Brighit averted her eyes, the sound of her heart beat loud in her ears.
“On their own land?” Sean asked.
Tadhg nodded. “They took chase and somehow the leader was murdered. There was no sign of the attackers.”
Sean glanced at Brighit, but he did not seem to notice the petrified look on her face.
“The closest neighbors, and even many from far away, have been here. Among us.” Terrence stated the obvious. “How could a group that large go unnoticed?”
“And more confusing is why Cathair and his men were out in the dark of night. I am wary of their truthfulness.”
Tadhg merely shrugged. “But if the men who attacked them are the same ones who have been killing our deer and leaving them to rot in our woods, I would like to receive just compensation as well.”
“I worried that this clan might become a problem. They were so reluctant to sign the treaty and tried to get others to reject it as well,” Sean said.
“I feared the same, which is why this union between Darragh and Brighit is so important. Their land stands between our twotúath,and they could make life difficult for us.”
“Was it not Seigine’s brother who approached us about their joining Clan Dubhshláine?” Darragh asked.
Tadhg nodded. His face a grim mask. “He was looking into the joining of the clans to ensure continued peace, but he assured me it could wait until after the wedding.”
Cold horror filled Brighit. After prolonging their betrothal for her own selfish purposes, had she managed to kill the one man who might have sought a truce in the area?
Tadhg turned to Darragh. “Are ye prepared for any trouble ye might encounter?”
His ominous words had her searching Darragh’s face for any clue, but he merely smiled. A quiet smile intended to calm any concerns. “I will be traveling with my new bride. Why would I be a threat to anyone? Besides, I believe I will find more trouble bedding my wife.”
Darragh winked at her and she gasped, her eyes widening at the unexpected jest.
As one, the younger men turned to her with a mix of expressions from avid curiosity to complete shock. Tadhg and Sean pretended not to be listening.
“Is this so?” Terrence asked, looking ready to explode with laughter. “This wee bit of a lass gave ye trouble? Did ye leave her disappointed?”
Brighit’s face tightened when he looked at her as if to discern the truth.
Darragh said, “I would never leave her disappointed, as well ye know.”
“Oh, ho ho!” Terrence stood as if he’d learned something of great importance. “How ye speak of yer own prowess—and in her presence, ready to set ye aright.”
The three turned to her as if ready for some reaction; she had none. Her face heated considerably, but she wanted to scream at them.
Stop! Ye have no idea what I am capable of.
“Is something amiss?” Darragh had moved closer without her noticing. He took her hand. “Yer skin is like ice.”
The others were once again paying them no attention. “I’m… I’m fine. Thank ye. Mayhap a little tired.”
“It has been a long few days.”
He didn’t know the half of it.
Sean inched forward on the bench and Brighit recognized her father’s speculative gaze. She wasn’t certain he could hear them, but she became overwhelmed with the idea of going to him, crying in his arms and confessing all that she had done. Surely he could protect her.
Her father finished off his mead and came to stand beside her.
“How fare ye, daughter?” His fingers smoothed down her hair. Tears pricked her eyes.
“I am fine,” she forced herself to say. “Thank ye for yer concern.”
