Highland Solution (2 page)

Katherine put her arm around the girl’s shoulders, saying, “Don’t worry so, Emma. This is what the king wants and I will do it. Everything will be fine.” Dear God, she hoped with every fiber of her being everything would be fine, but she doubted it herself.

“There isn’t much time and I need your help to get ready,” she said, hoping to refocus her distraught maid. Even with the unusually warm day, Katherine would have given anything to relax into a warm bath and attempt to come to terms with things, but she didn’t have time. Instead, with a few buckets of cold water, she refreshed herself with a quick wash. Emma helped Katherine dress in a fresh white linen kirtle under her best deep blue linen gown, the neck, cuffs, and sleeves of which Katherine had embroidered with delicate, pale blue, forget-me-nots like those growing near the loch by which Cotharach stood. Around her waist she fastened a gold belt that dropped low on her hips and she slipped on soft leather shoes. Emma unbraided and combed her lady’s hair, letting the mass of honey colored curls fall down Katherine’s back.

“I always thought your wedding would be a great event,” Emma said as she gathered Katherine’s things to pack. “We would have two things to celebrate, not only your wedding, but being well rid of your uncle, too.”

Funny, thought Katherine, at almost twenty, well past the age most noblewomen married, she had never given her wedding any thought. However, even if she had given in to such musings, she never would have imagined the wedding awaiting her. She smiled at Emma and said, “Well, at least we haven’t had ages to worry about it,” at which Emma burst into fresh tears.

When Emma’s tears stopped, Katherine helped her finish the packing. “I am to only bring one bag,” Katherine said with mock sternness, making Emma giggle.

“Oh, my,” Emma said, in the same mocking tone, “How will you ever decide what to pack?”

Although very wealthy, Katherine had few belongings worth taking. Uncle Ambrose had confiscated all her jewelry and anything else of real value, ostensibly to safe-guard it. He only provided her with necessities, his reason being “to protect her from the sin of vanity,” so she took very good care of the few worn, faded garments she owned. She selected two white linen kirtles and the two least shabby of her gowns, a gold one made of soft light wool and a heavier, dark green one. Although the summer days had been very warm, she knew they travelled north to the Highlands, where even in summer the nights might be cold, so she packed a woolen mantle, too. She removed the most important items from her sewing basket, rolled them in a short length of linen, and tucked it into the bag. This left room for several shifts, some linen toweling, the leather bag containing a small supply of healing herbs and other ingredients for potions, balms, and poultices, and her one luxury, a cake of sweet smelling soap imported from Spain. Finally she packed the only belongings holding any sentimental significance to her, her mother’s ivory comb and her father’s jeweled dagger.

“I guess I’m ready,” she said to Emma.

“Go on, then. I’ll carry your things down.”

“Emma, I might not get to see you again before I leave. I may not be able to say farewell to anybody. Please tell everyone I will miss them and I will keep you all in my prayers. Take care of yourself, Emma, stay out of my uncle’s way.” Before Emma had a chance to burst into tears again, Katherine gave her a quick hug and left.

~ * ~

After finalizing the business agreements relating to the marriage, Niall and Diarmad waited in the great hall with Ambrose Ruthven while Lady Katherine readied herself. Eventually Niall had to turn his back to stare into the cold hearth because he couldn’t stand seeing Ruthven’s barely contained joy. The greedy bastard’s pleasure sickened Niall, yet he couldn’t deny feeling a certain amount of disgust in himself as well. It took a very desperate man to accept this betrothal and Niall had been beyond desperate. He had no funds to pay even the interest on the crushing debt Clan MacIan held. He had journeyed to Edinburgh to request financial help from the king, only to learn King David II had a significant debt of his own. He owed King Edward III of England a colossal ransom, one hundred thousand marks sterling with ten thousand marks due yearly on the nativity of St. John the Baptist. Apparently he had no compunction about bartering royal favor for coin, and clearly Ruthven had purchased one, inadvertently providing the solution to Niall’s problem as well.

Niall had to admit Ruthven’s attempts to deter his niece’s suitors were particularly effective. He remembered his stepmother’s unpleasant reaction when she learned of his pending marriage.

“Niall,” she said, “I have heard about this creature you plan to wed. My poor boy, it must be humiliating to know this is the best you can do. Why I have heard, from people who know, mind you, not only is she brainless, but she is practically an ogre. They say she even has fits, and is a hunchback.” When he failed to respond to Eithne’s barbs, she added, “Well, hopefully, your brother will find a more suitable wife. He is so good natured and handsome, we will be able to have a proper wedding. Perhaps he will give me grandchildren of whom I can be proud.”

Even the king believed he might be saving Katherine from the humiliation of remaining unattached if he ordered her to enter a convent, giving Ambrose everything. He had all but agreed to do so until Niall approached him for aid. Niall assumed after seven years in exile and eleven more held captive for ransom, albeit not in depravation, the king had some qualms about forcing a young woman into a cloister. Evidently, he had no qualms about marrying her to a financially desperate Highland Laird, who would trade her title and lands for a larger dowry in coin. Why was it, for men like Ruthven, problems had a way of disappearing if enough money was thrown at them?

As the silence grew heavy, Niall turned back around. He was pleased to see the happiness originally written on Ruthven’s face replaced with consternation. Perhaps he questioned the wisdom of giving his niece away to a complete stranger.

With Niall’s attention on him once again, Ruthven cleared his throat a little to break the silence, and he said, “Ahem...uh, Laird MacIan, it occurs to me that you and my sweet, gentle niece will be traveling for several days to reach your home, and will likely be sleeping out of doors.” Niall arched an eyebrow and gave a slight nod, disdain etched on his features. “Yes. Well, you understand that my dear Katherine is of course innocent and might appreciate privacy.” A wiser man would have taken heed of the rising fury on the Highlander’s face, but Ambrose charged on, “I think it would be best if you wait until you reach your home to...consummate your marriage.”

“Sir, would ye willingly marry your niece to a man without honor?” Laird MacIan said with menace.

“N—no, of course not,” Ruthven stammered.

“Then ye can be assured I do not need ye to school me in decency!” he roared.

~ * ~

When she returned to the great hall, Katherine saw her uncle sitting in his upholstered chair looking oddly uncomfortable, both Highlanders standing silently by the hearth. Father James had arrived and even his chatter about the weather and crops didn’t lessen the tension in the room. Father James was the first to notice her as she slipped quietly into the great hall. He stopped mid-sentence, proclaiming, “My lady, you are radiant.”

Laird MacIan looked up and practically gawked at the sight of her. Katherine had dressed like the noble woman she was, instead of as a servant. The gown she wore clung to her, revealing her womanly curves, and her hair, released from its braid, shimmered around her shoulders like a golden brown cloud. After registering Laird MacIan’s look of awe, she kept her eyes cast down so he couldn’t read the fear on her face, but she was sure no one could miss the way her hands trembled.

“Well, we have a wedding to perform,” Father James said and motioning to the door of the great hall he said, “Shall we go to the chapel?” News of the wedding had spread through Cotharach and its village like a brush fire, so now, in addition to the Highland warriors, the staff at Cotharach and many villagers gathered in the courtyard to witness Lady Ruthven’s marriage. The ceremony began outside the chapel with Father James asking the assembly if anyone knew of any reason why Laird Niall and Lady Katherine could not be married. Although no one spoke, a million reasons flew through Katherine’s brain. The priest continued, “Niall MacIan, wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, wilt thou love her, and honor her, keep her and guard her, in health and in sickness, as a husband should a wife, and forsaking all others on account of her, keep thee only unto her, so long as you both shall live?”

She heard Niall answer, “I will,” his voice deep and melodic.

Katherine felt strangely detached as she heard the priest ask for her assent. “I will,” she answered, the reality of the situation finally sinking in.
This isn’t a nightmare
,
it’s really happening, and it is forever
.

“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”

“I do,” answered Ambrose and he stepped away. Katherine could all but hear him thinking
and good riddance
.

The couple then made their vows of marriage. After Katherine said, “And thereto I plight thee my troth,” Father James took the ring Niall gave him, blessed it, and returned it to Niall, who placed it on the third finger of Katherine’s left hand. She had always heard a vein ran directly from this finger to the heart and for this reason a wedding band was worn there as a symbol of love. It seemed slightly ridiculous to Katherine, given she had only just met the man who placed it there.

Father blessed the couple and led them into the chapel, followed by Diarmad and Ambrose. The bride and groom knelt before the altar while Father prayed again. Kneeling beside her new husband, Katherine felt very small, the top of her head didn’t reach his shoulder.

There would not be a nuptial Mass, so after the prayers, Father James gave them a final blessing. When he had finished, he beamed warmly and said, “You may kiss the bride.” Niall tipped her chin up and kissed her. She had expected he would only give her a chaste kiss, but once he started, she was amazed by how warm and soft his lips felt and that he held her there, deepening the kiss for a moment before pulling away. Stunned, she raised her hands to touch her lips. They tingled where he had kissed her and she hadn’t wanted him to stop.

He looked momentarily stunned as well, but rapidly recovered, telling her, “Say your goodbyes quickly. We are leaving.”

Her uncle approached and kissed Katherine on both cheeks. “Goodbye, my dear, I can’t tell you how much we will miss you,” he said, with an insipid expression on his face.

That is because you won’t miss me
. She didn’t know why he bothered with the farce because Laird MacIan had already left the chapel. She managed to say, “Goodbye, Uncle” civilly. Lord Ruthven returned to the keep, not bothering to see them off. Father James gave her a hug and Katherine couldn’t suppress a wince.

Father looked concerned and asked, “Katherine, dear, will you be all right? Perhaps you should tell your new husband. You have a long journey ahead.”

“No Father. Please don’t say anything. Nothing good can come from telling him now. I’ll be fine.”

He shook his head but didn’t argue, and taking her arm, walked with her into the courtyard, saying, “Katherine, I am certain you will be a wonderful wife and mother.”

She loved the old priest, so she smiled and teased, “How do you know I’ll be a wonderful wife, you’ve never been married.”

He chuckled, took both of her hands in his, and said, “My sweet girl, this world is full of people whose first concern is usually their own needs or desires. You are one of the few who always considers the needs of others before your own. You have learned the surest way to open yourself to hurt is to love and yet you love anyway. How could one so full of love and compassion not be a wonderful wife and mother?” He smiled, traced a cross on her forehead with his thumb, and kissed her on the cheek, saying “Go with God, my dear one.”

Katherine squeezed his hands and smiled at him, blinking back tears. This could be the last time she would ever see this gentle man. She couldn’t speak. She took a deep breath to muster her courage, and walked toward the gray mare the stable master led. Before she reached them, Laird MacIan waved the stable master away, saying, “Lady Katherine will ride with me.”

~ * ~

Her vehement and panic-stricken, “Nay!” surprised Niall.

She hurried towards him saying, “I can ride very well, my lord. Stormy is mine. My father gave her to me years ago.” Perhaps for the first time since meeting her, she wasn’t trying to hide the emotion she felt. While he expected to see defiance, fitting his expectations of a pampered noblewoman, instead he saw fear. On the verge of barking at her for publically challenging him, that glimpse of raw fear made him hesitate.

“I’m sure ye do ride well, for a woman, but the journey will be hard, over very rough terrain. Your mare is not sturdy enough. It would be cruel.”

She laid a hand on his arm, stopping him as he turned away. Looking him in the eye, she leaned close to him, saying in a voice so low only he could hear it, “It will be cruel to leave her.”

Unable to ignore the beseeching look she gave him, after a moment he said “We will take her without a rider.” The sudden warmth he felt when he saw the tension leave her body and heard her sigh of relief surprised him. He helped her onto the saddle of his huge warhorse. She put her right knee over the pommel and he mounted behind her, pulling her close. He inhaled her sweet, clean scent and her soft, round bottom pressed intimately against his groin, fanning the warmth he’d felt into full flame. He frowned as Katherine stiffened and leaned forward ever so slightly, holding herself away from him.

Having removed Stormy’s saddle, the stable master handed the reins to one of Niall’s men and they set out. After they cleared the castle gate, Katherine said quietly, “Thank you for bringing my mare, but you don’t plan to take her the whole way, do you.”