In a colder, less unctuous voice, Uncle Ambrose said, “You must choose now. You can leave for the convent within the hour or, if you choose marriage, we will summon Father James and you can be married as soon as he arrives. Laird MacIan is anxious to return to the Highlands, so he wishes to depart immediately after exchanging wedding vows. Either way, you leave today.”
Katherine knew her uncle had won, she just didn’t know how he had done it. From the day her father died, Ambrose had wanted the title and lands that were to be held in reserve for her husband. How had this Highlander been convinced to marry her and relinquish all but a portion of her wealth? She didn’t relish either option. Finally she said flatly, “I will marry.”
“Very well, I will send for Father James.” As Katherine turned to leave, her uncle demanded, “Where are you going?”
She glanced down at the old gown she generally wore when working and realized the absurdity of this situation. She lifted her head, stared at her uncle, and said, “For the next few minutes at least, Uncle, I am Lady Katherine Ruthven. This is my keep. I am going to pack my things and dress for my wedding.”
She turned again to leave the great hall, and for the first time, she heard her betrothed’s voice, “Lass, one bag is all ye’ll be bringing.”
She nodded and quietly said, “Aye, Laird,” before leaving. Katherine paused at the bottom of the steps and waited for the messenger Uncle Ambrose would send to the priest. Stopping him before he left the keep, she asked him to deliver an additional message on his way. Then Katherine climbed the stairs to her chambers.
~ * ~
Already in a foul mood by the time he arrived at Cothrach Castle, waiting so long did nothing to improve Niall MacIan’s temperament. When he saw a servant enter the great hall instead of Lady Katherine, he reached his breaking point. He could not believe his ears when this servant addressed Ruthven as Uncle Ambrose. The lovely lass who stood before them couldn’t be the one whispered about in Edinburgh Castle. He stared boldly at her, taking in her honey colored hair and small, willowy frame. The faded gown she wore revealed softly curving hips and full breasts.
Niall could only watch speechless as her uncle toyed with her like a cat with a mouse. At first she had appeared poised and unemotional, but it didn’t take long for her act to slip. He heard the panic rise in her voice, but surely she didn’t expect him to believe she was only concerned for her people? If she intended to manipulate his feelings by faking compassion, she would soon realize her folly.
Still, when she captured his gaze for a moment, it shocked Niall to see the fear and confusion in the green depths of her eyes. From out of nowhere, he felt a powerful urge to take her in his arms and comfort her, but he refused to give in to that weakness. Still, while Lady Katherine was likely the same faithless, self-absorbed creature he believed all women to be, at that moment he wanted to crush Ruthven for being an insensitive cur.
Needing to shake his unwelcomed response towards her seeming vulnerability, and also wanting to clearly establish his authority after her momentary show of spirit, he said, “Lass, one bag is all ye’ll be bringing.” She immediately became the meek, subservient lass who had first walked into the hall. Although it was what he intended, for some reason he found it disconcerting.
~ * ~
On entering her chamber, Katherine found her maid, Emma, waiting and said bitterly, “I guess good news travels fast.”
“Oh, my lady, what is going to happen to ye? Those Highlanders are huge. Ye’ll be killed for sure.” With that dire prediction, Emma burst into tears.
Katherine put her arm around the girl’s shoulders, saying, “Don’t worry so, Emma. This is what the king wants and I will do it. Everything will be fine.” Dear God, she hoped with every fiber of her being everything would be fine, but she doubted it herself.
“There isn’t much time and I need your help to get ready,” she said, hoping to refocus her distraught maid. Even with the unusually warm day, Katherine would have given anything to relax into a warm bath and attempt to come to terms with things, but she didn’t have time. Instead, with a few buckets of cold water, she refreshed herself with a quick wash. Emma helped Katherine dress in a fresh white linen kirtle under her best deep blue linen gown, the neck, cuffs, and sleeves of which Katherine had embroidered with delicate, pale blue, forget-me-nots like those growing near the loch by which Cotharach stood. Around her waist she fastened a gold belt that dropped low on her hips and she slipped on soft leather shoes. Emma unbraided and combed her lady’s hair, letting the mass of honey colored curls fall down Katherine’s back.