The two women spun at the sound of her voice. The younger woman’s face broke into a wide smile.
“Ah! At last!” She hurried across the room and took Anna’s hands in hers, drawing her into the hall. “I was so annoyed that Emeric didnae introduce us last night. I’m Aislinn, Emeric’s sister. So nice to meet ye. Come in, come in.”
A little flustered by the exuberance of the greeting, Anna allowed Aislinn to lead her to the table where Emeric’s mother waited. She couldn’t help looking around as she did so, hoping to find the sandy-haired highlander waiting for her. But he was nowhere to be seen.
“Nice to meet you,” Anna said. “I’m Anna.”
“Oh, I know who ye are,” Aislinn replied. “And so does half the clan by now, I reckon.”
“They do?”
“Oh, aye! Ye canna keep secrets in this clan and my wayward brother bringing a woman home in the middle of the night? Ye canna get much juicier gossip than that!”
Anna felt her face reddening. “But it’s not likethat—”
“And what’s more,” Aislinn continued. “Everyone has been hoping Emeric will get married for ages. I mean, what kind of man stays single at his age? And now ye are here...well, tongues are bound to wag.”
Anna blushed scarlet. “What?” she spluttered. “Emeric and I aren’t...we just...it’s not like that!”
Hildie stepped forward and gave her daughter a scathing look. “Linny knowsexactlywhat it’s like. She just loves to stir up trouble even though she ought to know better.” She smiled at Anna. “Dinna fash, dear. I’ll ensure anyone who jumps to conclusions is set straight.”
Aislinn rolled her eyes. “Ma! Ye ruin all the fun! Oh, all right.” She took Anna’s arm and guided her to a seat on the long bench by the table. “I want to hear all about how ye got here! Is it true Emeric pulled ye out of the bog?”
Anna nodded. “I’m afraid so. If he hadn’t come along, I don’t know what I would have done.”
Aislinn scowled. “Those marshes are a bloody liability. Do ye know they cover the length of our eastern border? I keep telling Uncle Douglas he should drain them. That way we’ll have more fertile farm land and we could make the clan rich!”
“And yer uncle has told ye countless times that draining those marshes isnae possible,” Hildie cut in. “The manpower needed is beyond aught we could muster.”
“That’s not what Brodie says,” Aislinn countered. “He reckons there are new techniques we could use that would make it much easier.”
“And young Brodie is an expert on such matters is he?”
Anna watched the bickering in bemused silence. She got the impression that this was usual for the pair.
“Who is Brodie?” she asked.
Aislinn’s eyes lit up and a bright smile curled her lips. “Brodie Murray,” she announced proudly. “My betrothed.”
“Betrothed? As in, engaged to be married, you mean?”
“Oh, aye!” Aislinn said with a laugh.
She got up and swept over to the far end of the room, disappearing behind a large oak screen in the corner. When she emerged again, she carried with her a broad tartan sash. Bringing it back to the table, she unfolded it with a flourish, revealing a rich pattern of green and blue intersected by hairline streaks of red.
“This is the Murray clan plaid,” Aislinn said, running her fingers along the soft wool folds. “Brodie gave this to me when he asked for my hand. His mother wove it herself.”
She draped the sash across her shoulder and did a little twirl. “What do ye think? Will I pass for a Murray?”
“I’m sure you will,” Anna laughed. “I just didn’t realize you were getting married.” Although, the argument she’d overheard made sense now. How many mothers and daughters had argued about the seating for a wedding?
“Aye, that’s why Emeric has finally come home. There’s not much else that would tear him away from that precious Order of the Osprey of his. Not even his own family.”
“Hush, Linny,” Hildie chided. “Ye know yer brother does what he must.”
Aislinn huffed out a sigh. “Aye, I know. I just wish he didnae have to be away so much.”
Hildie pattedher hand. “We all do.”
