“Damned barbarians,” her father said gruffly. His gaze shifted between Seona and her aunt for a long tense moment. “That will be all, Seona.”
She headed toward the door, then realized Patience hadn’t been dismissed. She let herself out, praying her aunt didn’t reveal anything that would anger her father. If he knew the truth of it, he would be enraged.
As Seona waited a few yards from the door for her aunt to emerge from the private conference with her father, she thought of her sister, glad she was still staying with Cousin Genevieve. At least she hoped she was, but she would love to see her. It had been many months.
When one of the kitchen servants passed nearby, Seona asked, “Is my sister still with my cousin?”
“Lady Seona.” The maid curtsied. “Nay, Lady Talia is in her bedchamber.”
What? Seona frowned. Why had she not joined them for supper?
“I thank you for telling me.” Seona rushed up the narrow spiral stair to the floor above and knocked at Talia’s chamber door. They were so close that normally they didn’t knock; they simply barged in. Impatient, she tried to open the door but it didn’t budge.
Why had her sister locked the door?
“Talia? Are you in there?” Seona tried to keep her voice low.
“Who is it?” The mumbled response sounded sleepy. Was her sister napping?
“’Tis Seona.”
“Seona?” Talia’s tone was more excited now. “You are home?”
“Aye. Unlock the door.”
“I cannot. Father locked me in here.”
An icy shock went through Seona. “Why?”
“I angered him,” she said in an uneven voice.
“Are you crying? What happened?” Heavens! How she wished she could get inside and see her sister. “Did Father hurt you?”
“Aye,” she said low, very close to the other side of the door. “He hit me and I fell.”
Seona clenched her teeth. Damn the man. Though she might be breaking a commandment and dishonoring her father, the man was the very devil.
She blew out a breath and tried to sound calm. “How badly are you hurt?”
“The maid said it looks worse than it is.”
Dear heavens, it had to be bad, then. “How does it look?”
“I have a bruise on my face,” Talia said.
“What else? Any cuts or broken bones?”
“Nay, but I have another bruise on my arm where it struck the bed frame.”
Saints! Seona wished she could lash out at her father in the same way, but he was strong and stocky. He had knocked her down before. When she was a wee lass, she remembered him treating her poor mother the same way. She had to get Talia away from him.
“What was he trying to make you do?” Seona asked.
“He wants me to marry Chief Comyn. He is an old man, Seona,” Talia sobbed.
Not only that, but the man was notorious for being ruthless and vile. What could she do to help her sister? She well knew fathers in the Highlands chose husbands for their daughters, but hers was determined to find the worst possible husbands for them to ensure their lives would be hell on earth.
“Since he received your missive months ago, he has been hunting a husband for you as well,” Talia said.
Dark dread slammed into Seona’s gut. “Who has he mentioned?”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Seona stood outside her sister’s door, waiting to hear the name of the man her father planned to marry her off to. Although a title meant naught to her, at the moment she wished Keegan had the grandest title in the land, simply so she’d be allowed to marry him.
“Talia?” Seona asked, moisture burning her eyes. “Tell me who.”
“Laird Wentworth from further south. He is a baron.”
She didn’t know whether to be relieved that he was none of the horrid chiefs she knew, or more terrified of the unknown. “I have never heard of him. Have you seen him?”
“Aye, he visited. He is not terribly old. I would say thirty summers. But you would not like him. He is pompous and arrogant.”
“Perfect,” Seona muttered, hating her father more with each second that passed.
Footsteps clomped up the stairwell behind her.’Twas Fleming, one of the guards who had worked here forever. Although his hair was mostly gray, he was still a brawny man. “What are you about? Oh. Lady Seona, welcome home.” He bowed.
“I thank you, Fleming. I wish to go in and speak to my sister. Have you the key?”
“Aye, but I must ask Chief Murray.”
“Please do.”
Fleming disappeared down the stairwell.
Seona turned back to the door. “How long have you been locked in there?”
“Five days,” Talia said.
“Good Lord. Have the maids brought you food?”
“Aye.”
“And are you eating?”
“Aye.”
Seona was glad for that at least, but she needed to see if her sister had lost weight. When Talia was upset, she would sometimes avoid meals. “Why did you not remain with Cousin Genevieve?” She would’ve been safe and cared for there, at least.
“I did for several months, but when spring arrived, Father came to retrieve me.”
“I see.”
“So he could find me a husband.” Talia started crying again. “I won’t marry the beast!”
Footsteps echoed on the stone steps.
“Shh… the guard is returning. Move away from the door.”
Fleming came into view. “Your father said you could visit with your sister.” He unlocked the door.
“I thank you,” Seona said, then entered the room.
The lock clicked behind her, giving her a cold chill.
Talia lit a candle from the hearth fire and placed it on a nearby table. Seona hurried to her and, when Talia faced her, Seona couldn’t believe the bruise covering the left side of her face. Her cheek was purple with tinges of green and yellow. At least it appeared to be healing.
“Oh, heavens, Talia.” Tears filling her eyes, Seona stroked the uninjured side of her sister’s sweet face. ’Twas almost as if they were wee girls again, huddling in a chamber, hoping their father stayed far away.
Talia grabbed her in a hug and sobbed against her shoulder. Seona embraced her tightly and stroked her back. “Shh, tis all right.”
Never had their father given Seona such a huge bruise, though he had slapped her hard four different times. Seona had always tried to protect her younger sister. She regretted that she hadn’t been here this time, but she’d had no choice in the matter.
Talia pulled back and wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. “I’ve decided, if I can get out of this room, I’m going to run away.”
“What? Where would you go?”
“I know not. Anywhere.”
“Talia—”
“Nay. Do not try to talk me out of it.”
Certainly Seona had dreamed of running away, too, but she had never seriously considered it because she had to stay and protect her sister. Plus, as women, they had no means. No money, aside from what their father gave them. They had no relatives in distant villages who might hide them. All their relatives were close-by, and worst of all, they were loyal to her father… or they feared him.
If only Seona could have married one of the MacKays. Keegan, of course, was the man she wanted so desperately to marry, but she feared her father would not even consider it. If she could’ve married a decent man, she’d hoped to bring her sister to live with her. But now she knew that might not be possible, if her father was bent on arranging a marriage between Talia and the Comyn chief.
Seona’s stomach pained her for she was trapped just as she’d always been.
“We must think of a solution,” she told Talia.
“I have. I’m running away.”
“Do you have a plan? How will you support yourself? Where will you stay? How will you buy food?”
Talia crumpled onto the bench near the hearth. “I know not,” she sobbed.