Page 25 of The Defiance of a Scottish Heart
“You hit me.” His voice came out in such a low tone that Rut was unsure whether he would retaliate.
She dared him to try.
“Insult me again, and I’ll hit you again, you bullheaded ram.” The two stared at each other, and a moment later, Sloanreached for his father and pulled him back. “Eva, go find Ingelram for me. You’re going home, Da, and you’ll apologize to the Grants, both of them.”
Lennox took his mother’s shoulders, pulling her back. “I think you’ve done enough, Mother. Time for you to go home too.”
“Not until I kick him where he deserves,” she said, swinging her leg out at Dermot. “He’s had it coming for a long time, Lennox, and I’m going to be the one to set him straight. I’ll teach him the true value of a woman. He belongs in a pigsty.”
“Nay. I’m taking you home. Meg, I’ll be back within the hour. Enjoy yourself.” Lennox dragged his mother outside, but she eventually went willingly.
She shook her son’s hands from her shoulders. “I’m sorry, Lennox, but that poor girl. Now I know why she doesn’t want to marry. I’d rather become a nun to get the hell away from the old goat.”
Lennox called for their two horses from the lads, and they waited. “Why? I know you’re not thinking straight, but please tell me why you say that.”
“Because Dermot will kill her husband, and she’ll feel responsible. He’s a miserable old man ever since he lost Ailis.”
Lennox said, “I can’t argue that. But next time, don’t slug him, Mama.”
“Oh, horse bollocks. It was just a wee slap.”
Lennox snorted. “I doubt Dermot looked at it that way.”
She chuckled. “But it felt so good.”
Chapter Nine
Dyna
Dyna chatted with Avelina and Maeve while they watched the bairns in the bedchamber. She’d decided that with the festival going on, she’d keep her three in one place and guard them herself with Derric’s help. Lia and Magni were not coming, and neither was Rowan, so she was hoping to have a quiet night for the bairns. Grant was sitting in his bouncy chair built by his sire, watching the other three play battle on the sea with their animals and carved wooden boats.
Derric stood guard outside the door of the bairns’ bedchamber, watching the show below. Dyna could hear Connor and Dermot arguing over something, but she wasn’t sure what. Sylvi stopped and moved over to the window, pulling the fur back to peek outside.
“What is it, Sylvi? You’re letting all the chilly night air in.”
Sylvi shook her head and mumbled, “Mama, there’s a storm coming.”
Sandor got up and began to run in circles, so she guessed Jake was chasing him again, something that happened on occasion, even though Alasdair and his family had returned to Clan Grant.
Derric opened the door and said, “Diamond, get out here.”
Tora tugged on her legging and said, “Mama.”
“Just a moment, lass. I must see Da about something.” Tora scowled but went back to playing with Grant.
Dyna stuck her head out and asked, “What is it, Derric?”
“Hagen. He took Sheona Rankin out for a stroll, and her father is telling him that he has to marry her on the morrow.”
Dyna’s head nearly burst open. “What?” She pushed past him and moved over to the balcony railing so she could watch the action in the hall.
Dermot bellowed, then her father got out of his chair and pushed Hagen behind him. “Go, Da,” she whispered.
Tora opened the door and said, “Mama.”
“Just a moment. Derric. Go see what she wants. I have to watch this.” Derric ushered Tora back inside, so Dyna’s attention went back to the show in the hall.
Everyone was watching. She could have fired three arrows into the tapestry on the opposite wall and no one would have noticed.
