Page 17 of The Defiance of a Scottish Heart
“I surely have upset him. I just came from a conversation with Da, and I wish to hear your thoughts.”
“Oh dear. I can tell it was not a pleasant conversation, was it?”
Sheona shook her head, fighting her tears. “Nay. Not good at all.” She lifted her gaze to the ceiling, hoping her tears would stay at bay. “He said I must marry.”
“Well, that’s not so bad. So, he’s not forcing you to marry Taskill? I thought that would please you.”
“He said I could marry someone else on the isle, but who is there? I don’t care much for Brian MacQuarie, so he said my only other choice was a Grant. He said marrying a Ramsay wasn’t allowed. And I don’t know any Grants other than Broc, and he’s pledged to Merryn MacClane now. Do you know any other Grant men of age? Nice ones?” Not that it mattered to her. It wasn’t that she was set against Taskill as she was set against any man at all.
Marta said, “Let me think. Grant men. So, Connor is a Grant, and his daughter is Dyna. Doesn’t she have a sister and two brothers? She has a sister Astra, and a younger brother. I think there’s a blond lad who’s older. Hagen, I think? He has those blue eyes that see right through you. Like Dyna and her mother. Isn’t it fun to see how their bairns all came out? Sela is white-haired, blue-eyed, and Connor has the darkest hair everwith blue eyes. And Dyna is like her mother. And the youngest one, Morgan, looks like Connor. But Hagen is fair-haired, not white-haired, but golden. They say Connor’s mother was golden-haired. Mayhap you should consider Hagen.”
“I’ll speak with Dyna when we go. But how do I go ask her? Wouldn’t it seem unusual to approach and inquire about her brother’s marital status?”
“I know. I heard they are having a festival on the morrow. A big one. We can go. I’ll go with you. Dyna told me once they all have brothers when I asked about Broc. She said Broc has two brothers and two sisters. And Alaric has a brother, and he is handsome, is he not? I met him once. His name is Jowell, I think. I wonder if he’s here. You could have your pick. I’ll help you.” She reached over and patted Sheona’s hands.
Sheona couldn’t fathom walking into Clan Grantham and asking Dyna if there was an available bachelor. What a ridiculous thought. “Where is the nearest nunnery? Mayhap I should consider becoming a nun.”
“A nunnery? There aren’t any on the isle. There’s one on Iona near the abbey. They say it’s lovely. Isn’t that where Magni stayed with his parents? And I think that’s where Simone and Artan live too, though Artan goes back and forth because he’s Quade’s second. I would bet that Simone comes to MacQuarie Castle soon. I heard she loves the beaches and likes to lie in the nude in the sun, and no one sees her …” Marta giggled, then looked at her sister.
Sheona couldn’t stop the tears from falling. Where did she belong?
“Sheona, you might enjoy visiting the nunnery, talking to some of the nuns. But I don’t see you as a nun. You don’t pray often, do you?”
Sheona shook her head. “Mama did, but I do not view the church in the same way she did.”
“I don’t either. I pray, but not as often as I should. Please tell me more about Taskill and marriage. Why is it you don’t wish to marry? Is it Taskill or any man? And if so, why?”
“I don’t think I’m a good match with Taskill.”
“But I remember you having fun with him when you were younger. He would tease you and chase you and toss you in the sound like you were a feather. And you paired up for the obstacle courses. You always laughed with him, didn’t you?”
“I did, but we were kids. He also rejected me. He told Da he wouldn’t marry me, so why would I wish to pursue him? I don’t know him at all now. All I know is what I hear about him …”
Marta lifted Margret and held her against her shoulder, patting her back to try to get her to burp. “You mean that he is a flirt? I don’t think he is. Taskill is one of those people who loves life. He enjoys talking with everyone. Just because he jests with a lass or teases her doesn’t mean he’s bedding her. I don’t know …” Margret fussed after letting out a loud belch, one that made Sheona giggle, but then the lassie began to whimper. “I have more, lassie. Calm down.” Then she tried to put her back to the breast.
While Marta fussed with her daughter, Sheona considered something she never had before. Perhaps she should disclose her reason for rejecting marriage; the notion unsettled her to the point of dizziness. Was it time to tell her sister the truth?
Why she knew she could never marry.
Explain what had happened that taught her so much.
Why no Grant—Hagen or Jowell—would suit her. She would die of embarrassment before she’d tell her sire, but Marta would listen and understand. Wouldn’t she?
Margret cried and swung her wee fists. “She just won’t latch on this side. I tell her she gets too impatient and then it doesn’t work.” The bairn hollered louder and Marta got more upset and the babe cried harder and …
“I’ll come back later, Marta.”
She couldn’t tell anyone the truth, so Sheona left.
She was destined to become a nun.
Chapter Six
Taskill
“I hear you’re getting married, Taskill,” one of the serving maids teased when he came in to grab a loaf of bread to take to the men at the gates.
Taskill sauntered over to the pretty maid. “And where did you hear that, Florie?”
