I sigh. “You heard us, then.”
He strokes his beard, his eyes dancing. “Aye. Pretty sure the whole house heard it, truth be told.”
I give a half-groan, half-chuckle as I open the door wide for him to come in. “Don’t need to tell you she’s pregnant then.”
“Nope.”
“Nor that she’s no interest in being claimed.”
Keenan grimaces. “Caught that.” He knows as well as I do the ramifications of this.
McKenna’s standing in the doorway, still in her robe. She holds her head erect and speaks coolly.
“Good day, Mr. McCarthy.”
I roll my eyes. She took my admonition literally, then, as she’s showing Keenan respect.
Keenan nods to her. “McKenna.”
She tightens the belt on her robe and walks in the room. “Cup of tea?”
“No, thank you,” Keenan says. He takes a seat by one of the large, bright windows. “McKenna, I’m sorry to admit that I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation with Tully just now.”
“Oh?”
“Aye,” he says soberly. “Congratulations, lass.”
She turns a little pink. “Thank you.” She puts the kettle on and takes out cups for me and for her, then the box of tea. “I’m still a little stunned, but thankful Sebastian gave me some medication.”
“Aye, good,” Keenan says.
“We’re having a difference of opinion,” I tell him.
Keenan frowns. “Heard that as well.”
McKenna crosses her arms on her chest. “And I suppose you’re on his side?”
Keenan nods. “Oh, aye. Sorry to tell you, McKenna, but we wouldn’t allow a woman carrying a child of the Clan to go about without Clan protection.”
She nods. “Fair enough. That I understand. But this notion that I’m to be claimed, just like that, without any say in the matter?”
Keenan shrugs. “I wouldn’t say you have no say. I definitely would prefer your buy-in.” He sobers. “But aye, given the current climate in Ballyhock, it would be my strong suggestion to ensure that your safety and that of your child’s secured.”
She huffs and sits heavily on a chair, just as the kettle boils. “You’re so old-fashioned.”
He shrugs. “We’ve heard that from other women before, if I’m honest.”
“Probably all of them.”
He frowns again. “Not all.”
I clear my throat and give her a warning look. She sighs and looks out the window.
“You need to understand, McKenna,” Keenan continues. “There’s no greater way for us to protect you than to have you wed to a man of the Clan. We’ve rivals that would hurt you, and by virtue of wearing his ring, you are granted McCarthy family immunity in more ways than we could ever grant you otherwise.”
“Exactly,” I say, glaring at her. “So fucking marry me.”
Her brows snap together. “How fucking romantic.”
Keenan cringes. “Ah, well then…”
None of us says anything for long seconds.
Keenan gets to his feet. “I advised you not to make a prisoner out of her, Tully,” he finally says. “And I have to admit, I’ve regretted that advice.” He gives McKenna a stern look.
Her eyes widen, and her jaw drops.
“What do you mean?” she asks.
“I’ve already explained, but I’ll make this very clear. Now isn’t the time for you to be carrying a child of the Clan without full Clan protection.”
She shakes her head, as he goes to leave.
“But marriage is for life, Keenan,” she protests, and I have to admit that stings a little. Is it the thought of lifelong marriage or the thought of marriage to me she finds so abhorrent?
Keenan nods. “It is.”
“But we barely know each other.”
Keenan smiles, and the smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. He’s running out of patience. “You know each other better than half the men and women of the Clan did before they met. You’re hardly an arranged marriage, are you?”
“Well, no, but I—”
“You’re not prisoner, are you?”
She looks at him incredulously. “Prisoner! Certainly not.”
He nods sternly, every bit the Clan patriarch. “You made the decision to enter into relations with a man of the Clan. Whether you want to admit that or not, you had your reasons.”
She stares at him, agape, and doesn’t respond.
Keenan presses on. “Full autonomy and the freedom of choice are something people outside of the Clan are afforded, McKenna. Within the Clan, we adhere to rules and structure others don’t. But in turn, we grant those who enter the fold the loyalty, love, protection, and family most would only ever dream of.”
She closes her mouth, and her eyes grow a little wistful. Keenan lets his words sink in for a moment before changing the subject.
“Your mum’s coming today, isn’t she?” Keenan asks her.
“Aye,” McKenna says with a sigh.
Keenan gets to his feet. “Then I’ll leave you two to talk things out, so you can prepare. And Tully, you and I will chat later.”
“Aye.”
He leaves, and McKenna and I stare at each other for a moment.
She sighs, and I want to reach for her, to drag her into my lap and hold her. Her glasses are perched on her nose, her hair’s in a messy bun on the top of her head, and the way she’s sitting, her robe’s a little open.