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‘But I am not asking them.’
‘And you shouldn’t be asking me. Must you drag me around by the nose like a pig and always have your way? You unman me when you do so, in front of everyone.’
‘You are ashamed of me.’
‘Of course not.’
‘Yes, you are. Oh, you liked me well enough in that cottage and when you needed my help to escape, but now we are here with your grand family in your grand castle, I’m not good enough. Meyrick was right about you.’
Black anger and jealousy gripped Conall at the mention of his name, and when he spoke, his voice was a snarl.
‘Meyrick? What has he been saying?’
‘He told me all about you, what you are really like.’
‘And he’s your special friend now, is he?’
‘He is kind to me, which is more than you are since we came to this place.’
‘Why don’t you go and askhimto dance then?’
‘I will.’
Despite his anger and her foolishness, he still wanted to protect her. ‘He’s not what you think he is, Kenna. Don’t believe everything he says.’
‘At least Meyrick’s a gentleman, not a brute like you.’
‘Aw, there’s no talking to you, Kenna, not now, not when you are drunk. If I were you, I would go outside and get some fresh air, before you fall over in front of everyone, andthatI would be ashamed of.’
Her palm met his face in a stinging slap. ‘I thought you were my friend, but you are just hateful,’ she sobbed.
‘Best leave me be then,’ he snarled.
***
Conall rubbed his stinging face and watched Kenna walk away unsteadily. God, she was so infuriating. His anger had hurt her, he knew that, but how much more hurt would she have been to know that every time he looked at her, it reminded him of being flung in that cell at Sgathach Dun, that nightmares came every night, of being trapped in his own coffin, scrabbling to get free, that he woke in the darkness in a cold sweat screaming out his fear, praying no one heard him. Sometimes he couldn’t bear to be around anyone. He was constantly on edge, waiting for a blow to come in the dark. Every noise had him straining his ears for danger like some frightened rabbit.
He knew the other men talked about him behind his back, rumours of what was done to him at Sgathach Dun spreading around Dunslair like a plague. They thought that he had been brought down, that he had grovelled and begged for his life and that Kenna had to save him. The truth was that they had saved each other, but no one wanted to hear that. His clansmen thought him a coward and Kenna a whore, so to have her drag him about like her slave was unbearable, and it would only have fuelled that fire. And yes, he was being prideful, but that was just about all he had left. He must make amends later, give her the reassurance she so obviously needed when he had calmed down, and she had sobered up.
Conall brooded in the shadows, lost in his dark thoughts for quite some time, as the music and laughter went unheeded around him, and when he looked up again, it was to see Meyrick whirling Kenna around the dance floor. He was leaning close to whisper something in her ear, and their cheeks were touching. The sight of it made his good sense disappear down the same path as his good intentions. As the minstrels paused to begin a new tune, he rushed over to them.
‘I’ll take the next dance with Kenna,’ he said firmly.
Meyrick gave him a filthy look, but Kenna did not protest, though she would not meet his eye. Conall took her in his arms and gripped her hard against him. There was silence between them for a few moments.
‘I’m sorry, Kenna,’ he said through gritted teeth.
‘I’m sorry for slapping you.’
‘Let’s put our quarrel behind us then.’ She was silent, so Conall tried to be civil. ‘So, are you making friends at Dunslair?’
She smiled just a little. ‘Aye, many people have been kind, and I am starting to make friends. Monnine over there is lovely.’
‘And Meyrick?’ Conall couldn’t help but ask.
‘He’s a friend also.’
Kenna’s cheeks were flushed. What was she hiding? She couldn’t really like that sly fool, could she?
