Page 40 of Unforgotten
How she wished she’d never come to this place.
She’d never met Lady MacKinnon, yet her heart wept for the woman. Her heart wept for all women who’d died giving birth, for there were far too many of them.
MacKinnon snarled a curse and hurled his horn of mead across the hall. It smacked one of his warriors across the back of the head, drenching him. The man grunted, clutching the back of his skull.
MacKinnon ignored him. “All she had to do was bear me a son—a live one!” The words were savage. The man’s voice trembled, not from grief but from rage. “She had but one task, and she failed.”
Shock rippled over the Great Hall of Dunan.
In an instant Ella realized exactly why folk hated Duncan MacKinnon so much. The selfishness, the cruelty, of his words ripped into her. The faces of those surrounding her mirrored Ella’s own response.
Gavin’s lips parted as he stared at MacKinnon, while the man and woman who’d delivered the news both went stone-faced.
But MacKinnon didn’t appear to notice or care. Another tide of obscenities spewed from his mouth, and he launched himself to his feet, shouldering the dark-haired man aside as he strode out of the hall.
Many gazes watched him go. But still, not one person uttered a word.
Gavin escorted Ella from the Great Hall. Together, they ascended the stairwell to the upper levels of the broch.
Ella didn’t speak as she climbed the stairs. She wished Gavin hadn’t insisted on accompanying her. He should really have remained downstairs with the other chieftains. However, he’d been insistent.
Chieftain Alasdair MacDonald of Duntulm had just arrived. While his pregnant wife had retired to their quarters immediately, Alasdair had taken a seat upon the dais to share a mead with Niall MacDonald of Sleat and Gavin.
After his outburst earlier, MacKinnon hadn’t reappeared to join them. It was a relief. Ella wondered if, after his rage had subsided, he’d gone to see his wife.
Reaching the landing to the second floor, Ella turned to Gavin. “I can make my way from here,” she murmured. “Ye should return to the Great Hall.”
Gavin grimaced. “In truth, I’ve got no stomach for mead this eve.” Studying his face, Ella noted the lines of tension that hadn’t been there before their arrival at Dunan. “I’m sorry, Ella,” he said softly, taking a step toward her. “I’d known MacKinnon can be a brute … but his behavior today was inexcusable. Ye didn’t need to witness that.”
Ella swallowed as the ugly scene flashed before her once more. She’d never forget MacKinnon’s angry, red face as he railed at his dead wife: “She had but one task and she failed.”
Instead of grief, he’d been filled with rage.
What kind of man behaves that way?
“Is the meeting still going ahead?” she asked when a pause drew out between them. “Surely, Lady MacKinnon’s death will prevent it.”
Gavin shook his head. “MacKinnon should really delay our talks by a day or two … but seeing as he’s been so eager to discuss matters, I doubt he will.”
Ella stared at him, aghast. “But Siusan MacKinnon isn’t even buried yet.”
Gavin gave her a pained look. “If the meeting is postponed, I will accompany ye back to Kilbride first,” he assured her. “With MacKinnon’s mood so volatile, I’d prefer ye didn’t remain here.”
Their gazes held for a long moment, and Ella knew he’d noticed how MacKinnon had stared at her earlier. Yet she didn’t bring the incident up, for even recalling the man’s stare made her skin crawl.
Ella took a step back. “I should retire now.”
“Do ye know the way to yer chamber?” Gavin asked, frowning.
“Aye … it’s the last door on the right.”
Gavin nodded, his expression shuttering. “Goodnight then … I shall see ye tomorrow.”
Night settled over Dunan, bringing the encircling mist in closer. Gavin stood at the window of his bed-chamber and looked out over the valley. Tall spruce poked up through the milky fog; it was an eerily beautiful sight, and Gavin might have enjoyed it, if his mood had been different.
As it was, he felt on edge.
Ella had suggested that he return to the Great Hall, yet he wasn’t in the mood. The scene he’d witnessed earlier had been damning. Even the memory of it made Gavin’s ire rise. MacKinnon was a heartless cur. Afterward, Gavin’s first instinct was to gather up those of his party and depart from Dunan without a backward glance.
