Page 38 of Healing the Highland Sinner (Tales of the Maxwell Lasses #7)
CHAPTER ONE
T he carriage finally came to a grinding halt, but not without a final jolt that nearly toppled Katherine MacCallum from the plush, padded bench she’d been sitting on for the entire length of the long, arduous journey. She managed to catch herself before she was thrown to the floor but grumbled to herself. She would have much rather ridden her own horse than be stuffed in the back of the carriage like some precious bird in a cage.
Before she’d left home though, her father had reminded her, not for the first time, that she was a lady and had to conduct herself as such, which included riding in the carriage rather than riding her own horse. She tamped down the resentment that bubbled up inside of her. She would not even have been there if not for her sister Alicia, whom the king had originally ordered to marry Laird MacTavish. But she’d fallen in love with Samuel, the Laird of clan MacDougall, and had been permitted to marry him instead.
With her older sister already wed, it fell to Katherine to marry Laird MacTavish, a man twice her own age, to secure a much-needed alliance between her clan and his. She knew her father had been reluctant to accept the match, but with the looming threat posed by clan MacLean, the king had urged them to make this alliance so they could better protect one another and potentially stave off a war. Katherine, always dutybound and loyal to her father, had accepted the match with her usual aplomb and grace despite the resentment that bubbled within her heart.
The door to the carriage was thrown open and a man set down a small set of wooden stairs while the other held his hand out to assist her down. She wanted to tell them she was not some delicate porcelain doll that needed to be coddled but instead, offered them a gracious smile and grateful incline of her head as she accepted his hand.
“Thank ye,” she said.
The two men wore black breeches and yellow tunics that bore the sigil of Clan MacTavish, and knee-high boots. As she descended the small staircase, a plump older woman strode across the courtyard with a wide, welcoming smile on her face. She wore a plain gray dress, belted at the waist, and a white wimple over her iron-gray hair. She had a quick, efficient stride, and an almost militaristic bearing about her, telling Katherine she was of some station within the household.
“Greetin’s, Lady MacCallum and welcome tae Castle MacTavish,” she said, her tone husky. “We’re glad tae have ye here. I’m Mina and I oversee the household staff. I’m charged with seein’ tae yer every need while ye’re here.”
Katherine offered the woman a polite nod. “Thank ye, Mina. ‘Tis good tae meet ye.”
“Now, come along and let’s get ye out of the cold. I’m sure ye could use some food and drink tae warm yer insides after yer journey.”
“Some refreshment would be nice. Thank ye.”
“I’ll have the lads take yer bags tae yer chambers,” she said. “Now, come along, lass.”
The woman’s demeanor was as brusque and efficient as her stride. It was probably a necessity given her role within the MacTavish household. It was clear she was used to people doing as she asked and not one who stood on ceremony. Katherine liked her immediately. She wasn’t much for the pomp and circumstance that accompanied her position either.
The matronly woman led her through the corridors of the castle. The servants stood aside, politely lowering their gaze as she passed. It made her feel awkward and she didn’t care for it. She wanted to tell them she wasn’t royalty, and they need not avoid looking at her., but she supposed this was her position now and she really had no choice other than to get used to it. She sighed and bit the inside of her cheek.
Silk and velvet tapestries hung on the walls of the castle, depicting the clan sigil as well as other designs she could not identify. The corridors were well-lit, clean and abuzz with activity as the household scurried about on their various errands.
“Just this way, love,” Mina said.
The older woman led her down a long corridor and opened a heavy wooden door, ushering Katherine into a small chamber beyond. A fire roared in the fireplace on the other side of the room, making it warm and cozy inside. A pair of plush chairs stood before the fire with a small table between them. Wooden shelves had been constructed and were filled with books. The sight filled Katherine’s heart with joy.
She immediately walked over to one of the shelves and ran her fingers along the spines of the well-worn books, unable to keep the smile off her lips.
“Laird MacTavish enjoys readin’ at night,” Mina said approvingly.
“I dae as well,” Katherine said. “Poetry, history, as well as tales of adventure. I tend tae read whatever I can get me hands on.”
“I think ye’ll get on well then.”
Katherine nodded but said nothing and pain lanced her heart as she was reminded again of why she was there. She turned to Mina and tried to keep the turmoil churning in her belly off her face. This was her duty, and she needed to accept it.
“Laird MacTavish sends his deepest regrets he is nae able tae attend tae ye himself, as well as his assurances he will return soon,” Mina said. “Until then, he bids ye fill yer belly with food and drink and make yerself at home.”
Despite her best efforts to prevent it, a small frown flickers across her lips. She managed to pull it back, but not before Mina seemed to notice it. A sympathetic expression crossed her face and she stepped forward, taking Katherine’s hand in her own, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“I cannae pretend tae understand what ye’re feelin’ right now, lass, but I ken it must be scary tae be in a strange place, havin’ tae marry a man ye dinnae ken,” she said softly. “But Laird MacTavish is a good man. ‘Tis a good family he has. Ye’ll be safe here. And valued. Ye’ll nae be mistreated. That much I can promise ye.”
“Thank ye fer sayin’ that,” Katherine said. “I appreciate that.”
“Of course, love. And if there’s anythin’ I can dae tae make ye more comfortable here, ye just let me ken and I’ll see that it’s done.”
It was going to take some time, but she was grateful to have somebody like Mina looking out for her.
“Now, why dinnae ye have a little somethin’ tae eat and drink and while ye dae that, I’ll see if I can find Laird MacTavish’s oldest son. He’ll show ye around?—”
“Oh, that’s all right, Mina,” Katherine said. “I can show meself around.”
“Aye?”
Katherine nodded. “Aye. I like tae adventure by meself.”
The older woman smiled and gave her hand another squeeze. “A woman after me own heart. Bless ye. Then I guess I’ll leave ye tae it.”
Katherine gave her a grateful nod and watched as the older woman bustled out of the room, leaving her with a table of food and drink to pick through. She filled a plate and ate, washing it all down with a cup of wine. She had to admit everything was delicious and getting some food and a little drink into her belly had settled her nerves a bit.
She sat back in her chair and looked around, torn between picking up a book and enjoying the fire or getting out to see the grounds. If this was to be her new home, she should probably get familiar with it. The desire for a little adventure won out. Katherine got to her feet then walked out of the salon and wandered the corridors of the castle for a little while. The castle was well kept and well attended. The household staff all knew their jobs and appeared to do them well. Mina apparently ran a very tight ship, which having met the woman, didn’t surprise her.
Katherine found her way out to the garden grounds behind the keep and was taken by their beauty. Tall, flowering bushes and trees filled the air with their fragrance, and a small brook ran through the center of it, adding to the natural beauty of the grounds. A small smile curling her lips, Katherine found a large, flat stone beside the brook in a small clearing she knew would be a wonderful place to sit and read.
Toward the back wall of the enclosed grounds, she found a gate discreetly tucked away behind a tall bush. She assumed it was the escape route for the laird and his family should the castle fall under siege. Her own father’s castle had the same such contingency. Curious about what lay beyond, Katherine slipped through the gate and stepped into the wilderness behind the castle.
She found a subtle path that cut through the undergrowth and wound around the soaring trees of the forest. It was quiet and peaceful, and the air was saturated with the heavy, earthy musk of the woods with an undertone of the saltiness of the seat. It was a scent Katherine loved. It brought her peace and reminded her of home. For the first time since she’d departed her father’s castle, a genuine smile touched her lips.
Katherine followed the path around a small bend and found herself standing near the edge of a loch. Tendrils of steam curled off the surface and drifted heavenward, making her think a natural heat flowed up from the bottom. The surface of the water was a smooth as a pane of glass and the thick, wide trunks of the trees that surrounded the still body of water provided a sense of privacy. It was beautiful.
The sound of a man’s low moan cut through the silence around her. Curious, Katherine turned in the direction the sound had come from. Moving quietly, she stepped around the wide base of an ancient pine and stopped, her heart leaping into her throat. A man stood on the bank of the loch, shirtless, beads of water glistening on his body. He was tall and broad, his body thick with corded muscle. His hair was wet and hung limply to his shoulders and his torso was covered in dark tattoos. Her eyes traced the swirls and shapes of designs she found strangely fascinating.
The man turned his face up to the sky, eyes closed, and he wore a look of absolute rapture on, which Katherine found strange. Her stomach quivered and she felt the heat that had flared in her belly spread outward. She knew she should turn away and go back to the castle. Knew she should give the man some privacy since he was obviously out for a swim in incredibly inviting waters. But the man was so ruggedly handsome and the look on his face was so strange, it piqued her curiosity and she found herself unable to turn away.
Creeping through the bushes, being careful to avoid stepping on branches or rustling the leaves, Katherine picked her way from tree trunk to tree trunk until she was able to get a clear view of the man. And when she did, her eyes widened, and her heart jumped into her throat. She stared at the scene before her, trying to understand what she was seeing.
A woman knelt before the man, her hands on his bare backside, her head bobbing back and forth in a strangely hypnotic motion. Katherine did not have much experience with men and the art of sex, but she knew enough that she finally figured out what it was she was seeing. And as she watched the woman pleasing the man with her mouth, Katherine found her own arousal growing. Her stomach churned as her sex grew wet and slick.
The man put his hands on her head, gripping her hair as he thrust his hips, plunging his long, hard staff into her mouth. His body grew rigid and his muscles grew taut as he threw his head back and let out a throaty growl that quickly turned to a sound of ecstasy so loud and filled with passion, Katherine almost climaxed herself.
Her heart racing and breath quickening, Katherine watched as the woman got to her feet and daintily dabbed at the corners of her mouth and smiled at the man. She smoothed out her skirts as the man stepped forward and took her into his arms, giving her a passionate kiss and a playful swat on her backside, sending her on her way.
“I’ll see ye later then, eh?” he called after her.
“Maybe. But maybe nae,” she teased, her voice echoing across the water.
The man stood where he was, watching her go, giving Katherine a long, unobstructed look at his toned, tight body, not to mention his long, girthy manhood. Her sex burned with heat as her arousal grew and she felt a pang of disappointment when the man finally turned away and sank into warm, steamy waters of the loch, obscuring her view of him.
“Bleedin’ hell,” she whispered as she gave herself a shake.