Highlander's Bride (Heart of the Highlander Series Book 1) by Deborah Gafford Page A

no
success. How could she tell her mother of her shame? She trembled and nodded,
incapable of speech. She moved forward slowly on leaden feet. Gradually, she
ascended the stairs beside her mother. The dead weight of her clinging skirts
dragged against her legs. The winding stairway fought her every step. Her
exhausted limbs quivered under the effort. Sweet Mother Mary, help her. Wearily
she gripped and pulled, then clung to the rope handrail fighting to remain
standing after she hauled herself up. One more step. Another. Then the next.
    By the time she sank onto the small stool before
the fire in her chamber, her arms drooped limply at her sides. Her exhausted
legs trembled beneath her gown and, faith, but her head throbbed.
    The chamber door opened and Gillian entered
carrying a steaming cup of spiced mead followed by four lads struggling with
large buckets of equally steaming water. After the tub was filled and the lads
left, Gillian and Monique helped Katherine remove her sodden clothing and
assisted her to the tub. While Gillian stoked up the fire in the chamber,
Monique washed Katherine's hair for her, just as she'd done when she was small.
The warm water pouring over her head and shoulders eased the pain of her
muscles and she stopped trembling. Eventually, the warmth of the hot bath and
the calming elixir soothed her and she began to feel drowsy.
    Monique smoothed the damp hair back from her
daughter's forehead. "My darling, you must sleep now. Come, you will feel
much better after you have rested."
    Katherine quickly dried off before the blazing
fire and slipped into a soft woolen gown.
    Outside, the rain slowed to a steady patter. The
thunder rumbled low as it moved off into the distance. Katherine glanced at her
bed. The thick woven blankets and furs were turned back invitingly. A warming
stone lay nestled among the linen sheets. She moved toward it on leaden feet.
When she lay down, the soft surrounding warmth enveloped her and she felt her
tension slowly fade away.
    Monique tucked a thick fur around her and said,
"Now, cheri , tell me what has happened."
    Tears threatened to begin anew. Katherine forced
them back and feigned a calm she no longer felt. " Maman , I am weary
and 'tis too difficult to speak of. Only know I would not sever the betrothal
without just reason."
    Monique sat in silence for several minutes.
    As Katherine drifted into a troubled sleep, she
heard her mother's voice as she headed toward the doorway.
    " Mon Dieu . Something must be
done."
     
     
     

Chapter Six
    The late afternoon sun shone through the window of
Ian's chamber as Alexander entered. It had been two days since Fiona and
Katherine's confrontation. He'd hunted alone in the hills to give himself time
to sort his thoughts. "Da, William said you wished to speak with me."
    "Aye! Come in and close the door behind
you."
    Alexander emerged a short time later, his jaw
tightly clenched. He climbed the stairs to Katherine's chamber and firmly
knocked on the door. While he waited for an answer, he thought of things he would
like to say but couldn't. He raised his arm to knock again when the door
opened. 
    Katherine's startled expression reminded him of a
frightened deer, aware of the hunter and on the verge of flight. 'Twas apparent
she hadn't intended to see him. She gripped the edge of the door as if she
thought to slam it closed.
    Alexander tried not to scowl. Remorse for her
apparent unease and frustration with their situation sat poorly in his gut. He
cleared his throat and forced himself to smile. "My lady, I have come to
ask you to walk with me in the garden. It… it would give us a chance to speak
peaceably and… become accustomed to each other. Will you join me?"
    A look of resignation washed across her face. She
looked at him in silence for a long moment before she answered. "Aye, if
you wish it."
    Her small hand trembled in his as he led her down
the stairs and outside. The rain soaked land had mostly dried. As long as