Ceci Giltenan(30)

When they did retire, she found joy with him she had never dared to hope for. One evening as they lay in each other’s arms savoring the afterglow of their love-making, the gold ring on her left hand caught her eye. She smiled to herself as she remembered her thoughts about it on her wedding day. As each day passed she recognized that the stranger to whom the king had given her hand now very firmly held her heart.

Happier than she had been in many years, Katherine embraced her Highland clansmen and their culture without reserve. Katherine found the women of her new clan more than willing to help her adjust. She hadn’t had a woman in her life to guide and help her since her mother’s death and it pleased her when every matron in the clan, most particularly Bridie, treated her like a daughter. It was not uncommon to hear, “Och, lass, let me show ye now, if ye do that this way...,” and she was genuinely happy to learn from them. She didn’t mind the familiarity. It also wasn’t uncommon to hear her say to an older woman, “Och, Ana, that is much too heavy for ye to lift, let me get it.” Truthfully, she knew exactly how to run a castle and she worked as hard as her clanswomen did, which earned their respect.

Learning how to live with the man she had married proved to be a bit more difficult. As laird, he ruled the clan without question. The words he said to her on her first evening at Duncurra, Katherine, if I ask ye to do something, I want no argument. I expect ye to do it, came back to her over and over again.

Katherine had no idea how difficult that seemingly simple request would be for her. It seemed odd in a way because her uncle was certainly demanding. If he gave her a specific order, she followed it, or at least her interpretation of it. However, other than the things he needed to ensure his own personal comfort, he didn’t really care about much else. She found Niall much more demanding in many ways, and while he would never raise a hand to her, she managed to raise his ire frequently. More often than not this happened because she broke a rule she either didn’t know or didn’t understand. In some cases she didn’t quite realize something he said was an order.

On one of these occasions Katherine was working in one of the kitchens preparing an infusion of wych elm. When it came to preparing the plants and herbs she used in medicines, she preferred to complete the tasks herself to ensure the best results. Although time for the midday meal approached, she didn’t expect Niall back at Duncurra until evening. She planned to finish her task and, if necessary, give orders to serve the meal without her. One of the serving maids found her in the kitchen.

“Lady Katherine, the laird has just arrived.”

“He’s back already? I didn’t expect him until much later.”

“He said he is ready for the meal to be served.”

Intent on her work, Katherine said cheerily, “Oh, please begin without me, then.”

In a few minutes the maid was back, saying, “My lady, the laird asks ye to join him for the meal.”

“Well, please tell him I can’t leave just at the moment, I need to finish this. Go ahead and serve the meal, and I will be along in a bit.”

Moments later a white-faced Bridie found her and said, “Och, lass, the laird’s in a fine temper. I will finish this for ye. Go.”

“What is he in a temper over?” Katherine asked, thoroughly confused.

“Lass, did Seanna not just come and tell ye the laird wants ye to join him for the meal?”

“Aye, but—”

“If he wants ye to join him, ye’d best not keep him waiting,” she said, shooing her away from the kettle.

Exasperated, Katherine went to join Niall at the table. The hall was unusually quiet and the glare with which he pierced her as she entered would have put the fear of God into most people. When she reached the table, she said matter-of-factly “You’re angry.”

“Aye. I’m angry.”

Glancing at the table she saw Diarmad suddenly rubbing his brow, looking as if he was trying desperately not to laugh.

“Why?” she asked.

“Why?” he repeated incredulously. “Ye defied me.”

“Defied you?” She sounded astonished. “I’m terribly sorry. I certainly didn’t intend to defy you.”

“Ye didn’t intend—Katherine, sit down,” he growled and motioned for the servants to serve the meal.

When the noise in the hall rose to normal levels, Katherine leaned over and said sweetly, “Niall, how did I defy you?” Diarmad shook in silent laughter.

Now it was Naill who looked astonished. “Katherine, were ye not told that I wanted ye to join me for the meal?”

“Aye.”