Page 114 of Once Upon A Haunted Castle
Senara opened her mouth to protest, but Anice was already sauntering from the room.
Edana rose from the table and lifted that damn eyebrow. “Ye should leave. Ye and yer babe are unwanted, especially when my nephew returns with his new wife.”
Senara met Edana’s gaze with all the determination and strength she could muster. “Then he can tell me himself when he arrives.”
Edana gave a little shrug and strolled away, as if she hadn’t a care in the world.
Time would tell, however long that might be, if Gavin had been true to Senara. She could not imagine him leaving her so abruptly to wed another woman. An edge of doubt slipped into her mind.
Colina MacKintosh.
The lass could do far more for Clan MacDuff than Senara. Colina could bring peace and wealth. Senara brought only a sword, a loyal, loving horse, and an unborn babe.
Gavin would have to truly be in love to choose Senara over the wealthy laird’s daughter.
And, selfishly, Senara hoped with all of her battered heart he was.
*
Dalmunzie was asimpressive as always.
Not only was the massive structure immaculate and the clan well-dressed and plentiful through its halls, everything glittered with wealth. Cloth of gold and silver winked from the costly tapestries and fine clothing.
Laird MacKintosh sat in a large carved chair, his back straight and proud. Gray seasoned his long, black hair and beard. “I dinna expect to see ye again so soon.”
Gavin smirked. “I dinna expect to be back again so soon. It would appear my aunt is up to her tricks once more.”
Laird MacKintosh narrowed his pale blue eyes. “Ye dinna send her to speak with me.” His gaze slid to his daughter, who sat at his right. Her blonde hair had been left loose around her face and her head bowed forward. It was not enough to hide the red rim around her eyes, nor the pink tint to her nose. No matter how she’d tried to mask it, she’d obviously been crying.
The unspoken statement lingered in the air.
Gavin didn’t want to marry his daughter.
A slap in the face to the laird and an affront to his daughter.
“I dinna send her,” Gavin confirmed. “She knew how long I’d had my eye set on Colina.” He nodded toward her, and she craned her head farther forward. “I suppose Edana thought she could do what I couldna. And it would appear she did. What did she offer ye to make ye change yer mind?”
Laird MacKintosh leaned forward in his seat. The wood issued forth a long, deep groan beneath the man’s impressive weight. “A body.”
Gavin inclined his head.
“Do ye know why our clans have been fighting for years?” MacKintosh asked.
Of course Gavin knew. “We killed one of the healers ye sent to help during the plague when it consumed Castle of Park.”
MacKintosh nodded. “Aye, a monk named Balthasar. He was a MacKintosh, a lad my da played with when he was young. He became a monk at a priory no’ far from here.” He lifted his hands, as if to show his inability to understand such a profession. “Balthasar put himself at great risk to aid yer people. But he dinna return and, over time, we found out what happened. He’d been seduced by a woman and slain for his crimes.”
MacKintosh’s hands curled around the chair and his frown deepened. “My da was destroyed by this news and disgusted with the MacDuffs. We dinna know who seduced Balthasar, but we do know it was yer grandfather who saw him dead. We were refused his corpse, stating he’d been a plague victim. We knew better.”
Gavin set his jaw. “I know the woman ye speak of.” He smirked. “My verra aunt, Edana.”
MacKintosh’s jaw twitched under his great beard. “She’s some nerve. She promised me Balthasar’s body, so he could be laid to rest, as my da made me vow to do.”
Das and their damn dying wishes. Gavin vowed if he ever had a son to never leave him with a promise that would haunt him.
“I’ll bring ye the body,” Gavin said with a nod. “But I canna wed yer daughter.”
Colina’s head snapped up and she stared at him with wide blue eyes. MacKintosh’s brow furrowed. “Ye dinna want my daughter?”
