Page 73 of The Defiance of a Scottish Heart
She closed her eyes as memories of the poor lass’s cries filled her mind. “He forced himself on her, tricked her, then when he hurt her, she begged him to leave her be, that it was too painful, but he persisted, covering her mouth with his hand and berating her. She cried and screamed. Then I screamed for her. When someone finally heard us, they came into the stable and he stopped.
“I couldn’t see anything, only hear what happened. He whispered to her and said if she ever told, he’d cut her face, so she promised not to tell. He had two friends covering for him, so he snuck her out the back while they talked with the person who came along asking about the screaming.
“When Rinaldo returned, he finally unlocked the door and told me that I would be next. That it was his job as my brother to take my maidenhead. He promised me it would hurt terribly and that I wouldn’t be able to walk. Then he laughed and pinched my breast hard and told me mayhap he’d give me to one of his friends.”
Her tears slid down her cheeks, and she swiped them away.
Taskill asked, “And did he do as he promised?”
She shook her head. “Nay, he died two days later. I hated Rinaldo. He was so cruel, but Da seemed to love him. He had everyone fooled, thinking he was a simple person, but he wasn’t. He was a conniving, lying bastard. Even when we were young. He would tell Da one thing, then do something completely evil as soon as Da walked away.”
“Rinaldo was evil. Sloan discovered the truth and so did your sire. It’s why he killed his own son, Sheona. You did naught wrong.”
“Nay, but ever since then, I swore I’d never marry. The kitchen lasses say their husbands like to do it every night. I don’t want to live like that.”
“Did you know the lass?”
“Nay. I heard one of Rinaldo’s friends say he would take her back home. She wasn’t part of our clan.”
“Sheona …” He leaned forward and took her hand, cocooning it in his. “I don’t know exactly, but I can tell you the marriage bed is meant to be a pleasant experience. It will hurt the lass the first time, but after that, if the man does it right, it’s pleasurable for both.”
She sopped up her tears. “That’s what Simone said. Rinaldo lied about everything, then?”
“Aye. He lied and he forced himself on that poor lass. That’s why it hurt her. Most couples enjoy the marital bed, or so I’ve been told. Lennox surely does. He and Meg giggle and carry on like lovers on the run.”
A weight lifted from her chest in a matter of moments. She had to admit that Eva and Sloan were both happy. And so were Marta and Gideon now that they’d had a second bairn.
The intense fear she’d held all this time for marrying had been wiped away.
“I’ll marry you, Taskill. I know you’d never hurt me.”
And she meant it.
Taskill stared at his hands, then said, “But I can’t marry you. It’s hard to explain, but someday I’ll try. Not now.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Dermot
“Come along, Rut.” The morning had turned out to be far better than last eve. “Isn’t it a beautiful morn?”
“Aye, it is. But Lennox will be looking for me. I should go home.”
“Not yet.” He took her hand and led her along behind him.
“Where the hell are you taking me now? Mayhap I might like to go home. And aren’t you going after your daughter?” She moved along the coastline of Mull, her skirt billowing lightly in the wind, her hair tied into a bun at the base of her neck.
Rut MacVey had proven to be even finer than he would have guessed. But he’d already made his mind up about Sheona. He wasn’t the one his daughter needed right now.
“Nay. I’ve decided to wait three more days, as promised. Then I’ll find her and get the truth. I have to hold to my word. I told her I wouldn’t return for a sennight.”
“But what about the abuse? Don’t you wish to know who or when?”
“Nay. I’ll let her discuss it with the abbess. They don’t need me involved.”
“Then where are we going?” She stopped her forward movement and crossed her arms.
Dermot took two steps back to kiss Rut’s cheek, then held his hand out to her. “Come, I’ll help you. We have to get past these rocks over here.”
