. She had no clue what would pique the twins’ interest in a man. They hardly spoke about such things to anyone. She turned helplessly to Diego. “I dinnae ken.”

Diego’s shoulders slumped in disappointment before he straightened up, mouth pursed determinedly. “I suppose I shall just have to find out. But first, we help Barclay reclaim his birthright.”

Aileen nodded slowly in agreement. “Ye’re a good and loyal friend, Mr. Guerero.”

“Ach!” He waved his hand dramatically. “My name is Diego. None of these formalities, please.”

“Fair enough. I am Aileen.”

“ Si , I know. Barclay has spoken well of you.”

Aileen felt her cheeks warm. “He has spoken of me?”

“Si. You are the la nina who comforted him when he lost his parents.”

Aileen’s face fell. For a moment, she had thought that perhaps Barclay had expressed a wish to marry her to his cousins. “Oh.”

Diego watched her with eyes that were all too knowing. “He regards you quite highly.”

Aileen nodded, looking away from him, her eyes fluttering with embarrassment. It was clear that Diego was simply trying to placate her, now that he could see how she felt for Barclay. It was mortifying. “That is good to know.”

Barclay cleared his throat, and she turned to him, surprised to find him looking displeased. “Is anything the matter?”

“No. I had no idea you held any interest in Diego.”

Aileen could not help the burst of laughter that escaped her. “Interest in Diego ? What makes ye say tha’?”

He stared at her, unblinking, his lips pursed as if it was she that was being ridiculous. Then he turned away from her to address Fiona. “Yer husband gave me a message before he left this morning.”

Fiona nodded. “Aboot the solicitor?”

Barclay lifted his head. “Aye.”

“And ye want to go soon?”

“Aye.”

“Ye’re leaving?” Aileen blurted the words before she could think. Barclay turned back to her, the frown gone from his face.

“Aye. I intend to speak to the governor aboot my case as well as see the solicitor.”

“Someone should go wi’ ye. To help ye wi’ yer bona fides.” Aileen couldn’t believe the words that were coming out of her mouth.

What am I saying ?

Barclay turned to her and smiled. “That would be ideal. But there isnae anyone.”

“I could do it,” Aileen blurted.

There was a moment where all conversation was suspended as surprise flew around the room. Barclay looked to Fiona. “Wha’ d’ye think?”

Fiona looked from Barclay to Aileen. “Ye’d need a chaperone.”

Aileen swallowed a gasp. She had not been expecting Fiona to acquiesce.

“Sarah can come with me.”

Fiona nodded. “Simon too.”

Aileen could hardly believe they were discussing this in all seriousness. She glanced at Barclay, who so far had not said a word. She stared at him, waiting for him to say something. He nodded to Fiona. “I appreciate yer assistance in this matter, and I want to assure ye that Miss Douglass will be perfectly safe with me.”

Fiona nodded. “I have no doubt of it. Aileen is an excellent judge of character, and if’n she wishes to do this, then I can only support her.”

Aileen blushed, taken aback by her sister’s words. She seemed to be saying a lot more than what was apparent on the surface. Turning her attention back to her breakfast, she resolved to corner Fiona after the meal and find out what she was on about.

The rest of the meal was spent in planning the trip to Edinburgh. Both Fiona and Barclay were in agreement that they could not trust Gilroy to behave honorably. “If he hears of yer plans, he will probably try to stop ye.”

“What do ye propose?”

“I think that until ye’re out o’ the district, ye should travel during the night hours and take an armed guard wi’ ye.”

Barclay glanced at Aileen. “It’s true that it’ll be dangerous. Ye dinnae have to come wi’ me.”

Aileen straightened up to her full height, her head held high. “I am no’ afraid.”

Barclay gave her a small side smile. “No, o’ course ye arenae. Ye always were a brave wee thing. But I vow that I shall protect ye wi’ my life should it come to it.”

Aileen’s face burned at the fervor in his voice. “T-Thank ‘e. I appreciate it.”

Fiona smiled, clapping her hands together. “Guid. Weel, there is a lot to prepare. We should begin.” She got to her feet, smiling at Barclay. He got to his feet, nodded to the rest of the table, and followed her out, his cousins on his heel.

Immediately Maisie let out a squeal. “What’s come over ye, Aileen?” She looked supremely impressed.

“What d’ye mean?”

“I mean ye’re out here telling Barclay that ye’re going wi’ him, no’ asking permission, just so decisive and resolute. Wha’ happened to our shy and retirin’ Aileen?”

Aileen widened her eyes at the twins. She hadn’t realized how assertive she’d sounded. It was not her usual style. She had simply felt exceptionally strongly that she was needed.

“I…I dinnae ken wha’ came o’er me.”

Maisie and Fenella immediately got to their feet, hurrying around the table to come and sit on either side of Aileen. “No, no, dinnae fash. It was phenomenal. Barclay was looking at ye as if ye hung th’ moon.”

Aileen shook her head. “Ye’re mistaken.”

Maisie raised an eyebrow at her. “Are we?”