Tempted Read Free Page A

risen, and it had a grating quality that pierced the eardrum painfully.
    “Please don’t browbeat Mother,” Tina said reasonably.
    “I’ve no intention of browbeatin’ yer mother—‘tis ye I’ll browbeat!” He locked eyes with her and demanded, “What earthly use are daughters tae a mon?” Silence. “I’ll elucidate. Lasses, in especial ravishin’ beauties like yersel, arevaluable tae forge marriages between powerful clans tae preserve peace, tae extend power, and tae increase wealth.” He turned on his wife again. “I shouldna listened tae ye. I shouldha sent her tae court—she woulda had a husband an’ a bairn in her belly by now.”
    With great daring Elizabeth said, “The last Kennedy who went to court didn’t manage to catch a husband.”
    “She did even better—mistress tae the two most powerful men in Scotland, Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus, an’ now the king hissel, if yer talkin’ about ma wee cousin, Janet Kennedy.”
    “Don’t you dare say that name in this house,” Elizabeth whispered.
    “Janet Kennedy? She’s a bit o’ a whore, but let me remind ye, woman, the Kennedys were Kings o’ Carrick. We ha’ the finest blood in Scotland!” he shouted.
    “I was speaking of Douglas,” Elizabeth said quietly.
    Rob Kennedy cleared his throat. “Aye, well, I didna mean tae stir painful memories, Lizzy. Foul fall all the bloody Black Douglases.”
    Elizabeth had her handkerchief to her eyes. “May I leave? I’m feeling unwell,” she pleaded.
    He nodded, not trusting himself to speak until she had departed, then his invective burst forth like a dam upon the remaining pair. “Now see what ye’ve done! I should flay ye fer upsettin’ yer mother!”
    Tina was on her feet.
“You
did that when you brought up the profligate black-hearted Douglases.”
    He waved his hand dismissively. “Och, the woman’s too sensitive. It all happened over fifteen year past an’ best forgot. She acts as if Damaris was her sister rather than mine.”
    “Damaris was her best friend, her only friend in Scotland. The Douglas Clan poisoned her—mother will never forget!”
    “That’s no’ the issue here.” As he caught sight of his daughter’s vivid beauty, he wondered how on earth he’dproduced such an exquisite child. The fireshine played across her heart-shaped face and turned her hair to molten copper. She drew men like bees to a honeypot and it had been a puzzle to him why none had offered for her. His heart softened. “Lassie, I want a Campbell or a Gordon for ye.”
    “Father, I don’t want to marry. Why can’t you teach me to sail one of the ships so I could take the wool to Flanders?”
    His face hardened again, and his accusing eyes came to rest on Ada. “Wheesht, woman, ‘tis ye who’s put these daft ideas in her haid! Why could ye no’ make her gentle an’ biddable?”
    “My Lord Kennedy, Scotland is a harsh land filled with harsher men. I swore I wouldn’t make the mistake of making Tina soft like her mother and Beth. Besides, she’s too much like you to be gentle. As for biddable, it will take a very strong mate to make her that.”
    “Aye—even then I ha’ ma doots. Tina, lass, listen tae yer old dad. Choose while the choice is still yers. Yer nigh seventeen. If ye dinna wed soon, Archibald Kennedy, Earl of Cassillis, will choose fer ye. ‘Tis his duty as laird o’ the clan. Or the king might force ye tae wed tae his advantage. Be sensible—choose an earl’s son and someday ye’ll be a countess. Off wi’ ye now, vixen! I’ll ha’ a word in private wi’ Ada.” After she left, he grated, “God’s passion, women can be willful!”
    “You’d have no respect for one who wasn’t, Rob Kennedy.”
    “Aye, well, the other gets round me wi’ her tears,” he said, referring to his wife. “I suppose it’ll cost me a visit tae England tae placate her.” He gave her a sidelong glance. “Yer a fine figure of a woman, Ada—‘tis a long time since we had a good