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Kenna sighed as she left the room and returned to her chambers, where she was picking out things to take with her in a great chest. Her mother was sitting there. Like Kenna, she was a demure lady with tresses of deep brown hair and a youthful look. She boasted about her youthful complexion and always attributed it to staying indoors and out of the elements. Kenna always rolled her eyes at this because, from her point of view, her mother had traded fun experiences for beauty. Kenna would much rather have adventures and end up old and wrinkly rather than keep the suppleness of youthful skin.

“Dae ye think Da will miss me?” Kenna asked. Nerves tingled in the pit of her stomach at the prospect of leaving home. She knew she had to ask all the questions that were on her mind, as once she left, she was never going to get a chance to ask them again.

“How could ye even think that?” her mother gasped. “Of course he loves ye.”

“I know he loves me. But does he love me? Sometimes I think he sees me as just another commodity tae trade. I remember his eyes when he received the offer of my hand from Manuel del Rio. He looked as though he had just won a fortune.”

“Aye, well, yer da haes always liked the finer things in life, but he would never make an arrangement like this if he didnae think it would work out for the best.”

“But I dinnae know anything about the man.” Some of Kenna’s uncertainty rose to the surface. She had always been a confident child, but she was leaving behind everything she knew. Of course, marriage was inevitable, but when she was younger, she had always envisioned herself marrying into another Highland clan. Apparently, Senor del Rio’s offer had been far too good for her father to refuse, and now Kenna was leaving everything she knew behind.

Her mother rose and cupped Kenna’s head in her hands. She planted a soft kiss on Kenna’s forehead. “Ye will learn everything ye need tae while ye are out in Spain. Oh, Kenna, ye should be grateful and excited. How many Highland lasses are given an opportunity like this?”

“I know,” Kenna sighed, and part of her was excited to explore this strange, exotic world, but as she looked around at the walls of her chamber, she was despondent that she would likely never get to see this place again. After all, a voyage from Scotland to Spain wasn’t something that she could undertake regularly.

Leaving home was not the event that she expected it to be. Her father wished her well, and he didn’t say that he was going to miss her at all. All he said was to remember what she had been taught, and remember that she was representing the family. Her mother was in tears and rushed away as soon as possible because she couldn’t cope with the emotion of it all. Kenna left wondering if her parents truly cared about her or if she had only ever been born to be married away. Cal was in the carriage with her as they made their way to the port, where a ship would carry her to Spain. He was tall and strong, a mighty warrior that made it to an age few warriors reached. His eyes were like flint, his voice was gravelly, and his body was always primed for danger.

“Who were those people Da was talking tae?” she asked.

“Laird and Lady McGrory. They hae a message for me tae take,” Cal said. Kenna had been around him long enough to know that he wasn’t happy about being reduced to a messenger.

“What message?” she asked.

Cal arched an eyebrow. He knew her well enough that she wouldn’t stop asking until he told her. “The lady’s father is dying, and as it happens, her brother is the captain of a trading ship. She wishes for him tae return home.”

“A trading ship?” Kenna scrunched up her face in confusion. “Why would the son of a laird gae sailing?”

“I will make sure tae ask him,” Cal replied dryly. Kenna slumped in her chair and felt the trundling rhythm of the carriage as it made its way to the docks. She took a moment to appreciate all the sights and sounds that she was never going to see again.

The docks were alive with workers carrying crates and barrels off ships, while loading them on again. The stench of brine filled the air and hit them as soon as they alighted from the carriage.

“Now lass, sailors are a hardy lot. They hae rules of their own, and often they hae been away from land for sae long, they forget themselves around ladies. Ye may hear and see things that are unsuitable for a maiden, sae I suggest that ye stay in yer cabin until we reach Spain. It’s the only way tae ensure that yer virtue and innocence remain intact.”

Kenna rolled her eyes and stopped abruptly. She placed her hands on her hips and glared at the older man. “If ye think I’m gaeing tae spend the voyage cooped up in a small cabin, ye hae another thing coming. I can handle more than ye think, Cal. I’m nae some fragile bird that needs looking after.” She stormed away, leaving Cal having to quicken his pace to keep up. She was a woman now, embarking on an adventure to a new country where she was going to begin a new life with a wealthy Spaniard. Why were people still eager to treat her as though she was nothing more than a girl?

She was more than that. She had spirit, she had fire, and she wasn’t about to let others control her life for her.

Kenna walked up the gangplank onto the deck. The boat creaked, and it was alive with activity as the crew brought on supplies for the voyage. Cal was like her shadow, always there, looming over her. The captain was a trim man, wearing a hat with a wide brim that shaded his eyes. He addressed Cal.

“Welcome tae the Purity,” he said. “I’m sure ye will find everything tae yer liking. We are making the final preparations tae leave, and we shall be departing shortly. The lady’s cabin—”

“The lady is right here, and ye can speak directly tae me,” Kenna grunted, her words laced with frustration. She glared at the captain, who stammered and switched his gaze between Kenna and Cal. The crew muttered and chuckled to themselves as she was shown to her cabin. She overheard them place wagers on how long she was going to last at sea before she begged to return home. She scowled, but did not say anything for the moment. They all thought they knew her just because she was the daughter of a laird. They all thought that she was weak and feeble because she was being passed from her father to Senor del Rio. Was that truly all her life amounted to, being traded like some cloth or spice?

The boat swayed in the harbor, and the crew yelled at each other. She smiled a little as she heard more curse words in those brief minutes than she had in her entire life, although it was Cal’s reaction that made it all the more amusing. He scowled and glared at the door, as if afraid that these mere words would somehow lessen her virtue.

“The voyage will nae be long. Ye will nae hae tae put up with them tae much. I’ll make sure they keep their distance,” Cal said. She smiled at the offer of his protection. It was sad to think about, but in a way, he cared about her more than her father did.

“What dae ye know about Senor del Rio?” she asked.

“He is a wealthy man, well-respected, and he seemed eager tae make ye his wife. He haes a big estate, and yer da speculates that he haes ties with Spanish royalty.”

“Aye, but what about the man?” Kenna stressed. “Is he kind? Funny? Clever? Is he compassionate and sensitive? Is he romantic?”

Cal cleared his throat and shifted his weight between his feet. “Ah…well…I dinnae know about that…” he said.

Kenna sighed and slumped in her chair, folding her arms across her chest. “Of course. I doubt Da thought it was very important tae know things like that. All he cares about is wealth.”