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‘Well, Monnine’s husband is not fond of me, nor is her father.’
‘Ah yes, the redhead,’ smirked Duncan.
Murray laughed. ‘That doesn’t exactly narrow it down. There’s many a husband in these parts not too fond of you.’ He turned to Conall. ‘What about you, Conall? Angry husbands after you too’'
‘No, but maybe angry fathers. On that patrol, before I was taken, all day long, Angus Muir was giving me the evil eye.’
‘So you think he may have found out you were naked in the hay with his daughter,’ said Rory rolling his eyes. ‘God knows he’s a mean old bastard, but he’s always been loyal to his clan, and besides, he’s not devious enough for this. If he wanted you dead, Angus would come at you from the front, no doubt about it.’
Duncan drained his glass in one go and slammed it down on the table. ‘I will get to the bottom of this if it takes me the rest of my days, and then whoever put the Moncurs up to taking Conall will pay with their lives. In the meantime, I think we should celebrate my son’s safe return with a feast and show our enemies that, no matter what they do, the Campbells are strong and united. We encountered some minstrels on the road heading in this direction. Why not get them to play for us and have some dancing tomorrow?’
‘Aye, a good plan Duncan,’ said Rory, raising his glass. ‘Now why don’t I fetch Kenna to you? It’s about time you met the girl who saved Conall’s life.’
***
Kenna came hesitantly into the hall with Rory, glancing uncertainly over at Conall for reassurance. He hadn’t seen her for several days, and now he was sorry to have avoided her. Rest and good food had brought a rose to her cheeks, and her face looked fuller. It suited her. She was blooming. It seemed all she had ever needed to flourish and come into her beauty was kindness and consideration. Conall was somewhat staggered by the effect she had on him, but he gathered his wits and strode forward to make the introductions to his father, who was watching them both like a hawk.
Kenna fell into a low curtsey, and when she spoke, her voice shook. ‘It is an honour to meet you, Laird Campbell.’
‘No, the honour is all mine, and I’ll not have formality here.’ Duncan took both her hands in his huge ones. ‘I wanted to thank you in person for all you have done for my son.’
‘He’s done a great deal for me too.’
‘Perhaps he has, but in order to make my family complete again, you have offended your own family irreparably, it would seem. They are now lost to you?’
‘Yes, completely. I can’t ever go back there, not that I wish to. There is nothing for me at Sgathach Dun, and there never has been. I was happy to leave that place, for it is truly cursed.’
‘And you don’t want your family to know you are here?’
‘Please don’t tell them.’
‘If that is your wish, I won’t, but, eventually, if they are looking for you, they might find out anyway.’
‘I don't think they will come looking for me. My father was not fond of me.’ Kenna looked down at her shoes.
‘More fool him,’ said Duncan looking at Kenna with open admiration, for indeed, she did look very lovely, the yellow dress she wore a perfect foil for her golden hair.
‘If they do come, we will be ready for them,’ said Conall with some vehemence, feeling sorry for Kenna. There was shame when she spoke of her family as if it were her fault they were such an evil, worthless bunch. ‘No one is coming for her father, and no one is taking her back, ever.’
Duncan looked from one to the other of them. ‘Conall tells me there is a curse hanging over Sgathach Dun. What is that?’
‘An old tale which has been passed on for generations. It is said that no laird of Sgathach Dun will die peacefully in his bed and that all will meet an early and grisly end, and so they have. The history of the Moncurs is littered with tales of men dying in unusual ways, horrible ways.’
‘And the women of Sgathach Dun, what becomes of them?’
‘They do not usually see old age, Laird.’
‘I see. Have you ever considered that maybe it is just bad luck, Kenna, and therefore no curse at all?’ he said, smiling.
‘No.’ Kenna shook her head. ‘I think there is evil running through my family and no escaping it. If you are a Moncur, you are destined to live an unhappy life without luck or comfort. If you are a Moncur, you are heading for the Devil and damnation.’
‘Well, I hope not,’ said Duncan. ‘You have sanctuary here at Dunslair, Kenna, now and always. You are under my protection, and that of my son and we Campbells look after our own, so you’ve no need to fear anything anymore.’
Conall was proud of his father’s words and also relieved how warmly he’d welcomed Kenna into the clan. He wanted his father to like her, needed him to, in fact. When she curtsied unsteadily and left the hall, he followed her.
‘Kenna, I hope my father didn’t scare you. He can be a bit fierce sometimes.’
‘No, not at all, he is a very kind and impressive man and he’s so very handsome.’
