Page 27 of The Defiance of a Scottish Heart
“I don’t know.” Then she smiled. “I want to play again.”
Dyna stared at her father.
What the hell did that mean?
Chapter Ten
Taskill
Taskill, near the stables, conversed with two lasses as distant thunder rumbled. He’d taken his time going inside because he feared a confrontation with Dermot again. The last thing he wished for was to be a spectacle in front of everyone at the festival. If Dermot got enough amber liquid inside him, he’d definitely be calmer.
One said, “Why have you not chosen a bride yet, my lord MacVey? You surely are a handsome one.”
“You know my name, but I don’t know you. Where are you from?”
“We came along with Chief Rankin. We helped in the kitchens all day, but they no longer require our assistance.”
“I like the color of your hair,” one said.
“But I like your strong shoulders. You must work hard in the lists.”
“I do. It’s been lovely chatting with you, but I’m going to head inside. I heard the food is wonderful. It probably is if you both made the tarts.”
The two giggled and blushed. “We did. I hope you like them.”
One serving girl’s hand lingered on his arm. “You could escort us home, Taskill MacVey. I’ve a warm hearth waiting.”
Once, he might have accepted. Anything to forget the ache in his chest, the loneliness that followed him like a shadow.
But that was before Dermot’s announcement. Before he’d seen Sheona’s face go white. Before he’d remembered what it felt like to want something—someone—he could never have.
“Not tonight, lass.” He gently removed her hand. “But I thank you for the offer.”
Someone flew out of the keep. Brian MacQuarie came directly to him. “Taskill, they’re looking for you inside.”
“Who is?” Taskill asked, stepping away from the lasses and moving Brian from their prying ears.
“Logan. Hagen took a stroll with Sheona, and when they came back inside, Dermot demanded he marry her. Then Connor got involved, and then Logan. It is a wild melee, and I just saw your mother going over to argue with Dermot. It’s kind of entertaining to watch them all battle so.”
“Shite.” He moved toward the door, and though he hated confrontations of any kind, he needed to be inside. “My thanks, Brian. I’ll go see.”
Brian grabbed his arm. “Wait. Are you betrothed to Sheona?”
“Nay. Dermot is trying to force it, but neither of us is ready for marriage.”
Brian lowered his voice. “So, Sheona is available? She’s surely a pretty thing.”
“Sheona is a wonderful person. I’ve known her all my life, and I guess that’s why we aren’t interested at the moment. Too familiar, I think. We played together when we were younger.”
“Well, you’d have to be able to tolerate her sire, but he won’t be around forever. And besides, she’d move out of Dun Ara, would she not?”
“She probably would. If you’re interested, Brian, then make sure you visit with her this eve.” The two headed toward the door just as his brother exited, his mother’s voice louder than the others.
“He deserved it, Lennox. Taskill, there you are. Where the hell have you been?” Then she stared up at the sky. “Is it going to rain, because I’ll not go home in the rain.”
“Mama, we’ll go to the stables and see. I think this is going to pass right over. The thunder is in the distance.”
The two lasses giggled as they passed them.
