Over an ale by the hearthfire, Cameron told his friend what Sutherland was considering.
“Ye lucky bastard,” Malcolm said and laughed. “I hear she’s bonnie.”
“As long as she’s no’ murderous.” Cameron swalloweda mouthful of ale. “But twill no’ be me. One of my brothers will get the honor of mending the feud."
“If her da is intent on honoring the betrothal agreement, she’d best no’ be.”
“I’m glad enough no’ to be the one.”
“Ach, left a lass behind, did ye?”
Cameron shrugged and lifted his cup in silent toast. Malcolm wouldn’t press, at least not right away.
Cameron looked around the great hall, noting the people moving through it, the tapestries and banners gracing the walls, the swords displayed over the hearth. All comfortably familiar. He was glad to be home. To see Malcolm and the rest of his old friends. And truth be told, mildly curious about the MacKay lass. Yet, something Mary had said before he left Rose had plagued him on the trip here, and bothered him still. She had predicted he’d return home and forget about her. He shook his head. Forget Mary? He knew now that he never would.
The next morning,when Mary went to fetch Seona, the guard usually outside her door was missing. Mary knocked but got no answer. She took a breath and opened the door, fearing she’d find Seona and her guardsman in her bed. But the chamber was empty.
Seona was never up and about this early. Had Mary seeing her with the guardsman led her to spend the night with her husband? Her father was in his solar when she checked there.
“Have ye seen Seona?” she asked.
“No’ this morning,” he replied.
Mary’s nerve failed her at the thought of asking if she’d spent the night in his bed. Instead, she continued her search. Finally, she spotted a guard outside the tiny Rose kirk. Surprised, she brushed past him and found Seona sitting on a bench at the back. Whether she was praying or just thinking, Mary didn’t want to disturb her and turned to leave, but her boot scraped on the stone floor.
Seona turned at the noise. “Stay with me,” she said quietly.
The request shocked Mary. Seona usually did her utmost to avoid her and her never-ending lessons. Mary never expected to be invited to keep her company.
“Of course,” Mary replied and took a seat on the bench next to her. “Does something trouble ye?” Like the affair she appeared to be having?
Seona took so long to answer, Mary feared she’d been mistaken in the invitation she thought she’d heard.
But Seona finally took a breath. “I am trapped here.”
Mary fought not to laugh. Seona had no idea what being trapped at Rose meant. “I, too. ’Tis the burden we women bear, to live where and how and with whom men decide.”
“I’m tired of it.”
“Ye have barely arrived. And ye may soon have a bairn on the way. Does the prospect of theweanno’ make ye a wee bit happy?”
Seona gazed at the cross hung on the wall at the front of the kirk. “It should. I hope it will, when it comes.”
“I do, too.” Mary didn’t know what to say to console the lass. For all any of them knew, the future of clan Roselay within her. She should have been pleased and proud but all she felt was trapped.
Mary realized the same applied to her. As eldest and heir, at least until Seona provided a son for the clan, Mary was also the future of clan Rose, and should be pleased and proud. Still, she’d spent years feeling trapped and resenting her father. Despite Seona’s many faults, Mary could sympathize with her a little.
“I wish to make a bargain with ye,” Seona said.
Mary had an idea what was coming and didn’t like it.
“In exchange for yer silence, I’ll make ye this promise,” Seona said. “I will convince yer father to wed ye away, and soon. Yer presence here is a distraction.”
“A distraction? Ye mean a danger to ye, and to yer position as my father’s wife.”
Seona laid a hand on her belly. “As soon as I give yer father a son, even before, when I am carrying, my position will be in nay danger.”
“Even if Da finds out what ye have done?”
