Page 16 of The Defiance of a Scottish Heart
The door opened, and she’d expected to see Marta or Eva, but instead, her father sauntered across the parapets, finding a stool to set beside hers.
“Greetings to you, lass.”
“Da.” Sheona fumbled with the fur she had across her lap, something to keep her hands busy.
“Lass, I apologize for yelling so at you. But you know how I feel about chieftains’ business.”
“Nay, I don’t. Please tell me why I shouldn’t be involved when you’re discussing my life. This wasn’t some minor issue, Papa. You wished to choose someone without asking me. Why?”
“Och, because that’s the way it’s always been done. We made arrangements that would guarantee our allies for years to come. It’s the way of the Highlands. You know it, lass.”
“Da, do you really think MacVeys would ever turn against us? Especially when Sloan is married to Eva?”
He sighed. “Nay, but I’m not going to be around forever, Sheona. I’d like to see you happily married with bairns of your own.”
She considered her words carefully before saying what was on her mind, trying to offer the best explanation her father would accept. “But what if I don’t think I’m right for marriage?” She had no desire to marry anyone else but Taskill, and since he wasn’t willing to marry her, then her choice was no marriage at all, for more than one reason.
“Oh, horse bollocks. Every lass should be married. Why would you wish to spend your life alone? I’ve been lost without my Ailis, and you know it.”
“I just don’t think I would like married life.” She dropped her gaze, hoping her sire wouldn’t see the fear in her eyes. After all, she knew what would happen when one got married. She was fully aware of maidenheads and how they got ripped out of one’s insides, making a lass bleed and cry in pain.
Scream in pain.
Nay. Not for her. Why would she want that forced on her just to have a bairn? And the pain of childbirth? She’d heard Marta and decided that wasn’t for her either.
Her mind was made up. She would never marry.
“Well, if you’re going to be that stubborn about it, then your choices are limited, lass. You have to become a nun.” He stood up, not waiting to hear her response, something that surprised her.
She could have guessed a hundred different responses, but none of them would have come close to this. “A nun? You mean live in a kirk?”
“Aye, if you cannot be married with a man, then you must devote your life to the Lord. Those are your choices, Sheona. I’ll not allow anything else. A spinster’s life is no life for one of my girls. Find a husband or become a nun. You think on it and let me know by the morrow.” He got up to take his leave and headed to the staircase.
“Da, wait.” She stood, waiting for him to turn around because she wished to see his expression.
It took him a while, but he finally turned back to her. “What is it?”
“You wish to get rid of me? Send me off to the nunnery? Just because I don’t wish to marry Taskill MacVey?”
“Nay. I wish for you to marry and have bairns. Live on the isle. The only one is Taskill. I don’t think Brian MacQuarie is right for you, so its MacVey or the nunnery.”
“What about the Granthams? There are others. Broc MacNicol is betrothed to Merryn MacClane.”
“Fine. You find a Grant who will marry you and I’ll agree. None of those Ramsays. Anyone with Logan Ramsay blood in them is no good. I don’t want my granddaughters acting like Gwyneth Ramsay either. You’ve got one sennight. I’ll contact the nunnery, just in case that’s your choice.”
Sheona fell back onto her stool after her sire left. She had three choices—a nunnery, Taskill, or find a Grant to marry. Her life was falling apart.
She had to find Marta and see what she thought.
Marta would surely be in her chamber feeding wee Margret. It was nearly the bairn’s bedtime, though the wee lass did not sleep through the night yet.
She knocked on Marta’s door. “May I come in to chat with you, Marta?”
“Of course,” she called out.
Sheona peeked her head around the corner.
“Come in, Sheona. Gideon is with Sloan and Da, checking the curtain wall. Some area that needs repairing. I’m glad Gideon is familiar with Da’s ways. Anything upsets Papa these days, including you, poor sister.” Margret suckled quietly while Marta sipped on some wine.
