“I see.”
“So he could find me a husband.” Talia started crying again. “I won’t marry the beast!”
Footsteps echoed on the stone steps.
“Shh… the guard is returning. Move away from the door.”
Fleming came into view. “Your father said you could visit with your sister.” He unlocked the door.
“I thank you,” Seona said, then entered the room.
The lock clicked behind her, giving her a cold chill.
Talia lit a candle from the hearth fire and placed it on a nearby table. Seona hurried to her and, when Talia faced her, Seona couldn’t believe the bruise covering the left side of her face. Her cheek was purple with tinges of green and yellow. At least it appeared to be healing.
“Oh, heavens, Talia.” Tears filling her eyes, Seona stroked the uninjured side of her sister’s sweet face. ’Twas almost as if they were wee girls again, huddling in a chamber, hoping their father stayed far away.
Talia grabbed her in a hug and sobbed against her shoulder. Seona embraced her tightly and stroked her back. “Shh, 'tis all right.”
Never had their father given Seona such a huge bruise, though he had slapped her hard four different times. Seona had always tried to protect her younger sister. She regretted that she hadn’t been here this time, but she’d had no choice in the matter.
Talia pulled back and wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. “I’ve decided, if I can get out of this room, I’m going to run away.”
“What? Where would you go?”
“I know not. Anywhere.”
“Talia—”
“Nay. Do not try to talk me out of it.”
Certainly Seona had dreamed of running away, too, but she had never seriously considered it because she had to stay and protect her sister. Plus, as women, they had no means. No money, aside from what their father gave them. They had no relatives in distant villages who might hide them. All their relatives were close-by, and worst of all, they were loyal to her father… or they feared him.
If only Seona could have married one of the MacKays. Keegan, of course, was the man she wanted so desperately to marry, but she feared her father would not even consider it. If she could’ve married a decent man, she’d hoped to bring her sister to live with her. But now she knew that might not be possible, if her father was bent on arranging a marriage between Talia and the Comyn chief.
Seona’s stomach pained her for she was trapped just as she’d always been.
“We must think of a solution,” she told Talia.
“I have. I’m running away.”
“Do you have a plan? How will you support yourself? Where will you stay? How will you buy food?”
Talia crumpled onto the bench near the hearth. “I know not,” she sobbed.
Seona sat beside her and rubbed her back. “Shh. We must think.”
Heavens!If only Seona could marry Keegan, she could take Talia with her to Durness and keep her safe. Away from old, beastly chiefs who wanted to marry young girls. Talia would love staying with the MacKays. They were a lively and considerate group. The man Seona loved and her best friend were among them. To think of never seeing them again broke her heart. They were her true family.
Keegan had said he was going to ask her father for her hand. Would he still do this after having met her father? Keegan was a strong, brave man and Seona couldn’t see him being intimidated by her father. Although perhaps he should be, given her father’s ruthlessness.
If only Laird Rebbinglen could convince her father to seeKeegan’s merits. Tanist was no small position within a clan. But more importantly, Keegan was an honorable, protective, and responsible man. Unfortunately, these admirable qualities were not of utmost importance to her father.
Her stomach knotted when she imagined Keegan standing before her father, asking for her hand. She feared her father would fly into an instant rage and try to hurt Keegan.
“I’m tired of thinking about all this,” Talia said. “Tell me of your adventures in the north and why you didn’t marry the MacKay chief.”
There was so much. How could Seona possibly tell her sister of everything she’d seen and experienced since last autumn? “You must promise not to tell anyone.”
