Page 14 of The Defiance of a Scottish Heart
Taskill knew that wasn’t true, though his mother liked to think she knew everything their father did. Men kept secrets.
He knew it better than anyone.
“Mama, I’ve calmed him down for now. Sloan will talk to him. I don’t want you to go there. Leave it be for now, though I just warned Taskill that Dermot will probably return in a sennight.”
His mother narrowed her gaze at her youngest son. “Then Taskill should find himself a wife. It’s about time. I’d like to see all three of you married with bairns before I pass on. Have you someone in mind, Taskill?”
“Nay, Mama. No one at all.”
“What think you of Sheona?” she asked warily.
“Nay.”
“Why not? I mean, I don’t think you should simply because Dermot wishes for it, but she is a lovely lass and she’s still unmarried,” his mother suggested.
“We were friends for so long, playmates, that it just doesn’t seem right, Mama. I don’t look at her that way.”
“Who do you look at that way?” she asked, clearly doubting his words.
“I don’t want—I mean, I wouldn’t do that to her.” What exactly was he trying to say, anyway? He could not describe what weighed heavy like a rock in his gut.
“What the hell does that mean?” Lennox asked.
Meg said, “You would make a lovely couple, but if she’s not right for you, just say so, Taskill. No need to explain.”
“She’s not right for me,” he said, letting out a breath.
“Then who is?” his mother asked, her arms now crossed the way she crossed them when you didn’t dare crossher.
“No one. There is no one right for me. And I cannot explain it.”
Taskill didn’t understand it himself, so how could he possibly explain it to someone else? He wasn’t right for anyone.
They all left him alone, but he couldn’t handle the guilt raging through him. He knew exactly how it all had looked to Sheona. She’d been humiliated by everyone for one reason.
He’d rejected her in front of the entire MacVey Clan.
He mounted his horse and headed out, not knowing exactly where he’d go, but he rode toward the sea. A short time later, he found himself outside Clan Rankin.
Sloan was at the gates, but Dermot was not anywhere to be seen. “Sloan, may I speak with Sheona, please?”
“Are you sure you wish to see her after all that happened?”
“I owe her an apology, and I’d like to do it face-to-face. Please.”
Sloan said, “Come in. I’ll bring her to my solar. I’ll leave you two alone, but I’ll be in the hall listening.”
“And your sire?”
“I’ll keep him away.”
“My thanks,” he said, following Sloan inside, wiping the sweat from his hands onto his trews. The lass did the strangest things to him.
He paced, but he didn’t have to wait for long. She entered, her eyes red, but no visible tears. Even upset, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Sloan closed the door behind her.
“Sheona, I came to apologize. I’m sorry everything happened the way it did. I didn’t mean to embarrass you, but I had no idea your father would do what he did.”
“Nor did I. I know it’s not your fault that it happened the way it did, but…”
