Chapter 8 #3
“Yer father will deal with them. Once we ken what he uncovers, we’ll ken what to do.”
At the door to the herbal, Ailsa paused and looked inside while her mother greeted the guard. Anders was again reading, but Maighread looked up and noticed them. Ailsa beckoned her to come out into the hall, and closed the door after her.
“Welcome home, Lady Sinclair,” Maighread told Ailsa’s mother.
“’Tis good to be home, thank ye. Ailsa told me we have a visitor under yer care. What can ye tell me about him?”
Maighread glanced Ailsa’s way before turning her attention back to the Sinclair lady.
“He arrived injured and no’ in possession of himself.
He had a gash on his head and nay memory.
He has regained little in the days he has been here, but part of that time was spent suffering with a fever.
He is healing and regaining his health, and I have hope that with time, he will recover his memory and ken who he is.
” She paused and added, “He’s been nay trouble. I like him.”
Ailsa smiled at that comment. It was high praise coming from Maighread, who generally reserved her opinions of others to herself.
Her mother studied Maighread for a moment, then cocked an eyebrow at Ailsa’s smile before turning back to the healer. “Is he well enough to leave the herbal?”
“In body, aye. Though I would object strongly to seeing him sent to the dungeon. His condition could worsen there. And I canna believe being confined there would help him regain his memory.”
Ailsa frowned. “Ye havena heard about the men Raghnall brought in this morning? They’re down there now.” She added what she’d seen and the little she knew about them.
“I stand by my words, even more so now that ye tell me that. He wouldna be fit to defend himself from other men.”
Ailsa doubted that, but she suspected Maighread didn’t believe it either. It was a convenient excuse to keep Anders out of harm’s way.
“I will advise my husband as ye suggest. My daughter seems to be taken with yer guest. He has told ye naught else about himself?”
Maighread shook her head.
Ailsa shrugged. “He hasna recalled much beyond his name. Nay clan name. He thinks he comes from south of here. We dinna ken much else.”
“South of here?” Her mother chuckled, clearly as bemused by the territory that claim encompassed as Ailsa had been. “He’s a puzzle, indeed. Well, let me meet him.”
Ailsa opened the door but stood back to let Maighread enter, then her mother. Anders set his book aside and stood, questions in his gaze as it shifted between the three women. Maighread went straight to her work table. Ailsa stepped up beside her mother and made the introductions.
“I’ve heard yer tale from my daughter and our healer. I wish to hear it from ye, Anders.”
“I’m pleased to meet ye, Lady Sinclair, and will answer as best I can. First, though, thank ye. I’ve been well treated during my stay. I appreciate Sinclair’s hospitality.”
Ailsa watched with interest as he set about charming her mother, telling her what he could, which wasn’t much.
As he had to her, he apologized for not being able to reveal more about himself, and repeated that as yet, he had no more answers to give.
When his gaze shifted to her, she gave him a supportive nod.
“Ye say ye sometimes see images in dreams. What sort of images?”
Anders pulled his attention back to her mother and shrugged. “Faces mostly. Some scenery. Trees, water from the deck of a sailing vessel. The beach below this keep, I think. Never enough to help.”
“What about yer parents, lad? Do ye recognize them among the faces ye see? Do ye have a wife or bairns of yer own among them?”
Ailsa held herself still, trying not to distract Anders.
Her heart constricted painfully, and she feared he’d see her reaction in her eyes.
Her mother trying to jog his memory was one thing, but asking if he had a family of his own waiting for him somewhere should have gotten more of a reaction that it did.
That knowledge was important to both of them, but her mother’s question didn’t seem to help.
Anders looked more crestfallen, and more frustrated the more he tried to summon answers that would satisfy her.
“I’m sorry, Lady Sinclair. I dinna ken.” His gaze shifted from her mother to her, grief and apology written plainly on his face. She hoped her mother didn’t recognize how much that lack hurt both of them.
“I’m sorry ye are going through this,” Ailsa’s mother told him. “It must be vexing. Maighread recommends ye remain in the keep until ye ken more about yerself. I will make arrangements for ye once I’ve spoken to the laird.”
“Lady—”
“Dinna fash. I dinna propose to allow ye to be sent to the dungeon. Maighread will keep ye under her care as she sees fit.”
Anders bowed his head in acknowledgement. “Thank ye for that.”
“Ye are welcome, Anders. Ailsa, attend me, please.”
Ailsa followed her mother, but glanced back in time to see Anders give her a smile. He knew she had influenced her mother. His acknowledgement warmed her. He didn’t take her efforts for granted. She nodded and went out, closing the door behind her.
“What did ye think, Mother?”
“He is everything ye said, Daughter. Handsome, too, and clearly taken with ye. I saw how his gaze kept moving back to ye each time he finished answering my questions. But as complicated as his situation may be, if ye are harboring such feelings for him as I think ye are, yer situation is complicated, as well. Among the agreements yer laird and father reached with the Norse king for the clan, Sinclair has received an offer to betroth ye to one of the king’s sons.
Yer da intends to speak to ye about it, but I must tell ye he is in favor of the match. ”
Ailsa’s belly twisted. She clamped her lips together and shook her head. “I … Mother, I dinna think I can accept. No’ now. Da will be angry, but how can I?”
“Yer da will be angry at first, and disappointed the agreement he worked hard to make favorable for Sinclair may no’ suit ye.
But Daughter, ye mustna tell him nay. No’ yet.
Ye are infatuated with Anders. As ye find out more about him, especially if he recalls a wife and bairns, ye may find that attraction will fade.
Ye must take the time to honor yer da’s intention.
I will support ye as far as I am able, but if ye back yer da into a corner, and I ken ye are capable of doing that, I must stand with my husband and laird. Remember that.”
Ailsa’s vision swam, tears filled her eyes but she refused to shed them. “I will do my best.”
“Do better than that, lass. ’Tis important.”