But instead of Kevin, Kenna was waiting in the great hall. "Am I ever glad to see you. I thought I wanted a husband, but now I see what Charlet meant. The desires of lads are not the fault of lasses."
"You have grown wiser since I went away," said Anna. "That is why our husbands must protect us. We..." She looked up and Kevin was watching her from the doorway to their bedchamber. Anna hurried up the stairs, ran down the balcony and into his waiting arms.
Kevin couldn't seem to release her even after he kissed her and made her melt in his arms. "I will never let you go again, I cannot bear it."
"Nor can I." She moved away finally and walked to the window. "We have guests, I see." The six lairds in the meadow were now glaring at each other.
"Kenna has run out of excuses and she feels put upon." He wrapped his arms around her from behind and put his cheek next to hers. "I do not know what to do."
"The King did not arrange the marriage."
"I was afraid of that."
"I think there might be a way to make them all leave."
He turned her around and looked into her eyes. "How?"
*
An hour later, Kevin had the drawbridge lowered. With Kenna in the middle and Connor on the other side, Kevin walked across the bridge and then to the crest of the meadow. He wanted each of the six men to see her beauty and they could hardly keep from gawking at her.
"Which of us does she choose?"
Kenna took a few steps forward and looked each of them over. Then she curtsied and walked back to Kevin. They were ogling her and she was annoyed with their arrogance. Not one of them was Laird Ferguson.
Kevin clasped his hands behind his back and waited for his guests to do the same out of respect. When they did, he began, "An Englishman wants our Charlet." As soon as they started to grumble, he raised his hand. "She does not want to marry an Englishman, but she has never seen one and would like to know why he wants her. I would like to know as well. Do the English want a war with us over this woman, handsome though she may be? If she marries a Highlander, will that begin a war? I for one would rather live in peace." Kevin let his words sink in for a moment.
"We will protect her," one shouted.
"Aye," the rest agreed."
"And so will I." Kevin shifted his weight. His knees weren't as strong as they once were and they hurt. "Word of the Englishman's request for her hand came through the clans. Do any of you know who he is?" None of them nodded.