“What’s the matter with ye? He has sworn fealty to ye, hasn’t he?”
“Aye, he has, but—”
“But nothing, ye must simply refuse to release him. Ye have no problem commanding other people and expecting your commands to be followed without question.”
By “other people,” Niall assumed she referred not so subtly to herself, and he laughed for what felt like the first time in weeks. “As ye wish, my lady,” he said, bowing to her. “Ye still haven’t forgiven me for sending ye away—twice?”
“Well, I forgive ye for the first time, had ye not done that, we never would have learned Tadhg wasn’t behind the raids.”
“True,” Niall agreed.
“So have ye forgiven him for abducting me?”
He realized she had cornered him and glared at her. “I suppose I have,” he acknowledged grudgingly.
“Good. Then, I will consider forgiving both of ye for sending me back to Cnocreidh.”
“My lady, ye will do more than consider forgiving us. I command it,” he said, capturing her in his arms and kissing all thoughts from her head.
Soon the memories of last few days fled and all that remained was their deep love and need for each other. Niall lowered her to the bed, intending to make sweet, unhurried love to her, but his good intentions fled as her passion fanned his desire for her. After they had reached a soul shattering release together, they lay in each other’s arms, feeling sated and basking in the afterglow.
Before either of them was ready to leave this haven, a knock sounded at the door. Diarmad called, “Laird, I am sorry to bother ye, but I have just received word from the watch that Laird Matheson approaches.”
Niall called, “I will be down shortly.” Reluctantly he rose from bed and dressed and Katherine did as well.
“Ye didn’t finish telling me all that happened,” she said. “Where has Tadhg been?”
Niall sighed. “Ye remember Malcolm put ye on Eithne’s palfrey wearing her mantle?”
“Aye, he was trying to buy time for his escape. He believed ye would not harm Eithne when ye discovered it was her.”
“Aye, I wouldn’t have, but evidently Eithne didn’t believe that. As Malcolm’s men surrendered, she stabbed Duncan in the gut and tried to push him off his horse. I think she intended to run, but as Duncan fell, she was pulled off the horse with him. In the confusion, they were both trampled.”
“Poor Duncan, what a terrible way to die.”
“Katherine, he was Malcolm’s commander and clearly a big part of this whole plan.”
“I know,” she said sadly. “It is hard to feel much pity for Eithne, her death was the direct result of her own cowardice, but he had a wife and daughters who will have to go on without him.”
“Tadhg suffered a moment of panic trying to save her, thinking it was ye. I knew ye were with Malcolm as soon as I saw him riding away, I saw your kertch.”
“Well then, I guess it was worth freezing over,” Katherine said, and confessed she had shaken her hood off on purpose. “So Eithne caused her own death, but what happened to Malcolm?”
“Malcolm’s little trick worked. By causing your mount to throw ye, he bought enough time to elude us. Tadhg and his men followed Malcolm that night, but I am not sure what happened after that. Perhaps we’ll learn more when he arrives.”
“Then I suppose we should join our guests,” said Katherine as she pulled a plaid around her shoulders.
“Ye might need this,” Niall said, producing the brooch she had dropped in the snow.
“Ye did find it,” she said, giving him the brilliant smile that made his knees weak.
“Aye,” he said, pinning her plaid together at her neck, “I am going to have to keep ye firmly rooted by my side to make sure ye don’t lose it again.” He kissed her, and reluctantly breaking the kiss, he said, “Ye really need to stop distracting me.”
~ * ~
When they reached the great hall, Tomas barreled toward her, throwing his arms around her waist yelling, “Mama, ye are all right!”
Everyone there greeted Katherine with nearly as much enthusiasm. It filled Niall with pride to see the firm place Katherine held in the hearts of his clan. Looking up at the front doors, he saw Tadhg and his men enter the hall just as Fingal approached Katherine and bowed, “My lady, please accept my apologies for everything that has happened.”
Katherine looked him squarely in the eyes. “I will not.”
Fingal appeared stunned and the room fell silent.
“Fingal, there is nothing to forgive. Ye are Niall’s brother, and nothing that has happened is your fault. Well, nothing other than ye saving Duncurra by bringing Laird Chisholm here.”