“Donna fash, Rabbie. I’ll see to Lady Elizabeth’s horse. You go back and finish the shoeing.” Elizabeth gave an indifferent shrug of her shoulders, turning her back to her sister in a wordless dismissal.
Biting her tongue, Catriona tethered Lily and made her way to the back of the stable to retrieve her sister’s saddle. Elizabeth refused to ride her horse astride, and though the sidesaddle was awkward and heavy, Catriona worked as quickly as possible, knowing her sister’s patience would be limited.
When Catriona returned with the mare readied, Elizabeth grabbed the reins without a word of thanks. Accepting Rabbie’s assistance, she climbed into the saddle. After meticulously adjusting her skirts, she leaned over the side of the horse, a mocking grin on her face as she motioned for her sister to come closer. “There’s nothing like being mounted on a strong, healthy stallion, is there, sister?” she whispered threateningly, smiling at the stain of color that darkened Catriona’s cheeks. “But then, an innocent like yerself would ken little of such things. And it’s unlikely you’ll ever learn, Catriona. Not when you parade around like a filthy stable boy.”
Before Elizabeth could continue her verbal assault, Catriona reached up and gave the mare a pat on the flank, urging her on her way. Her smile was genuine as she watched Elizabeth struggle to gain her balance while the animal trotted through the inner bailey, and toward the gatehouse.
“Yer sister is no’ much like ye, if ye do no’ mind my sayin’ so,” Rabbie whispered, his words pulling her from her thoughts. The lad spoke softly, careful not to let anyone overhear him. “She’s got a wicked tongue on her, that one.”
“Aye, that she does,” Catriona replied, her heart heavy at the demonstration of her sister’s obvious hatred. Regardless of how hard she struggled to bridge the distance between them, there was little hope Elizabeth would offer her even the slightest measure of affection. Or acceptance. “If she’s no’ careful, someone is going to put a stop to her insults in a way she will no’ appreciate,” she added with a resigned shrug.
Catriona deliberately went in the opposite direction of her sister as she left the outer bailey, watching Elizabeth jostling uncomfortably as she headed for the valley that lay east of Boyne Castle. Catriona knew that she wouldn’t go far on her own, as Elizabeth wasn’t much of a horsewoman. Still, she didn’t want to tempt fate, so she pushed Lily to a brisk pace as she put as much distance as possible between them.
Though Catriona had been hurt by her sister’s words, her pain turned to anger as she reflected on the exchange. Elizabeth was clearly trying to bait her, and Catriona refused to fall for that tactic. Instead, she focused on shirking off her bad mood, relishing the feel of the wind on her face as she galloped through the woods surrounding the keep. The heather was in full bloom, and its rich scent soothed her wounded pride.
Several hours later, Catriona reluctantly made her way back to Boyne Castle. She’d been able to visit many of the tenants, and would make a note which of the homes needed repair after the evening meal. Catriona always enjoyed visiting with her kinsmen, and considered it an honor that they welcomed her openly, and respected her opinion, despite her youth and her gender.
As Catriona passed through the barbican and entered the inner bailey, she sensed immediately that something was amiss. A number of servants were gathered at the well, speaking closely in hushed tones. The moment they saw Catriona pass by they ceased speaking. The group quickly dispersed, but no one was willing to meet her eyes. When she reached the stables, Rabbie rushed forward to take Lily’s reins. Unlike the others, he looked directly at her, and she could see the fear in his dark eyes.
“Ye best get yerself inside,” he said,
Biting her tongue, Catriona tethered Lily and made her way to the back of the stable to retrieve her sister’s saddle. Elizabeth refused to ride her horse astride, and though the sidesaddle was awkward and heavy, Catriona worked as quickly as possible, knowing her sister’s patience would be limited.
When Catriona returned with the mare readied, Elizabeth grabbed the reins without a word of thanks. Accepting Rabbie’s assistance, she climbed into the saddle. After meticulously adjusting her skirts, she leaned over the side of the horse, a mocking grin on her face as she motioned for her sister to come closer. “There’s nothing like being mounted on a strong, healthy stallion, is there, sister?” she whispered threateningly, smiling at the stain of color that darkened Catriona’s cheeks. “But then, an innocent like yerself would ken little of such things. And it’s unlikely you’ll ever learn, Catriona. Not when you parade around like a filthy stable boy.”
Before Elizabeth could continue her verbal assault, Catriona reached up and gave the mare a pat on the flank, urging her on her way. Her smile was genuine as she watched Elizabeth struggle to gain her balance while the animal trotted through the inner bailey, and toward the gatehouse.
“Yer sister is no’ much like ye, if ye do no’ mind my sayin’ so,” Rabbie whispered, his words pulling her from her thoughts. The lad spoke softly, careful not to let anyone overhear him. “She’s got a wicked tongue on her, that one.”
“Aye, that she does,” Catriona replied, her heart heavy at the demonstration of her sister’s obvious hatred. Regardless of how hard she struggled to bridge the distance between them, there was little hope Elizabeth would offer her even the slightest measure of affection. Or acceptance. “If she’s no’ careful, someone is going to put a stop to her insults in a way she will no’ appreciate,” she added with a resigned shrug.
Catriona deliberately went in the opposite direction of her sister as she left the outer bailey, watching Elizabeth jostling uncomfortably as she headed for the valley that lay east of Boyne Castle. Catriona knew that she wouldn’t go far on her own, as Elizabeth wasn’t much of a horsewoman. Still, she didn’t want to tempt fate, so she pushed Lily to a brisk pace as she put as much distance as possible between them.
Though Catriona had been hurt by her sister’s words, her pain turned to anger as she reflected on the exchange. Elizabeth was clearly trying to bait her, and Catriona refused to fall for that tactic. Instead, she focused on shirking off her bad mood, relishing the feel of the wind on her face as she galloped through the woods surrounding the keep. The heather was in full bloom, and its rich scent soothed her wounded pride.
Several hours later, Catriona reluctantly made her way back to Boyne Castle. She’d been able to visit many of the tenants, and would make a note which of the homes needed repair after the evening meal. Catriona always enjoyed visiting with her kinsmen, and considered it an honor that they welcomed her openly, and respected her opinion, despite her youth and her gender.
As Catriona passed through the barbican and entered the inner bailey, she sensed immediately that something was amiss. A number of servants were gathered at the well, speaking closely in hushed tones. The moment they saw Catriona pass by they ceased speaking. The group quickly dispersed, but no one was willing to meet her eyes. When she reached the stables, Rabbie rushed forward to take Lily’s reins. Unlike the others, he looked directly at her, and she could see the fear in his dark eyes.
“Ye best get yerself inside,” he said,
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