Bolstered by Gannon’s escort, Keeley walked into the hall but was careful not to look at either Rionna or her father. Gannon led her to a seat next to Mairin and then took the place on the other side of Keeley.

She sent him a grateful smile at the same moment Mairin squeezed her hand under the table.

She refused to look at Alaric, who sat several places down between Rionna and Laird McDonald. Instead she focused on Mairin and Christina, who sat across the table next to Cormac.

The nervousness was making her ill. Her stomach was in knots. Surely Rionna would have told her father of her presence by now. Would he cry her whore in front of the McCabe clan? Would he try to ruin her position here? And what could Rionna possibly have need to say to her?

She ate in silence, nodding when Mairin spoke. At one point, Gannon leaned over and said, “You just nodded aye when Lady McCabe asked if you thought she’d be pregnant for months still.”

Keeley closed her eyes and subdued the urge to smack her forehead with her fist. Then she turned to Mairin, apology in her eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

Mairin grinned and shook her head. “I was just jesting with you. I knew you weren’t paying attention because you nodded aye to everything.” Then she leaned closer. “ ’Tis almost done with. No one would ever guess you’re so ill at ease.”

Keeley smiled gratefully at her but when she turned back, she saw Laird McDonald staring at her. His brows were drawn together and she could tell the moment recognition dawned. His eyes widened and he glanced down to where Rionna sat, a frown on his face. Then he looked back up at Keeley, but it wasn’t anger or even shock that burned in his gaze.

It was lust, and that frightened Keeley more than if he’d stood up and shouted whore.

She couldn’t look at him without remembering the utter helplessness she felt years earlier when she was sure he’d rape her.

The urge to bolt from the table and flee was so strong that she was nearly to her feet before she realized she was allowing something that had happened long ago to affect her.

As quickly as panic and fear rushed through her system leaving her weak and shaky, rage pushed its way through her veins. She relaxed into her chair and unclenched her fists.

She wasn’t the young girl she’d been then. She was a woman full grown and she had the means to defend herself. The laird would find no helpless target now.

“You aren’t alone,” Gannon murmured.

She wouldn’t embarrass either of them by shedding tears, but still she found her gaze a little watery when she glanced up at him.

“Nay, I’m not alone. Not anymore.”