Page 19 of The Defiance of a Scottish Heart
“She’s not for me, Mama!”
His mother’s hands rose as a sign of her giving up. “I’ll accept that. Let’s move on, then. There is a festival at Duart Castle this eve. I was not planning to attend, but Lennox and Eva are going, so I think we should go too. We’ll move through the crowd and see who is available. Have you any ideas? Who are allthe unmarried men on the isle? And when you think on it, make sure you consider how fussy the bastard Dermot is going to be.” She twirled a loose hair as she stared at the wall over Taskill’s head.
“Mama. Since when do you curse like a Norseman?”
“Since Eva moved to Rankin land.”
He chuckled over that comment, but then considered all the men on the isle. “There’s Brian MacQuarie. And there’s also Broc MacNicol.”
“Broc is betrothed to Merryn.”
“Not officially. They handfasted, I think.”
“He’s not a choice. But Brian is definitely a reasonable candidate. Keep going.”
He leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. This was important. “Brian would be an excellent candidate. He’s always said he wanted bairns.”
“Fine. Speak with him this eve. Who else?”
“Tristan MacClane.”
His mother scowled. “I suppose. He’s a busy man. I doubt he’s ready to commit to anyone yet.”
“You don’t know that.”
“True. Fine. We have Brian and Tristan. Who else?”
A knock interrupted them, and Meg stuck her head in. “May I join you? What’s going on with Taskill and Sheona?”
Taskill sighed. “Aye, please join us. I’m running out of names.” And he needed someone to support his stance against his mother. Anyone to draw his mother’s attention away from him.
“Meg just moved here. How is she going to know anyone, Taskill?” His mother shook her head but waved for Meg to join them.
Meg asked, “What do I not know?”
Taskill explained, “Mama has come up with the brilliant idea to find another man for Sheona, so that I can be let out of this arrangement. She thinks Dermot won’t change his mind, so we are trying to create a list of alternative potential husbands.”
His mother stared at the wall. “I’ll fix that old goat. He’ll not be bossing my bairns around.” A quick smirk passed over her face before she covered it, brought her attention back to Taskill, and said, “We need more names. More prospective husbands for Sheona. They shouldn’t be too far away. Dermot won’t like his daughter going too far away.”
“You must know him well, Rut,” Meg said with a smile, casting a sideways glance at Taskill. “Who do you have so far?”
Taskill sighed and said, “Brian MacQuarie and Tristan MacClane. That’s all. Can you add to the list? We’re going to the festival at Duart Castle and hope others will be there this eve. Know you any single Grants or Ramsays?”
“Aye, they’ll have to have noble blood. Dermot will insist upon it.” Rut pursed her lips and leaned back in her chair.
Meg frowned. “I’m not noble blood.”
Rut gave an unladylike snort. “I’m not Dermot Rankin now, am I? I’m much more accepting than he is.” His mother lifted her chin a notch, and Taskill had to stop from smiling. Was there something between his mother and Dermot? “Go ahead, Meg. I’m hoping for at least one more.”
Meg laughed. “One? There are plenty of Grants and Ramsays.”
Taskill had to admit that her answer shocked him. He had no idea, and he’d lived here much longer than Meg had, so how did she know? “Names, please. Any male who is unmarried.”
“There’s Broc’s brother, Paden. And Alaric has a brother named Jowell. He’s really cute. And Hagen has that golden-blond hair like a Norse god, all bronze-skinned from the sun. He would be a splendid choice. Oh! And the Ramsays. I heardConnor say his cousin Brigid had two lads who were driving all the lasses daft. One was here. I think they called him Hawk, and he has a brother named Merek. Oh, and Eli’s only brother named Errol, but I don’t know how old he is.”
Taskill and his mother both stared at Meg. He was shocked that Meg spoke the way she did.
“How do you know all these men, my dear?” his mother asked.
