Page 18 of The Dark Highlander’s Heart (Thorns Of The Highlands #2)
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A s the village came into sight, it occurred to Katherine that she had never had this much fun with her own sister before. Romilly had always been so immersed in their father’s lessons and schemes that Katherine could not remember the last time they’d had any fun together. Now, it seemed, she had found a surrogate older sister in the form of Laird Alex’s wife. What a peculiar thing that was! Who could have predicted it?
Not Katherine, certainly. She knew she could never have foreseen any of this. Most of all, she could not have imagined herself feeling so happy and free while among these so-called “enemies of her clan.”
When they stopped in the main square of the village and tied up their horses, Katherine could not help but notice that the townsfolk stared at her with the same suspicion and distrust they’d displayed during her previous visit. She chose to ignore it.
To her surprise, Isla did not.
“Och, I am astonished at ye, friends!” Isla addressed the villagers loudly, her mouth twisted in a sardonic half-smile. “In all my time among ye, I have known ye tae be friendly, considerate, welcoming people. Yet here ye stand, being terribly rude tae one who has been accepted into our fold by none other than Laird Alex himself. Tae say nothing of his bride, and the Captain of his Guard!”
Katherine blushed a deep scarlet, wishing that Isla had not chosen to make an issue of it. Nevertheless, she was touched that her new friend was so intent on defending her, and she could not help but notice that Isla’s words were having an effect on them. Their expressions were softening, and their eyes were tinged with remorse and shame.
“This lass has given up everything tae help us,” Isla went on. “She has agreed tae do whatever it takes tae ensure that her people dinnae threaten our lands again. She has sacrificed more than any of ye can ever imagine, and I’ll nae stand here and allow ye tae make her feel like an unwanted outsider!”
The people stopped gawping and scowling. Most of them went on their separate ways, while a few among them even took a few steps toward Katherine and mumbled apologies before departing.
“There, ye see?” Isla asked, smiling at Katherine. “The Oliphants are a lovely and accepting people, truly. Every so often, they just need a bit of a shove in the right direction.”
As they continued to walk, Katherine noticed that the children of the clan were gazing at her—not with hostility, but with open curiosity, and even a touch of awe. The younger girls of the village seemed particularly intrigued.
“From what I’ve heard,” Isla confided quietly, “word has spread among the wee lasses that ye are a dab hand at sewing dresses and the like. No doubt they’re hoping ye’ll show them a thing or two. Do ye feel up tae it?”
“Aye, as a matter of fact, I do,” Katherine answered happily. “Do ye suppose they would mind if I gave them a few lessons in the town square?”
“One way tae find out, eh?”
The two women produced the cloth and sewing kits from the bags they’d brought along, and Katherine took a seat near the well at the center of the village. Within a few minutes, the children began to gather around her tentatively. Some of them gave questioning looks to their parents, who hesitated slightly, then glanced at Isla and nodded their approval. Some seemed to do so against their better judgment.
But they still did, all the same, and Katherine was touched.
They may not trust me fully yet , Katherine thought, but they certainly seem tae trust Isla, and that’s a start . They’re giving me a chance tae win them over .
Over the next two hours, Katherine demonstrated her best dress patterns to the children, helping them patiently as they tried to duplicate them individually with different fabrics. A few of them even found clever ways to customize these styles, and Katherine applauded their ingenuity.
By the time everyone had finished, each lass had at least one new garment to proudly show off to their parents.
Katherine looked over at Isla, who smiled and raised an eyebrow as if to say, See? They’re not such a bad lot once they’ve gotten a chance tae know ye .
Eventually, suppertime arrived, and the girls were called away by their mothers so they could wash up and help with the serving. All of them thanked Katherine for showing them how to sew new dresses, and a few of them even hugged her before scurrying off to their homes. These gestures deeply touched Katherine, and she found herself blinking back tears.
“Ye seem tae have impressed them tremendously,” a familiar voice croaked happily.
Katherine turned and smiled at Fiona, embracing her warmly. “How long have ye been standing there?”
“Och, I saw the whole blessed thing,” the old woman laughed, returning the hug and patting Katherine on the shoulder. “I stood away a bit, so I wouldnae interrupt or distract ye. ‘Twas a lovely sight, though, watching ye teach them. They’ll be playing with those patterns of yers for weeks tae come, I shouldn’t wonder!”
“I certainly hope so,” Katherine giggled.
Fiona offered a slow and creaky curtsy to Isla, who returned the gesture. “‘Tis been quite some time since I’ve had the pleasure of seeing ye, my lady.”
“The pleasure is entirely mine, Fiona,” Isla replied. “Have ye been well?”
The old woman shook her head wistfully. “We’re none of us doing as well as we might, my lady, now that we’ve had tae take in so many of our neighbors whose homes were destroyed by the McGregors. Meaning no offense,” she added to Katherine.
“None taken, I assure ye,” Katherine assured her earnestly. “I am mortified by the actions of my kinsmen, and have pledged tae do all that I can tae make the violence cease.”
“Aye, I’d heard something tae that effect.” Fiona searched Katherine’s eyes to gauge her sincerity, and nodded, clearly pleased with what she saw there. “Good. With ye on our side, we might just have a chance tae avoid bloodshed. For now, though, come with me. Let’s get some supper in ye, shall we?”
“Oh, no, I couldnae impose on ye like that,” Katherine protested. “Ye’ve just said ye’ve had tae take in more people tae feed, I couldnae add tae the crowd and fuss and bother.”
“Ye’ll sit and eat with us, and that’s the end of it,” the old woman told her firmly.
“But surely people who have just had their homes destroyed by my father’s men willnae wish tae share a table with me.”
“Oh no?” She smirked knowingly. “Why, I think they might find it fascinating, tae say nothing of informative; tae be able tae ask ye about where ye come from, the sort of man yer father is, and the odds that things will get worse before they improve. More than that, they may take great comfort in knowing we have a McGregor on our side, tae even those odds somewhat.”
“Well, when ye put it that way, I suppose I dare not refuse.” Katherine chuckled uncertainly. “Lead the way, then.”
As they proceeded toward Fiona’s cottage, some things the old woman had said to Katherine came back to her, specifically that when two clans have such a long history of animosity toward each other, the only way forward is through forgiveness and mutual acceptance.
Was that the true reason Fiona was so adamant about having her over for supper, she wondered? Could seeing the face of a McGregor, seeing that she was just a person like the Oliphants, not some demon or ogre, light a fire of understanding within the hearts of those who were living with Fiona? The women and children who had been burned out of their homes, who had lost everything at the hands of McGregor thugs?
If meeting and dining with those people could be a solid first step toward peace between the clans, then Katherine was glad of the opportunity to do so.
There was some awkwardness, naturally, when she first arrived and Fiona’s houseguests recognized her. Most of them openly stared at her, and there was a bit of dark muttering among them.
Katherine chose not to allow any of that to bother her, though. Instead, she simply introduced herself to them, and asked them questions about their families as she helped to set the table. They were visibly surprised by this, and it put them off their guard.
“Ye have lovely children,” Katherine said to one of the women. A young lad and a younger lass hovered at her sides, and the girl spent half her time hiding behind her mother’s skirt.
The woman was thin and haggard, and Katherine noticed several scars on her hands and neck where she had been burned by the flames that consumed her house. Her expression was wary as she surveyed Katherine, but she was too polite to ignore the comment – so she nodded slowly. “Thank ye. His name is Auley, and she’s Ainsley.” She paused, then added, “I’m Amelia.”
“‘Tis a pleasure tae make yer acquaintance, Amelia.” Katherine gave her a small curtsy.
Amelia didn’t quite seem to know how to respond to such civility from a McGregor, so she returned the gesture before she knew what she was doing. “Here, let me help ye set out the dishes, my lady.”
“Och, there’s nae need tae address me with such formality,” Katherine assured her. “I’m nae a noble-born lass here. My station is no different from yers. In fact,” she added with a laugh, “I’d say yer station is rather above mine here, since ye, at least, are a true-born Oliphant. I’m, well, I dinnae quite know what I am here, and that’s the truth. A captive? A traitor?”
“A friend,” Fiona spoke up. “One who is welcome at this table. Now sit and eat, all of ye, before it grows cold.”
They sat together, and continued to talk and laugh as they learned about each other. By the time the meal was over, Katherine felt as though she had known these people her entire life. She could not remember ever having had so much fun with the members of her own family.
When she and Isla returned to Castle Oliphant, though, she found Captain Black waiting for her in the courtyard with a stricken look on his face.
She’d been having such a lovely time with Isla, Fiona, and the rest that she had briefly forgotten the rest of it; the plan for her to be wed to Kirk Oliphant so that the clans might be lawfully united.
Now, the sorrow in Bryan’s eyes made it all come flooding back to her, and her heart felt as though there were cold and heavy chains wrapped around it.
“Forgive me, Lady Isla,” Bryan said in a strangled voice. “Might I have a word with Lady Katherine?”
Isla’s eyebrows went up quizzically. “Very well. I would only advise ye both tae remain here in the open while ye converse, for there are those who might suspect a more private talk between ye would be inappropriate, given her betrothal. I would also remind ye both that avoiding bloodshed with the McGregors is the priority of the day. Even if ye both wish it could be otherwise.”
“Thank ye for yer wise words, my lady.” Bryan’s words were polite enough, but the tension beneath them was unmistakable.
Isla nodded and took her leave without further comment.
“Were ye able tae enjoy yerself a bit today with Lady Isla?” the captain inquired, trying his best to sound casual.
“Aye, it helped take me away from my cares for a few hours,” she answered demurely. “The Oliphants are a warm, kind, and welcoming people.”
“None know that better than I,” he agreed. “They accepted me into their fold when they had little reason tae do so. Which is why I take my duty tae them so seriously, and why I dinnae say what I am about tae say lightly.”
She shook her head. “Dinnae say it at all. Yer first duty is tae the people of this clan, tae keep them safe, just as my first duty is tae protect mine, by keeping them out of a war with the Oliphants. A war they would surely lose.”
“But tae marry a man ye dinnae love?” His voice was plaintive, his eyes full of pain and doubt. “There must be another way.”
“There isn’t.” Saying the words out loud hurt her deeply, mostly because she knew the truth of them in her bones. “We shall only drive ourselves mad in attempting tae find one, and delay the inevitable.”
“Ye would commit tae being the bride of a man ye barely know? All because the sworn enemies of yer father have asked ye tae do so? Why?” he demanded.
She sighed. “Tonight, I supped with some of those Oliphants whose village was destroyed by my father. I looked into their eyes, I heard their words. I met their families. They accepted me as one of their own. They had no reason tae do so, knowing that my clan is responsible for their misery and loss. How can I face them, knowing I didnae do all I possibly could tae prevent others from going through what they have?”
“But…”
Katherine put a hand up to silence him. “Is Kirk Oliphant a bad man, Bryan? A cruel man? A drunk, a brute, a lout?”
“Nay,” Bryan admitted. “He can be a trifle irritating in his gregariousness, perhaps, from time tae time. But he is a good man, and a wise advisor tae Laird Alex. I have no doubt that he will treat ye well enough, even if the two of ye aren’t…” He swallowed hard. “Even if his feelings for ye pale when compared with my own.”
Katherine wanted nothing more than to reach out and touch Bryan’s melancholy face, or take his hand to comfort him. But she knew that there was truth in Isla’s words of caution. If people saw them getting too close, acting too intimate with each other, it could call the legitimacy of the engagement into question.
Which could lead to war between the Oliphants and the McGregors.
So she stood firm, her hands at her sides. “This is the right thing tae do, then, Bryan. And I shall bear the burden of it with grace and humility, so long as it prevents the need for violence. I ask that ye do the same. Dinnae make this more difficult for me than it already is, I beg of ye. ‘Tis not a death sentence, merely an arranged marriage. They happen all the time, and for far less crucial reasons than this one.”
And with that, she moved past him and walked into the castle without a backward glance. She knew if she looked upon his sad countenance again, her resolve might weaken.