She shook her head. “He would not. He already suspects we’ve had a tryst. But if he thought it were really true… or if he caught me here… he would marry me off to someone else. Wentworth or someone with a title.”
“He is a weak dandy. Hell, he’s practically English.”
A pang of nausea struck her, as it did anytime she thought of Wentworth. “Aye, and I sense a vile streak in him.”
“I don’t care what I have to do,” Keegan said. “You’re not marrying him.”
Voices from outside the stall reached them. “Wentworth,” Rebbie said in a loud tone. “I was hoping you would show me your horse.”
“’Slud,” Keegan muttered, wanting to burst out the door and take his sword to Wentworth.
“Shh,” Seona hissed, her eyes wide.
He didn’t want to be caught either, but if they were, it might solve a lot of his problems—Wentworth would probably hightail it back to the Lowlands. But being discovered in a stall with Seona would also create new, deadly problems. Her father would no doubt try to kill him. Not that he would succeed.
Rebbie and Wentworth moved away from the door, their voices fading.
Keegan wanted to spend more time with Seona, but ’twas unsafe for her. Besides that, someone was likely to bring a horse back and lead it into this stall.
He slipped toward the door and peered through the crack where Rebbie had left it ajar. The two men stood near the end of the long, straw-littered corridor. Wentworth opened another stall door, his back toward Keegan. Rebbie inspected the black stallion.
“Come,” he whispered to Seona. “You need to return to the keep.”
They both stepped out into the wide passageway and Keegan tried to keep himself between her and Wentworth. At the entrance, he glanced around, seeing no one about. The rain had diminished to a drizzle.
“I will see you later,” she whispered with a fiercely emotional glance. Before he could say anything, she strode quickly across the barmkin toward the kitchens, her head covered with the plaid. Remaining at the stables, he watched her go, praying ’twas not the last time he would see her. Nay. She was his life, and he could not go back to Durness without her.
Voices approached behind him. He turned to find Wentworth and Rebbie moving toward him.
“That belted plaid must make it greatly convenient when tupping the maids, hmm?” Wentworth asked with a nasty grin. “Almost makes me want to become a Highlander.”
Keegan ground his teeth, his palm itching to feel the horn hilt of his dirk in it. Maids? Had Wentworth seen Seona with him and assumed she was a maid because of her old arisaid?
“Och! Look at that! The rain has stopped,” Rebbie announced, as if this was something monumental.
“Aye. ’Haps we can go for a ride and you can see how the stallion runs,” Wentworth said.
“Want to join us?” Rebbie asked Keegan.
“Nay. But I thank you for the invitation.”
The two men proceeded into the stables again. “I’ll be right there, Wentworth,” Rebbie said, then returned to Keegan. “Are you well?”
Keegan nodded. “Did he see her with me?”
“He saw someone. He assumes ’twas one of the maids.” Rebbie shrugged. “I’m going to find out all I can about him.”
“Mayhap his stallion will break his fool neck,” Keegan muttered.
Rebbie snorted with suppressed laughter.
“I’m going to stay here and figure out a solution.” At the moment, all Keegan wanted to do was put Seona on his horse and ride as far as they could go.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Seona paced in her room, knowing supper was being served in the great hall. Wentworth was there, waiting to get to know her. Well, she didn’t want to get to know him at all. His unnerving smile made her nauseous.
A knock sounded at her door. She jumped, then moved across the floor. Opening the portal, she found Aunt Patience outside, her dark hair styled to perfection.
“Your father sent me to fetch you for supper.”
“I’m eating in my chamber.” Seona motioned toward the tray of food one of the servants had already brought her.
Patience raised a brow and shook her head. “Your father said if you refuse to come to the great hall, he will send one of the guards to carry you.”
Wanting to call her father a vile name, Seona gritted her teeth.
“Very well.” She slammed the door on her way out. “I wonder why he won’t order Talia to supper so everyone can see all the bruises he gave her.”
“You’d best watch your mouth, lassie,” her aunt hissed.
“Why did you tell him that Dirk and Isobel were not betrothed when they arrived in Durness? I was trying to protect them. They are my friends.”
Her aunt’s glare was spiteful. “At least I didn’t tell him about finding you and Keegan kissing in your bedchamber.”
Icy cold washed over Seona. “And I hope you won’t, or we shall both face dire circumstances.”
“I’m keeping my mouth shut about that as long as you keep my secret also.”
Seona nodded. “Agreed.”
They crossed the great hall and several of the men at the high table turned to stare at her. When they drew closer, most of the men stood, Keegan, Rebbie and Wentworth among them. Her aunt rushed forward and claimed one of the chairs. The only vacant seat was between Wentworth and her father.
Blast! She slowed her steps.
“Please, come and sit, daughter,” her father said in a forced pleasant tone that gave her sickened chills. “Have some food.”
Sending Keegan a longing glance, she proceeded to the chair.
***
Keegan wanted to crawl down the table and beat Wentworth’s eyes shut. He detested the smug and lustful way the man watched Seona. Keegan would not abandon her to the bastard even if he had to steal her away tonight.
Rebbie, sitting to his right, lightly elbowed Keegan in the arm, then gave him a lifted brow look.
Aye, Keegan knew he probably looked angry enough to kill someone. But who could blame him? Another man was courting the woman he loved. He drew in a deep breath and focused on his food so no one would suspect the level of his fury.
He needed to talk to her again, right away, but couldn’t with her glowering father looking on.
At the end of the meal, the music started and Chief Murray encouraged Seona to dance with Wentworth. How the devil was Keegan supposed to sit and watch this? Murray smirked at him. Battle-lust tore through Keegan’s veins. His hand clenched, craving the solid feel of his sword hilt in it.
After one dance, Chief Murray directed Lady Patience to escort Seona from the great hall. Keegan could only assume she was headed toward her bedchamber. To see her there would be a risky endeavor, especially since Chief Murray watched him closely. Without doubt, he had servants spying on Seona, too, in order to see if she would indeed slip into Rebbie’s chamber. He wouldn’t be there, of course, but Murray didn’t know that yet.
’Slud. Keegan wouldn’t get to see her this night. Tomorrow night, then. A plan was forming in his mind.
It gored him to realize he was either going to have to betray Dirk and the MacKay clan by stealing Seona away. Or leave her here to the mercy of a demon chief and his minion.
Dirk obviously trusted Keegan more than anyone else, and that was why he’d made him the tanist. He depended on Keegan to do what was best for the MacKay clan, but taking Seona away from this place was the worst thing he could do for the clan. Murray would seek vengeance.
Keegan’s job was supposed to be simple—escort Seona home, bring the gift and smooth things over with Murray. Dirk didn’t want conflict. Neither did Keegan. But conflict was exactly what he was going to stir up by protecting Lady Seona. ’Haps even clan war.
***
Seona stood in her father’s solar the next morn. He had summoned her again and she was growing exceedingly tired of being treated like his servant. Or his pawn.