Highlander's Bride (Heart of the Highlander Series Book 1) (2 page)

Katherine spoke before he could answer.
"Could what wait,
Maman
?" She spoke to her mother in French for
she knew out of habit her mother sometimes lapsed into the language she'd been
raised with when she was preoccupied or excited.

Angus laid a hand on her mother's shoulder.
"Shh, Monique. My love, calm yourself. You dinna need speak of it. I will
tell her." He cleared his throat and took a slow deep breath before he
continued. "Your mother and I have been discussing your future, lass. We
have made plans for a change."

"What kind of change?"

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

He patted her shoulder and looked at Katherine.
His lips tightened as he paused over his next words. "I have contacted an
old friend, Ian MacGregor, and arranged for you to marry his son."        

"What? Why didn't you tell me before doing
so? Do my feelings not matter?"

Tears clung to Monique's eyelashes and her voice
quivered. "We know you did not expect this,
mon cheri
, but—"

 "Aye, 'twas not expected! I thought you and
Da cared… enjoyed having me here with you. Do you wish me gone? Is that
it?" Katherine fisted her hands on her hips and darted an angry glance at
her parents. "If so, there are many suitable men of my acquaintance. I
have oft spoken well of Sir Linden of Glen Heath. Daniel and I, that is, Sir
Linden and I have known each other for years and are in… well suited. Why
should I marry a stranger? I know naught of him or his people."

Angus' voice grew brusque. "'Tis enough that
I know them and call them friends. You willna question the MacGregors' honor.
The wedding will take place within a sennight."

"In a week? 'Tis madness! What bids you rush
so to be rid of me? Even if I agreed to wed this person, I would not do it so
soon."

The scowl on her da's face turned grim. His eyes
darkened with a hard look she'd never seen before. "You forget your place,
daughter. You do not have the choice to agree or disagree. Your mother and I
have discussed it and Ian MacGregor has approved the betrothal. 'Tis
done."

Monique reached out toward her daughter. "
Cheri
,
you'll be happy there once you have come to know the MacGregors. They are fine
men."

Katherine shook her head. "
Maman
,
please, 'tis too soon. I need more time to think about this, to accustom myself
to the idea of such a drastic change in my life. I have… friends here I do not
wish to leave."

"Katherine Gordon," Angus' voice rang
out. "We leave on the morrow, so set your mind to it. You'll have a
lifetime to become accustomed to your husband. Your mother and I know what is
best for you and we willna change our decision."

She frowned back at him and stamped her foot.
"'Tis absurd. I—" The fierce expression on his face halted the words
on her lips. Arguing would get her nowhere. She must take action, do something.
Marry some stranger? She'd rather eat a garden slug.

Yanking her hands from her hips, she grabbed up
her skirts, and rushed from the solar.  Katherine descended the stairs and
hurried to the stables. Darting a quick glance about, she saw her saddle on a
stone shelf nearby. The bridle hung on a peg near her mare's stall. There was
no time to find a groom to saddle her horse. She would simply do it herself. Da
had taught her how to saddle and ride years ago. Aye, and to protect herself.
What did she need of some demanding husband she knew naught of? She wanted
freedom. When she chose to marry, it would be for love. To marry Daniel.

Within minutes, she'd saddled her horse and rode
silently out the far postern gate. She rode for a time within the edge of the
nearby woods watching the castle gates to see if anyone followed her. When no
one approached, she turned her horse toward the place where she and Daniel
often met.

'Twas true, she and Daniel were not betrothed, but
he had spoken of it often enough. Aye, he simply wished to wait to speak with
her father until he had acquired a larger land holding, but surely once she told
him of her parents' plans, he would change his mind.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl as Katherine
waited, hoping to see Daniel. Eventually, she saw his mount approaching on the
local tavern road that passed by their meeting place. Urging her horse to a brisk
canter, Katherine breathlessly rode up to him. "Daniel!"

He clumsily reined in and drew his sword with a
shaky hand. "Who… Och, Katherine, 'tis you. What are you doing here
without sending me word? I might have harmed you."

"There was no time to send word. I had to
speak with you today. Now."

Nodding, Daniel managed to sheath his sword after
the second attempt and then led her to a secluded grove beyond the road.  As
soon as they dismounted, he took her into his arms, eagerly covering her mouth
with his.

Katherine coughed and drew back from the reek of
whiskey on his breath. "Daniel, please, we must talk. My parents have
betrothed me to a Highlander and we are to leave on the morrow! You must come
back with me and speak to Da today."

"What? That canna be. You must have it amiss.
Och, lass, you know so little of the world and men's minds." Patting her
hand as if she were a child, he added, "My little love, come sit and I
shall explain such things to you."

"No, Daniel, Da spoke of it not two hours
past. If you truly care for me as you say, you must speak to him before we
leave on the morrow."

Daniel shook his head, leaned down and picked a
small stalk of heather and handed it to her.  "
Wheesht
, little
love. You worry yourself over naught. Dinna fash, I will speak with your sire
soon. 'Twill not be much longer before I have a large enough holding to claim
you for my own. You are too fine a lady to live in a small manor house such as
mine."  With that, he pulled her down to the ground beside him, leaned
over, and wrapped his arms around her, near smothering her in his pungent
embrace. As his tongue played over her lips, he ran a hand down the front of
her gown, cupping her breast.

Katherine pushed at him, but he gripped her
tighter. "Ah, my little love, you worry overmuch. You know how I love you.
Let me comfort you and ease your fears."

With that, he pushed the hem of her gown up and
lay across her. Katherine shoved him off and rolled away.  "No, Daniel. I
won't do this. We have waited too long to share our love to do so now with no
marriage vows spoken."

"Katherine, I tell you there is no need to
speak yet. I will soon. I vow it."  Pulling her to him again, he added,
"Now, come here to me and let me prove my love."

"No, you've said this for nigh on a year. If
you truly wish me to be yours as you vow, you must convince my father this day.
Then we shall be free to wed as we want."

Daniel released her and rolled onto his side.
"Nay, Katherine. I canna do so now. My endeavors to increase my wealth
have nay gone as I had hoped. If you will but wait a while yet, I will convince
my sire to entrust my mother's keep to me. She has no need of it."

"We have no need of it," Katherine said.
"I would be happy to live anywhere with you as long as I have your
love."

Daniel sighed and stood slowly, looking down at
her. "Alas, my dearest, I could not be content in such a meager holding as
I now own, even with you. Go home and let your parents think you are in
agreement. Be content and bide your time. Trust me. I will come for you soon. I
vow it." 

Katherine sat in shocked silence, watching him
ride away. How could he do this? For months, he had sworn his undying love. She
had paid no heed to other men willing to court her, had waited only for him.
'Twould seem she had been played the fool! Aye, Daniel loved her well enough to
dally, but not to marry. In truth, he cared far more for wealth than for her.
Daniel's deception struck a blow to her heart as surely as if he'd hit her.

Katherine cast an angry glance about her. She'd
been such a fool to believe in his love. She picked up the stalk of flowers
he'd given her, broke it in half and flung it to the ground. Then she mounted
her horse.

For hours, she rode her mare over the surrounding
hills and forests, thinking. Her thoughts tumbled end over end and her anger
intensified. Finally, as the setting sun lashed the sky with fiery streaks, she
headed her mount toward home. After she turned her horse over to a groom in the
stable, she went to her chamber. Her troubled thoughts churned inside her. A
knock at her door drew her attention from her troubled contemplation.

"M'lady, yer parents await ye in the great
hall. They bid ye join them for the evenin' meal."

Katherine shook her head. "I'm not hungry.
Tell them I will break my fast with them on the morrow."

"Aye, m'lady."

After the servant left, Katherine sat beside her
writing desk and opened a hidden drawer. Lifting out the parchment where she
had foolishly practiced writing the name Lady Katherine Linden, she stared at
it in displeasure. Her fingers clutched the vellum tightly as she looked upon
the proof of her misguided trust. "By Saint Bridget, I will never be so
deceived again!"

Angrily, Katherine wiped a tear from her face,
crushed the parchment into a ball and flung it into the flames in her
fireplace. Watching it wrinkle, blacken and burn to ash strengthened her
resolve. Never again would she let her heart be foolishly swayed.
Never
.
She would find a way to live as she chose. 

Rising from her desk, she walked over to her open window
and stared out into the darkness. Sweet Mary, she must think of a way to change
this untenable situation. She stood quietly, forcing her breathing to slow,
emptying her mind of its useless fury and listened to the sounds of the night.
Wind whistled through the trees carrying the solitary cry of an owl as it flew
across the night sky.

She envied its freedom. How wonderful it would be
if she could simply fly away and leave this foolish marriage behind. Or better
yet, have this unknown MacGregor carried off and leave her in peace. A smile
curved her lips. Aye, that would suit her well.

She wasn't sure how long she stood there, staring
into the blackness of the night. Eventually, the wind died to a gentle breeze
and the owl called out again. Its cry drifted through her mental fog. When its
mate answered the owl's call, she frowned at the confining walls of her room.
She grabbed a cloak and climbed the stairs to the battlements to breathe the
night air that blew across the land she called home.

If she were forced to marry and live in the remote
Highlands, would she ever see her parents again? Even though their plans
angered her, she loved them. And what of her dreams of a life with Daniel? Did
wealth truly mean more to him than having her as his wife? Perhaps she had
misjudged him in her despair. Had he not asked her to trust him and sworn to
come for her before the wedding could be forced upon her?

Katherine swallowed against the tight lump in her
throat. By the saints, she wanted no part of this foolish betrothal to some
Highland stranger. The mere idea of it had nearly destroyed her faith in love.
In Daniel. She must be more fervent in her trust. If she thought hard enough,
she would find some way to change things. She had to.

The chill air sent a shiver through her. She tugged
her cloak tighter and stared at the heavens until she was too weary to think. A
good night's sleep would help. Taking one last look about her, she descended to
her room.

**

Katherine had risen and dressed by the time the
first pink glow of sunrise bathed the castle in its faint light. Her tossing
and turning in worry during the night had left her tired and unsure. She took a
deep breath and forced herself to think calmly. If she let her dismay take
control, all would be lost. She would face the day and its challenge head on,
not shrink away from it like some meek maid too slow witted to know her own
mind.

The sound of a knock at her door drew Katherine's
attention. She smiled at the young serving girl who entered.

"M'lady, yer parents await ye in the great
hall to break yer fast before ye leave."

"Aye, please tell them I will be down in a
trice."

After the girl left, Katherine looked around her
chamber. A bittersweet longing rose in her chest. She had lived here all of her
life, surrounded by her parents love for her and for each other. Ever since
she'd begun to take notice of the young men around her, she'd hoped to marry
for such love. There must be something she could do to convince her parents to
change their minds.

Frowning, she wrapped a shawl around her shoulders
and walked over to the wall mirror to smooth her hair in place. Fie, her frown
looked sour enough to clabber cream. It wouldn't do to antagonize her parents
this morn. Not if she hoped to persuade them to undo their decision. She must
do as Daniel asked and let them think she had accepted the idea… for now.

Pinching her cheeks for a spot of color, she
pasted a smile on her lips then gathered up her skirts and hurried downstairs.

When she arrived in the hall, her parents were
just finishing their meal. Smiling, she walked over and kissed each of them on
the cheek. The apparent look of relief on her father's face when she greeted
him as she always did, nagged at her conscience.

He nodded. "Good morrow, Katy. I didna know
how you'd be feeling toward me this morn."

Swallowing against the lump in her throat, she
managed to find her voice. "Oh, Da, I admit your news shocked me. I still
do not quite know what to think of it. But it doesn't change the way I feel
about you."

Angus' eyes glistened with moisture and he cleared
his throat. "Well, now, come sit beside your mother while I see to the
horses and wagons. We shall be leaving soon." He ruffled her hair as he
had when she was small, gave her mother a quick kiss on the cheek and left.