Highlander's Bride (Heart of the Highlander Series Book 1) (17 page)

He raised a goblet of wine high in the air and his
voice, so like that of his older brother, boomed out. "To Laird and Lady
MacGregor. Good life and health to them always!"

With that, the revelers ate, drank and made merry
with added enthusiasm. As the day wound down taking with it the faint light of
gloaming that bathed the sky, Katherine's ladies came to escort her to the
bridal chamber.

She could feel the heat wash over her face as a
moment of tense, embarrassed silence filled the hall. Everyone looked at her to
see how she would handle the moment, with no husband to bed her. Her nervous
gaze darted out over the crowd and she drew in a deep breath. Praying the
tremor in her voice was not too evident; she stood and raised her goblet to the
expectant and curious gathering. "Good friends and family, in my husband's
absence, I will now retire with my ladies and bid you pleasant tidings. I… we
thank you for your good wishes and I look forward to greeting you again in
future years with my new lord by my side."

To a man, all in the hall rose and cheered the new
Lady MacGregor. The cheering didn't stop until after she and her ladies had
left the hall.

Even the closeness of the women as they
accompanied her to Alexander's chambers didn't ease the cold forsaken feeling.
As they arrived at the room, the women halted and waited for her to enter. When
she peered into her husband's chamber set with dark massive furniture, a shiver
ran through her.

There, in the middle of the room, lay the large
curtained bed with its sheets turned back in readiness for the bridal night.
Swallowing back her tears, she turned in the doorway to dismiss her ladies.
"Thank you. I will not need you more this eve."

Nodding, they silently drifted back down the
corridor. She shut the door and turned to face the room alone.

She couldn't tear her gaze from the sight of the
bridal bed. Though her legs felt as immovable as stone, she managed to cross
the room and look down at it. The rich green velvet of the bed covering lured
her as surely as Alexander's gaze.

Gingerly, as if it would reach out and grab her,
she stretched out her hand and ran her trembling fingers across the material. A
small spot darkened the thick green pile as a tear slid down her cheek and
dropped soundlessly to the blanket. Sniffing, she turned her back on the bed
and wiped away the rest of her tears.

The muffled sounds of bagpipes and singing met her
ears and she bit her lip to keep the tears at bay. She could do this.

Slowly, her shaky fingers removed her wedding gown
and the new MacGregor tartan Alexander had given her. She gently laid them
across the green velvet blanket and slipped into a thick wool robe she found in
a chest at the foot of the bed.

The robe's musky masculine scent reminded her of
Alexander and she knew at once it was one he wore. Bunching up the overlong
sleeves and gathering up the excess length, she drew the robe about her then
picked up her new tartan sash.

 She walked over to the fireplace where a blaze
had already been lit and sank down in front of the stone hearth, desperately
seeking its warmth to ease the emptiness she felt.

Today was meant to be the happiest day of her
life. Instead, it had been one of bitter disappointment. Once more, she felt
the cold sting of abandonment. The thought that her parents were leaving her
here brought fresh tears to her eyes and a tight ache in her chest. And no
matter the urgency that took Alexander from her on their wedding night, she
still ached to know he was far from her.

Faith, she must remember it was only temporary and
not let it eat away at her so. But the thought didn't help. She felt discarded,
alone. 

Eventually, the fire warmed her and eased her
nerves. Weariness overcame her. She knew she should rise and take comfort in
the huge bed with its sheltering layers of thick covers, but her heart held her
back. She forced a tortured glance across the empty room. The bed blurred
before her as her hot tears spilled over.

His scent surrounded her as she wiped her tears
away with a sleeve of his robe. No. She wouldn't sleep in his bed until he was
there to lie beside her.

Gently folding her wedding tartan to make a pillow
for her head, she lay on the floor in front of the fire and prayed for sleep.
That she also asked for the chance to build a life of love with Alexander as
her parents had done seemed only natural.

**

The chirping birds in the garden woke Katherine.
She rose slowly. Sweet Heaven, but she ached. Perhaps she should have slept in
the bed. She had certainly been no less alone huddled before the fire.

Alone, aye, and likely to remain that way for some
time. Even if the king were to allow Alexander to return as soon as he
explained leaving his wedding, it would be days, perhaps weeks, before they
could be together again.

And
Maman
and Da were to leave for home
today. She would miss them so! What was she supposed to do with herself after
they left and no husband to occupy her time?

She snapped her fingers. Of course, why hadn't she
thought of that sooner? Smiling, she tossed Alexander's robe at the foot of the
bed, dressed quickly in one of her gowns that had been placed in the room
earlier, and closed the door behind her. As she neared her parents' chamber,
she heard Angus's voice through the open doorway.

"… 'twill keep Ja Bier from ever
finding—"

"Good morrow Da and
Maman
."

Angus whirled around to face her. "Uh, good
morrow, Katy. I didna know you were there."

Monique darted a quick glance at him, hurried over
to Katherine and kissed her cheek as she led her into the room. "How do
you fare,
cheri
? Did you sleep well?"

Katherine rubbed a sore hip. The floor had made a
poor bed. "No, not well. I worried over Alexander's leaving and being left
here without you and Da."

Angus walked over and ruffled her hair. "Och,
lass, you will be fine."

"But," Katherine said with a smile,
"'tis no concern now." She looked from her father to her mother and
back again. "I have decided to return with you until my husband finishes
the king's business and comes for me. That way, I won't be lonely and—"

"No!" both parents shouted at once.

Katherine jumped. What made them react so? 'Twas a
simple enough solution.

Angus darted a quick glance at Monique. He took a
deep breath and clasped his hands behind his back. "Lass, 'twould be an
insult to the MacGregors for you to leave so soon."

Her mother nodded. "Your da is right. It
should not be long before Alexander comes back. You… you can use the time to
settle in, get to know his family."

Katherine shook her head. "I don't think the
MacGregors will be angry after I explain it to them. Why, we could even invite
them to accompany us for a visit."

Angus shook his head and dropped his arms to his
sides. He clenched and unclenched one fist. "No. We canna ask the
MacGregors to leave with so little notice."

Katherine smiled. "Oh, Da, the laird was
willing for all of us to leave to accompany Alexander. He won't mind. I'll just
go ask him now."

Angus reached out and grasped her arm. "I
have said no, Katy."

She sighed. "If you don't wish for them to go
with us, I won't mention it. But I—"

Her father frowned. "'Tis not what I meant. 
You canna come home with us. You must stay here."

Katherine planted her fists on her hips.
"Why? I have no husband here."

"
Mon Dieu
." Monique walked away
and sank onto a chair. Her face drained of all color.

"
Maman
," Katherine cried as she
and her father hurried over. "What's wrong?"

Angus held one of Monique's hands and patted it.

There was a tremor in her mother's voice as she
glanced up at him. "Angus, this was never meant to happen. What if he
should find her? Find out the truth?"

Katherine spoke before her father could answer.
"Who? What truth,
Maman
?"

"Oh,
mon cheri
. I… I do not know how
to tell you this.
C'est terrible!
"

Katherine looked from her mother's light brown
eyes to her father's dark black ones and felt a chill of foreboding.

Angus released Monique's hand and motioned to the
other empty chair. "Come sit down, Katy. Your mother and I must talk to
you. There are things about the past which you need to know."

Katherine pulled the chair up beside her mother
and sat. Her father walked across the room, closed the door and returned to
stand beside them. His shoulders sagged and small lines wrinkled his brow.
"Lass, this willna be easy for you, but you must be told." He paused
then shrugged. "I am like other men, and dinna often speak of my feelings,
but I tell you true, I love you as much as if you were my own." 

A painful spasm jolted through Katherine.
"What?"

He thrust his hand out, silencing her. "By
God, I hoped never to have to tell you this." He paused again and clenched
his fists at his sides. "I am not your sire."

She drew her arms about herself and squeezed
tight. Her breath caught in her throat. No. She hadn't heard him right. She
couldn't have. "What are you talking about?"

His face seemed to age as she watched.
"Before you were born, your mother was forced to marry a cruel mon. Her
husband treated her verra badly—"

"Husband?" Katherine darted a look at
her mother. "But
Maman
, I don't understand. Da is your
husband." Her mother's expression left her feeling queasy and afraid. She
didn't want to hear any more.

Monique hung her head and moaned. "Oh,
Angus."

He squeezed her shoulder gently then looked back
at Katherine. "The mon, Duke Phillipe Ja Bier, was often violent toward
your mother, even when she was with child. There were other reasons for your
mother to fear him, but I willna speak of them. Some things are best forgotten
if 'tis possible." A look of obvious tenderness crossed his face as he
looked down at Monique.

Katherine shook her head. This couldn't be true.
Her parents wanted her to stay so were telling her this to convince her. But
no, they would never be so cruel. Never had she known them to lie. But this?
Sweet Mary, no!

Angus looked at Katherine. "Your mother and I
met when I visited France. She had no one to protect her and I couldna stand
the thought of what she had to bear. When you were born, and not the son the
duke wished, he threatened to abandon you and your mother. I brought the two of
you to my home, here in Scotland, and we have lived together ever since."

Silently, he pulled himself up straight, and
looked at Katherine. Then he dropped his gaze to the floor. "I willna
blame you if you never wish to see me again."

Katherine covered her face with her hands. Dear
God. She couldn't believe it. Da… Angus, was not her father? He'd always been
there, caring for her, for as long as she could remember. She needed time to
sort this all out in her mind. But one thing was sure. Nothing would ever
change the way she felt about him.

She hurried to his side and hugged him tightly.
"No! I love you. In my heart, you will always be my father."

The fierce scowl that had darkened his face
vanished with her words. His eyes shone with moisture and a single fat tear
rolled down his cheek. He rubbed it away with a broad hand and cleared his
throat.

Katherine looked at her mother then back to Angus.
"But why are you telling me this now?"

Angus sighed deeply. "A few fortnights ago,
when I went to Edinburgh to sell the new lambs, I heard a stranger ask a tavern
keeper if he knew of a French woman named Lady Monique Ja Bier or her daughter.
The stranger said her husband was searching for them, to take them back to
France." Angus shook his head. "Your mother and I feared he might
find you and take you away. That is why we arranged your marriage to
Alexander."

So that's why they had insisted on the hasty
marriage. Finally some things made sense. "But why him? There are other
families closer to our home."

"None whom I trust as well. Ian knows. 'Twas
he who secretly traveled to France after we arrived in Scotland. He sought out
information on the duke's actions when the mon realized you and your mother had
vanished. Because of Ian's act of friendship, we learned that Ja Bier claimed
you and your mother had died in childbirth. The secret has kept you safe all
this time."

Katherine gasped and dropped back into her chair.
She was supposed to be dead. Her complete existence had been hidden from her
true sire; a man who would do her harm. She had grown up in safety, surrounded
by love. The tale of her death, as an infant, had served her well. Until now.
She couldn't hold back the fear that ran through her. "But what does the
duke want with us? If he said we died, how can he explain looking for us?
Surely no one would believe him."

Angus' eyes darkened with a hard look Katherine
had never seen before. "'Tis because we dinna know what he plots that we arranged
for you to wed Alexander immediately. Ja Bier is a very powerful and dangerous
man. He would find some way to justify his claims. If he is intent on takin'
you and your mother back to France, he will let nothing stop him."

Monique reached out toward Katherine.
"Darling, don't you see? The MacGregors will protect you. If you are
lawfully wed to a Scot, the duke cannot take you away. You would be safe. Angus
and I cannot bear the thought of you in his clutches."

"But,
Maman
, Da said the stranger was looking
for both of us. What about you?"

Angus answered quickly. "Dinna fear for your
mother. I will protect her. But 'tis why you must stay here. If aught should
happen to us, 'twould be no one to keep the duke from forcing you to his
will."