Chapter Five
Ailis entered thegreat hall to speak with Fiona, inhaling the aroma of heather that filled the room. Fiona stood in front of the hearth, rubbing her hands together to warm them. It seemed to Ailis that Fiona was an expert in matters of love, now that she had found the man she loved.
Ailis approached, desperately wanting her sister’s counsel. She studied Fiona’s face, unsurprised to see her sister so happy. “Ye seem pleased, Fiona.”
“Oh, I am. How could I not be with Alisdair in me life? I think he is the man God created for me and me alone.”
Ailis smiled. “Are ye up for giving some advice in love?”
Fiona laughed. “I’m not certain I can be of help, but I will try.”
“Me thoughts are in turmoil. Lachlan makes me feel things I never thought I could. But he has yet to speak to Father about a possible marriage between us. I’m not certain if I’m being impatient or if he is dragging his feet. Is it possible my feelings for him are one-sided?”
Fiona shook her head. “I wouldna say that. I think he feels the same as ye do, or he wouldna keep seeking your company. Have ye asked him if he plans to speak with Father?”
“That would be the wrong thing for a lass to do,” Ailis fretted. “It would be very…forward.”
“It would. But it would also put yer mind at ease. Why would ye keep worrying about his feelings when ye could just ask?”
“As ye did with Alisdair?”
“Perhaps ye should do as I say and not as I did?”
Ailis chuckled. “I suppose I could. It just doesna seem like the right thing to do. Ye ken?”
“Then ye could keep wondering forever and hanging by a thread as ye let him toy with yer affections. That seems like a logical thing to do!”
Ailis sighed dramatically. “When I’m near Lachlan, me heart races. Ian makes me a bit queasy, if truth be told.” She shook her head. “I fear me choice will seed regret for all me days. How do I choose without courting a lifetime of what-ifs?”
“The true path of the heart is not easy. Ye must explore yer own emotions,” she advised softly. “True love isn’t just an absence of doubt. It’s the courage to follow yer heart wherever it leads.” Ailis began, “Ian Sinclair… he speaks words that promise wonders, yet he puts me at ill ease. His smiles dinnae reach his eyes. Thus, I do not trust his intentions.”
Fiona frowned. “I dinnae think I could ever trust a Sinclair. It is always wise to be cautious. Charm can often be deceiving and not a true measure of one’s character.”
“I agree. But I feel like spending time with Ian pleases Father.”
“I dinnae think so! He doesnae trust the Sinclairs despite his long friendship with Arran. They have changed recently, and I dinnae think he wants us around them. Ye have a choice about whether or not ye continue to let him court ye.”
“I hope yer right. I really dinnae think I can continue. He makes me feel as if I want to vomit when I spend a great deal of time with him.” Ailis quickly recounted the story of her walk with Ian and how he’d refused to carry the deer back to the keep.
Fiona laughed. “Sounds like a Sinclair.”
“He talks about his great prowess with a sword, and what a good leader he is, but…I dinnae ken any of it is true.” Ailis shookher head. “It seems to me that he is a boastful man with nothing to be boastful about.”
“Lachlan is a better man than Ian for certain. Ian is not a man ye should be alone with. Ever.”
“Lachlan makes certain I am not. Kevin is always following behind us.”
“Kevin is a good man,” Fiona responded. “I would trust him with me life.”
“As would I.” Ailis was glad she’d spoken to her sister, though she wasn’t sure she’d learned anything. She needed to learn to follow her heart. She knew she did, but it was difficult.
*
That evening, Ailisand her sisters, as well as the three McClain men spent the evening in the great hall with a group of young people. Both the McClain soldiers who were there and all of the McAfee young people gathered for dice games.
Ailis was not herself fond of dice games, so she spent the evening observing the young people who were surrounding her. They’d had this type of evening often before the McClains had come, often inviting some of the Sinclair youth. Ailis had a feeling that would not happen again.
She watched the group Lachlan played with and saw that he seemed to be enjoying himself. He laughed with Moira, Brodie, and several others from the clan. As the evening was to introduce the youth of the clan to the soldiers of the McClains, there was an equal number of men and women at each table. When there had been one more lass than lad, she had happily agreed to observe.
