‘Some Sinclairs got away but not enough to make a difference so aye, we’ve won.’
‘You’ve made me proud Duncan.’
Duncan did not feel proud. ‘They sold their lives dearly.’
Hugh waved away this fact and continued. ‘There is something we need to discuss nephew. Hamish McDougall may be a traitor to us,’ he said bluntly.
‘I’m not fond of that young fool but find that hard to believe’ said Duncan dismissively. ‘The McDougall’s have too much to lose by getting dragged into this mess with the Sinclairs.’
‘You’d think so but his father is ailing and debts have piled up. Alex Sinclair has been whispering venom in his ear this last year and no doubt he is gullible enough to fall for it. The spoilt young fool thinks he is entitled to anything he wants by virtue of his name and sees a chance of money and influence by hitching his horse to their cart.’
‘Any reason for these suspicions?’
‘He arrived at Dunslair just after you left on the pretence of delivering news from his father and we know that somehow information is getting to our enemies. I think he is sniffing around to gain an advantage and get in their good graces by spying on us.’
Duncan said nothing and stood quietly warming his hands by the fire.
‘And then there is also the small matter of you stealing his would-be bride,’ sneered Hugh.
‘Ailsa was promised to him? She never told me that. Are you sure?’
‘Well, I have it on good authority that he had once approached her father for her hand and was found wanting. She would be a great prize and a way to solve all his problems and you must have seen the attraction between them. What if Ailsa had encouraged Hamish to join with the Sinclairs in the hope of defying her father’s wishes and taking him as her husband? She had rebuffed several suitors before you came across her, fine men, but she wouldn’t even look at them and her foolish father let her get away with it.
‘I don’t believe it.’
‘She was holding out for him Duncan, and then you got in the way, the war got in the way. She wants him still and I believe she plots to remove you and take him into her bed.
‘No, you are wrong about her,’ Duncan replied angrily, rejecting Hugh’s accusations offhand. Ailsa would never do that, lie to him like that. It was loyalty to her clan that made her a reluctant bride not love for another. He would have held fast to that opinion but for Hugh’s next words, for his uncle had saved the best until last.
‘She was seen in the chapel after you left, kissing him’, he said spitefully,
‘You lie!’ Duncan snarled coming towards his uncle.
‘Why would I? McDougall arrived here unannounced and went straight to her. I have it from a very reliable source that she was found in his arms, sharing a passionate embrace.’
‘A reliable source? Who?’
‘Agnes saw them in the chapel and came straight to me.’
‘Well, she has no love for Ailsa, or me for that matter.’
‘That’s as maybe, but I haven’t lived this long without knowing a liar when I see one. Agnes is loyal to me; she’s telling the truth. Go ask your pretty wife and watch her deny it. McDougall is gone, he has taken himself off somewhere, so we can’t ask him. Don’t be blinded by lust lad. Just because you want to bed a woman doesn’t make her worthy of your trust.’
‘You told me to bed her uncle, you made no bones about it if I remember rightly. Get an heir on her you said, do your duty you said.’
‘That was when I thought her a pretty simpering fool, not the clever little plotter she is and she has you exactly where she wants you. Lust can put a fog in the brain of the cleverest man.’
‘It’s not just lust uncle. I love her.’ Duncan could hardly believe he had said it aloud and to his uncle of all people. ‘And she loves me.’
‘If you believe that then you are a being a fool, twice over.’
‘Maybe I am but that’s the truth of it.’
‘Well it’s a weakness and you must conquer it. She cannot be trusted.’
‘Ailsa is my wife and under my protection so unless you have better proof of your accusations, stay out of my affairs. I return to Cailleach tomorrow.’
‘As you wish, Cailleach is yours now but for all our sakes be careful Duncan.’