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Eoghan chuckled. “Hello there, wee lassie. What do ye say ye come sit with me for a spell and let yer mother eat?” Gently, he took hold of Frederica, all but tugging her out of Kate’s arms. He settled her comfortably in the crook of his own, rocking her gently with the practiced ease of a father. “See? Yer Mama is right there.” He held Frederica so she could see Kate. Then he looked up and met Kate’s eyes. “Eat up, lass. Before ye know it, yer hands will be full again, with none left over to move food into yer mouth.” He chuckled warmly, tickling Frederica under her chin.
Kate blinked, overwhelmed by this sudden change. Yet she felt strangely light, almost weightless. Tentatively, she began to eat, realizing how famished she was and how wonderful everything tasted. She kept glancing up at Frederica and Eoghan, wondering about the tall, red-haired man. “Is your wife here tonight as well?”
The expression in Eoghan’s eyes immediately darkened. “She’s not,” he said in a tone that made Kate feel chilled. “We lost her a few years back.”
Sorrow swept through Kate at his words; yet before she could find a way to express it, loud voices echoed through the hall, along with clapping hands and stomping feet. A frown drew down Kate’s brows as she looked from the people around her back to Eoghan, a question in her gaze.
“What’s happening?” Kate heard Sarah inquire, and the two sisters exchanged a confused glance.
Keir chuckled. “They’re demanding a story.”
Kate saw Sarah still, as though some sense of dark foreboding had come over her, before she asked, “What story?”
Keir leaned closer, a teasing twinkle in his eyes. “Yers,” he whispered just loud enough for Kate to hear.
Chapter Twenty-Three
WITHOUT WARNING
Still standing in the arched doorway to the great hall, her arms crossed over her chest, Kenna glared at the woman by Keir’s side. Tension lingered in every muscle, and her teeth pressed together so hard her jaw hurt. Yet she could not avert her eyes, could not stop staring at the golden-haired English lady with the wide blue eyes, who blushed every time Keir smiled at her or leaned closer to whisper something in her ear, the woman who now stood inherplace.
He’s mine, a voice deep down whispered again and again, and each time the words echoed through Kenna’s head, she felt her teeth press together a little harder.He’s mine. He’s always been mine.
And then her gaze locked upon the small braids woven in to the lady’s hair, running along her temples and meeting at the back of her head. They were a mirror image of Keir’s, and Kenna stared at them in utter shock.Why would she—?
“There ye are! I’ve been looking all over for ye.”
At the sound of Brenda’s voice, Kenna flinched. She had to blink her eyes twice to focus her thoughts when her friend suddenly stood before her, as though risen from the ground. Brenda’s cheeks shone rosy with excitement, and she had weaved white beads into her mahogany tresses for tonight’s gathering.
“Are ye all right?” Brenda inquired, a slight frown coming to her pretty face. “I thought ye’d be happy. Have ye not been waiting for Keir to return all these months?” Her hands reached out and grasped Kenna’s upper arms, giving her a little shake. “Why the frown?”
Kenna exhaled a deep breath. Then, she nodded past Brenda’s shoulder toward the table where Keir was just now whispering something into the English lady’s ear. “That’s why,” Kenna spat, and her muscles tensed beneath Brenda’s hands.
Looking a bit befuddled, Brenda craned her neck to look over her shoulder. “What do ye mean? I dunna see what—” Her voice broke off, and despite her own tension, Kenna could feel Brenda still, her hands now clamping down upon Kenna’s arms. “Oh,” she all but released a breath, and that one little sound felt like a knife to Kenna’s heart.
“Aye,” Kenna grumbled. “Oh.”
Spinning back around, Brenda’s brown eyes looked into hers, an expression of bewilderment upon her face. “What does this—? I mean, does this mean that he—” She shook her head, as though to clear it. “I mean, I’d heard that he had brought two English ladies back with him. However, I did not know that…”
Kenna’s shoulders slumped, and in that moment, she felt utterly defeated. “Neither had I,” she murmured, hating that almost pitying look in her friend’s eyes. “I spoke to him last night, and I hoped that…” Tears misted her eyes.
“Oh, Kenna,” Brenda exclaimed compassionately, and her arms flew forward, pulling Kenna into a tight embrace. “I’m so sorry. I know how much he means to ye. Are ye certain that—?”
All of a sudden, the hum of voices in the hall grew louder, accompanied by clapping and stomping. It slowly rose to a crescendo until Keir finally rose from his spot at the chieftain’s table, a wide smile upon his face and a look of indulgence in his eyes.
Kenna sighed inwardly, her heart twisting at the sight of him. Never before had she felt like this. Always had she savored each and every glimpse of him, those piercing blue eyes that had a way of seeing right into her heart. The way Keir knew how to smile, with every inch of himself. Every little touch he had bestowed upon her, grasping her middle and spinning her out in a circle, or pulling her close and pressing a kiss to her temple. Always had she thought of him as hers. Never had there been any doubt in her heart…
… not until the day he had left.
Without a word.
Without any warning.
Still, Kenna had counted the days until his return, convincing herself that once he did, all her dreams would finally come to pass.Was I a fool?No, Kenna refused to believe that. After all, she knew him. She had known him all her life, and he had always looked at her with love in his heart. She was certain of it.
“Would ye rather leave?” Brenda whispered gently, tucking a curl away from Kenna’s forehead and back behind her ear. “Perhaps we should go for a walk or—?”
Kenna shook her head vehemently. “No, I willna leave. This is my home, not hers. I needa hear. I needa find out what happened. I needa find out… who she is to him.”
