‘Now remember,’ her mother warned. ‘If any young man tries to force you—’ Her green eyes filled with concern, lines furrowing the edge of her mouth. She seemed torn by an invisible decision.
Aileen gave her mother a gentle hug. ‘I shall tell him no.’ She understood her mother’s fears, though there was no reason for them.
‘’Tis your choice if you wish to take a lover and honour the Goddess Danu tonight, my daughter. But you needn’t. You are still so very young.’ Though her mother honoured the gods of their ancestors, she did not look at all willing to see her daughter become a woman in the truest sense.
‘I will be fine, Mother.’ And she would. She stiffened her spine and put on a bright smile.
All around her, the sound of cattle lowing blended with the crowd of voices. The air was fragrant with flowers, and ahead she saw Lianna and Connor. Both wore green, and a crown of hawthorn and primroses adorned Lianna’s hair. Connor wore a matching garland of the same flowers.
Aileen drew closer, wishing with all her being that she could take Lianna’s place. She turned to join the circle of girls and stumbled into a man. Eachan caught her before she could fall, steadying her balance. ‘There, now. It’s not every day that a pretty cailín falls at my feet.’
His lips curved in a smile, the lines at his eyes creasing with humour. Nearly the age of her father, Eachan had always been kind.
‘I am sorry.’ Aileen’s face reddened, and she tried to escape his notice.
‘Don’t be. And may I say that ye look lovelier than the May Queen this evening?’
Aileen recognised the intent in his eyes and decided to let Eachan know her feelings. ‘It’s lying you are, if you say so.’
‘I do not lie. Anyone can see that Lianna has naught but wool for brains. You far outshine her.’
Aileen decided that Eachan had drunk too much mead. ‘I must go.’ She excused herself and found a place where she could stand and watch Connor and Lianna. Lianna laughed as Connor’s elbow brushed against her breast.
Aileen froze, as if Connor had touched her instead of Lianna. Her skin rose in response, her nipple growing tight against the wool of her gown.
‘MacEgan bastard,’ a male voice muttered from beside her. Aileen heard the jealousy in Tómas’s voice. A full head shorter than Connor, he resented not being chosen as Lianna’s consort.
‘He should not be here. He belongs with his own tribe.’
Aileen did not argue that Connor had been fostered with the Ó Duinnes since he was a babe. Tómas wanted Lianna as his bride and made no secret of it.
‘I’ll kill him if he touches her,’ Tómas threatened beneath his breath.
‘And bring bad luck upon us all if you do such a foolish thing,’ Aileen scolded. ‘He was chosen. There is nothing to be done about it.’
‘I won’t let him have her.’ The dark tone in his voice unnerved her.
‘Tá, you will, and, if you stop behaving like a sulking boy, she may come to you later.’
‘What would you know about it, Aileen? No man here wants a plain-faced girl like you for a bride.’
His words stung, but she raised her chin. ‘I know enough to hear a boy speaking nonsense instead of a man.’
He pushed away from her, and Aileen blinked hard. Apparently the Bealtaine dew had not yet worked its magic upon her face.
She joined in the dancing, trying not to be hurt when the young men smiled eagerly at the other girls. She would make just as fine a wife as any of them. Hadn’t the village healer Kyna taught her the skills of treating the sick?
Then she came face to face with Connor. His palm joined with hers in the dance, and it was a wonder lightning did not crackle from his touch. Nervous tension twined within her.
‘Hello, Connor,’ she squeaked. By the Blessed Danu, what had happened to her voice?
‘Hello.’ He turned her in a circle, smiling warmly. ‘I’ve been wanting to thank you for tending my hound. Ulric seems to be back to his old ways again.’
‘I am glad he is better.’ She had done nothing more than mix a mint infusion for the dog after the beastie had eaten more than his share of table scraps.
Connor took her right hand and squeezed it. ‘My thanks to you.’
At that, Aileen decided she would never wash her right hand again. They switched partners again, and she was saved from embarrassing herself when Eachan joined her.
