Page 36 of The Defiance of a Scottish Heart
“He suggested it. I didn’t think I was interested, but I would like to stay for a while and consider it. If you don’t mind. May I stay and think on it?” Sheona couldn’t stop the tears from forming in the corners of her eyes. She blinked hard to stop them but failed.
“I will allow it, but please allow me to speak to your sire alone, lass. Did you bring your things with you?”
She nodded, the lump in her throat expanding.
“Ilene!”
The door opened, and the prioress said, “Please show Sheona to the chamber with Hildi and Brynja. She will be staying for a bit. Do you agree, Sheona?”
Sheona nodded, excited to be with Brynja and Hildi. She left, casting a quick glance at her father before he was called into the prioress’s office.
She was glad to be staying, to get some time away from her father.
Time to think.
Chapter Fourteen
Dermot
Dermot stepped inside after watching his youngest daughter depart, the tears in her eyes visible, though she did her best to hide them. He didn’t know what to say to her. The truth was he’d never been more surprised to hear that Sheona wished to stay.
Why, he had no idea.
“Chief Rankin, please sit down. I can see you’re unsettled, and I think I can help you with this a wee bit.”
Dermot had never felt so lost, his insides churning from the tears he saw in his daughter’s eyes. His wee lassie. “How can you possibly help me with my daughter? She was my wee bairn who sat on my lap for so many years. I fixed every skinned elbow, every tear, every fall, no matter what. Now I have no idea how to help her. If my wife hadn’t died, there’d be no problem. But I know not what to do for her. She doesn’t wish to stay here, so why did she change her mind all of a sudden?”
“Chief, please allow me to explain what I see.” The prioress waved him toward a chair, so he flopped into it. Then she continued, “Many times, when young women come to me, it’s not because of the reason you think it is. In other words, it’s not because they wish to become nuns.”
“Why else would someone wish to come here and be shut off from everything and everyone who loves her?”
The prioress moved her chair back and folded her hands in her lap, thinking for a bit. Too long, in Dermot’s mind.
He blurted out, “Why? Why the hell would a beautiful lass wish to be here when she should be getting married and having bairns?”
“Some do love God enough to stay, but many have other reasons behind their actions. In my experience, it’s usually because she’s running away from something. Is there anythingyou can think of that would cause her to wish to hide from everyone? Has something happened to her that you’re not thinking on? Or …”
“Nay. I wished to help her get married, find a man to betroth her to, but that shouldn’t be enough to make her hide. I didn’t expect her to wish to stay. I was just trying to scare her into marrying the lad who lives nearby.” And keep her away from the fool he’d overheard talking about his sweet lass. He’d still been unable to determine who the bastard was, but he would. Until then, Sheona would be safer here, though he couldn’t tell her why.
The prioress nodded, continuing to think.
“I will add that she lost her mother a year ago and that’s been hard. But then why now?”
The prioress still didn’t speak.
“And she lost a brother, though I try not to think on that. He betrayed me in the end. But that wouldn’t force her to run away. He’s gone now.”
The prioress smiled but remained quiet.
“Her sister just had a bairn and her brother married, but that’s no reason to take her vows. Is it?” He scratched his head. “Nay, why would she leave our castle when she has such a beautiful new niece? It took poor Marta many moons to have that bairn. Years, even.”
“Chief, I’ll try to mention this as delicately as I can. It sounds as though you’ve had much going on in your clan. And may I add that we’ve heard of recent troubles on Mull. Rowan and the other bairns being kidnapped. Cruel men coming over curtain walls to steal some away. Was there not a woman stolen from Duart Castle? Sometimes, when so much is going on, some people are overlooked in the excitement and things happen, things we wish would not happen, but they do. Especially to young lasses …”
Dermot stood up. “What the hell are you saying? What the … You mean … Nay, not my lassie. Nay. I’m telling you nay. I forbid anyone to touch my lass. She was never kidnapped.” A fury flew through him at the thought of someone mishandling his beautiful, innocent lassie. His wee lass. “I brought her here to protect her from that. It hasn’t happened yet. I would know. She would tell me, would she not?”
“Chief, allow her to stay for a few days. I’ll speak with her. See what I can learn. I’ll agree with you. She is not the usual type I see who wish to devote their time to prayer and Our Lord, but if she wishes to find time alone to understand herself, I’m willing to give her that.”
“Are there men here?”
