Page 44 of The Defiance of a Scottish Heart
Eva had said it took her awhile, but once her heart had changed, she knew it could never be any other way. She loved Sloan with all of her being.
That was what Sheona wished for herself, but her heart was empty.
Not just empty, but cold, and filled with hatred toward one particular man. Not Sloan or her father or even Taskill.
Certain that she’d uncovered nothing, she stepped out of the water and grabbed the linen to dry herself with, then dressed with care, using her fingers to straighten her long locks.
Perhaps if she changed herself, she’d feel differently. Gathering her things, she strolled back to her chamber, stepping inside and jumping. She hadn’t expected Brynja and Hildi to be there, but they were.
They had ribbons and a thick comb all set out.
“Come. Sit down. We’ll both do your hair. That way it goes much faster, especially when it’s still damp. Sit down and be prepared to fall in love with your new hairstyle.”
Sheona sat down, a wee bit unsettled about this change, but she was also excited. She knew no one here from her clan, so they could not report anything to her father. Why not try something different?
She sat down and let the two braid her hair, amazed at how skilled and quick they were with their hands. By the time they were done, she touched the long braids carefully, amazed at how tightly the strands were bound together.
“Many thanks to you. I wish I could see myself,” she said wistfully.
“Here,” Hildi said, producing a metallic bowl from her chest. “You can nearly see yourself in this.” She held it up in front of Sheona, who looked in the shiny bowl, her reflection visible enough to get a peek at her new hairstyle.
Sheona loved it.
But she surprised herself even more with the first thought that popped into her mind; she couldn’t help but wonder what Taskill would think of her hair.
Chapter Twenty
Dermot
What the hell did he know of women’s issues? Naught. Absolutely naught. He only knew that when Ailis was younger, she made him stay away from her once a moon for her womanly issues. That was it.
Oh, she had her odd moments in her last moon of carrying her bairns. Dermot never thought that was so unusual since her belly had been enormous. It had to be exhausting for Ailis to carry that monstrous burden around with her for so many moons. He never bothered her when she neared her time.
He understood those issues.
But this … what the abbess had mentioned … the possibility …
Nay. He couldn’t even think on it. Yet he had to. He truly did not wish to send his daughter to a nunnery. He loved Sheona. She looked more like his Ailis than Marta did. He wished for her to marry a good man and have many bairns.
He thought taking her to a nunnery would scare her into accepting Taskill, but what would he do if she stayed?
“Dermot,” Rut barked. “Stop your carrying on and tell me what is bothering you. Please. I cannot help you if I don’t know what is happening.”
“My wee lassie …”
“She’s not wee anymore. Now what’s wrong with Sheona? She was fine when she was here.”
“The abbess. What she said. What she suggested was just …”
“Dermot. Stop your crying,” Rut demanded. “Now. Stop crying and tell me what happened.” She crossed her arms and waited for him to finish, but he kept going. She reached over and slapped his hand away from his face. “Stop it, I said.”
That crossed the line. “You’re pishing me off, Rut.”
“Good. Now get mad and explain everything that happened. Stop acting like a girl.”
He gritted his teeth and narrowed his gaze, doing his best to give her his most intimidating stare, the one that scared every guard he ever had.
“Your glares don’t frighten me, Dermot. Tell me exactly what the abbess said.”
