"Aye, and what has it shown me?" Nessa asked bitterly. "Our father is dead because the kingkilledhim. He branded him a traitor. Father was many things, but above all he was loyal tae Edric Ashkirk. How could he be treated this way?"
Breana sighed. "Father may well have deserved tae fall for his crimes," she said quietly, "But it should have been at the hands of his enemies, nae at the word of a man to whom he'd given everythin'."
"Or perhaps it was a kind of poetic justice," Maeve said acidly. "An eagle may tolerate a lesser seabird. It may even share its space. But it will still devour it when it becomes hungry."
Nessa unfolded her arm, gently but firmly pushing Breana away from her and staring straight at Maeve. "I ken ye didnaecare for him, but our father was the only thing I had in the world."
"And who was at fault for that?" Maeve demanded. "Ye could have had sisters. Instead, ye sided with him, over and over again."
"He was mefather," Nessa protested.
Breana stood. "Maeve, please, dinnae?—"
"He was a monster! He sold us tae the Darachs. He hurt people for fun. He tried to kill Cailean!" Maeve shouted. "He tried tae killme, right in front of yer eyes!"
Nessa closed her eyes again, trying to fight off the memories of that day. She'd stood at the side of the stage, horrified and helpless, watching as the sister she'd tried to let escape had run right into the middle of the fray. She had been uneasy about the execution already, but she'd been able to rationalize it in her mind. But when her father had turned on Maeve…
She'd sworn she'd talk to him about it when he returned from Blackthorn Castle. She'd been sure he'd be able to make her understand, the same way he always did. But her father had never returned, and now Nessa was adrift at sea with no bearing.
"That's right. Close yer eyes tae it like ye always have. I dinnae ken what I hoped tae achieve here. Ye'll never ken right from wrong." Maeve was no longer shouting. She sounded tired and dismissive. "Breana, we should leave."
"Nessa, please," Breana started.
Nessa opened her eyes again and stood. All three sisters were now on their feet. Anger and hurt pulsed through her, obscuring her thoughts, making it almost impossible to think or control her own words. "Such a strong sense of right and wrong, Maeve. Such morals," she hissed. "Tell me, do ye think they'd be the same if another man was the first tae take ye tae yer bed?"
A beat of shocked silence passed. Even Nessa couldn't believe what she had just said.
"Nessa!" Breana exclaimed. "That's an awful thing tae say!"
Maeve's expression twisted, then she spoke with nothing but disgust. "It's how she's always been. We just forgot." She gave Nessa a look. "Ye can stay or go as ye like. We'll protect ye. We'll care for ye. But ken this, Nessa O'Sullivan. Ye ken nothin' of Cailean, nor of me, and ye certainly ken nothin' of love. I'm beginnin' tae wonder if ye ever will."
With that damning sentiment, Maeve spun on her heel and marched out of the room. Breana watched her go then turned to Nessa, looking helpless.
"Whatdoye want, Nessa?" Breana asked. She sounded like she was about to cry.
Nessa sank back into her chair. "A bath," she said. "Just a bath."
Breana looked like she wanted to say something more, but she simply nodded and said, "All right. Let me see what I can do. I'll send a maid up shortly."
Then she left, and Nessa was alone again.
Nessa lay flat on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. She hadn't moved from there since her sisters had left, and she was contemplating never moving again when the knock came. She'd almost forgotten that she'd ordered a bath.
"Come in," she called. "I think they left the door unlocked. Have ye come tae bathe me?"
The door opened. "If that's what ye want. I thought perhaps we should take a walk together before we get tae that point, though," Darren said laconically.
Nessa sat up straight, gasping. Her hand flew to her mouth as she spotted him there, leaning against her doorframe andwatching her once again, just as he had the night before. She was about to ask him what he was doing there, but instead, she burst into laughter.
Darren grinned at her reaction and entered the room, closing the door behind her. "Good tae see ye in happy spirits," he said. "I was expectin' somethin' more maudlin. What has ye laughin' like this?"
She couldn't tell him that she was laughing at what he'd said and how close it was to how she'd imagined he'd react earlier. Instead, she continued to giggle, enjoying the release of positive emotions for a change. Darren simply watched her, bemused but pleased, until at last she calmed down enough to speak.
"What are ye doin' here?" she asked at last. "Ye'd better leave. I'm expectin' a maid."
"I came tae check on ye," Darren told her. "Maeve was havin' a rant tae Cailean a wee while ago, and I couldnae help but overhear. Sounds like it didnae go so well."
The lightness Nessa had felt from the laughter dimmed a little. "Oh."
