“Aye, but your older brother is far more lenient than my father. Besides, Dirk is a chief. Your brother knew he was suitable for you. Keegan is not a chief, but I… that doesn’t matter to me.”
“Of course it doesn’t matter. He isn’t exactly penniless. He’s Dirk’s tanist. ’Tis the highest position within the clan, aside from chief. Keegan will have a good income, and he is welcome to live at Dunnakeil always. As is the woman he marries.”
Seona’s face burned for she truly wished to be the woman he married. But the reality was, each time she talked to Keegan, and especially when she kissed him, she was putting his life more and more in danger. Especially if he was the one who took her home. But she knew not how to convince him to stay here and allow someone else to escort her home.
“You must not reveal to Keegan what I’ve told you,” Seona said. “Promise me.”
“If you will tell him,” Isobel said. “He deserves to know everything you’ve told me.”
Seona shook her head. “If he knows what kind of man my father is, that he is abusive and violent and probably even a murderer, Keegan may not allow me to go back. You ken as well as I do that could have terrible consequences. It could mean a clan war. My sister could be in danger. And Keegan, most of all, would be in danger.”
Chapter Seventeen
Two nights later, Keegan and the other men dragged into the great hall of Teasairg Castle just as supper was ending. They had searched endlessly for Haldane and his outlaws over much of MacKenzie territory for miles around. Keegan was hellishly annoyed none of them could be found.
His gaze scanning the great hall for Lady Seona but not locating her, Keegan strode toward high table, then slumped into a straight wooden chair beside Dirk. Keegan wanted to immediately ask where Seona was, but didn’t want the others to ken how much he thought about her. The servants rushed to bring the newcomers food, which Keegan appreciated greatly for he was near starved.
“Let me guess—you saw neither hide nor hair of Haldane,” Dirk said.
“You have the right of it. We climbed mountains on foot and searched more glens than I can count,” Keegan said. “We took a galley to the end of Loch Duich and searched part of Glen Shiel, while some of the MacKenzies took another galley up Loch Long. The bastards have vanished.”
“Hell,” Dirk muttered. “McMurdo has taught them to be as cunning and illusive as he is. They could be lying in the bracken somewhere and ’twould be easy to walk right past them.”
“Aye.” Keegan sighed. “Or they may have left the area. ’Haps they went east to await us at the edge of Murray’s holdings.”
“That’s a good possibility,” Dirk said. “Damnation, I want tobe out there searching with you lads.”
“Not until you’re recovered. How’s your leg?” Keegan asked, digging into the trencher of venison stew the servant placed before him.
“Improving.”
Isobel, sitting on Dirk’s other side, leaned forward. “What he neglected to tell you is that he still has fevers sometimes, especially at night. And look how swollen it is, Keegan.”
“Och. I’m getting better,” Dirk muttered.
“Aye, you are better than you were,” Isobel agreed.
Keegan drank a long swallow of heather ale. “You must take care of yourself, cousin.”
“I am. And I have the best healer in the world.” Dirk put his arm around Isobel and drew her closer.
She smiled and kissed his cheek.
Saints.Keegan missed Seona. He could use a kiss from her right now. Though he’d need a bath and a change of clothes first. And some privacy, away from her aunt, who sat farther down the table, talking to MacMillan.
“Where is Lady Seona?” Keegan asked in a low tone, making sure her aunt couldn’t hear. With all the noise in the great hall, ’twas doubtful she would hear him even if he asked in a loud voice, but he didn’t want to take any chances.
Both Dirk and Isobel merely looked at him for a long moment. Finally, Isobel said, “In her bedchamber.”
Alarm rushed through Keegan, not because of Isobel’s words but because of the somber look in her eyes. “Is something wrong?”
“Nay,” Isobel said, glancing away.
She was lying or being evasive. What was she hiding?
“’Tis only that Lady Seona has not been to any meals since the one we had outside,” Dirk said.
What?
