Highlander's Bride (Heart of the Highlander Series Book 1) (24 page)

Silently, Alexander took her arm and they walked
down the steps to bid farewell. He seemed oddly ill at ease and cleared his
throat before he spoke. "William, Davey… I… uh, I wish you safe
journey." Then dropping his gaze, he bowed and strode up the steps and
into the keep.

Katherine stiffened. It seemed she was left to say
farewell alone. She walked over to Laird Drummond. "My lord, I wish you
Godspeed. My husband is honored to have so great a friend." Then she
turned to William and handed him a small pouch. "'Tis not much, but it may
ease some of your discomfort in travel." She glanced at the closed door of
the castle and back to him. "I have decided to stay.  For a time." 

She prayed she wouldn't regret it. As she clasped
her hands in front of her, she ran her thumb over the bands of silver on her
left hand. Her marriage vows echoed in her head. She would not be the one to
break them. She nodded to herself and stood proudly. Men were not the sole
owners of honor.

Visions of her parents drifted into her thoughts.
They had done everything they could to keep her safe. How could she throw that
away? Surely she owed it to them and to herself to try to make peace with
Alexander.

William leaned over his saddle, raised her hand to
his lips and kissed it. "Katherine, my brother is a great man. But even
great ones act the fool at times. His actions were not excusable, but I believe
he will try to be a good husband to you if you will allow it. Listen to your
heart, little sister."

Her lips quivered and she forced a smile. Was
Alexander really a good man? Given time, would he be a considerate husband?
He'd shown her little to indicate that thus far. Without William's pleasant
manner, the days ahead would be dreary indeed. But her decision was made and
she would hold to it. For their own sake and the families they loved, Alexander
and she must set aside their anger and begin anew.

She nodded to William and whispered, "Take
care of your leg," then waved as the men rode away. She stood in the empty
courtyard for a long time before she turned back toward the keep and climbed
the castle steps.

Chapter Seventeen

Alexander thrummed his fingers on the dinner table.
For the third time in as many minutes, he looked toward the entrance of the
great hall, waiting for Katherine. After Davey and William left, she secluded
herself in her chamber and he had seen naught of her. His conscience flayed him
as he thought of all the cruelties for which he had to make amends. Where
should he start? He had no idea how to go about it. But he would do it.
Somehow.

When she still had not appeared after several more
minutes, he motioned to a girl who carried food from the kitchen. "Lass,
go to my wife's chamber and bid her join me."

The flushed servant returned, twisting her apron
in her hands. "M'lord, yer lady said she is weary and wishes to remain in
her chamber."

He frowned and nodded in silence. It was going to
be more difficult than he thought.

The next day fared no better as Katherine remained
in her chamber requesting to be left alone and her midday meal brought there.
Come evening, another servant relayed the message that she still did not feel
well enough to dine in the lord's hall for the evening meal.

By the end of the second day, he was at a loss.
Was Katherine just avoiding him, or was she truly ill? He looked across the
great hall and called to a young boy. "Lad, find the healer and tell him I
wish him to attend my wife." When the boy stood fixed in place, Alexander
said, "Why are you just standing there? Go."

"M'lord, I—"

Alexander's brows drew together and his voice took
on a sharp tone. "Do you refuse to obey the orders of your laird?"

The child's face paled, and he stammered, "N…
nay, m'lord. 'Tis just… I'm afeared of him. He said I was good for naught but
makin' music."

"What?"

"Yestereve, when I watched him bleed a sick
mon, I… I retched. He told me my guts were nay use but for stringin' a lute.
I'm afeared he may cut me open to fix old Kieran's music box."

For a moment Alexander said nothing. Then a wide
grin spread across his lips and erupted into a loud chuckle.

Ah, the laughter felt good. If only Katherine were
here beside him to share such silliness. He pulled a small sprig of pine from
his sporran and then beckoned to the trembling boy. "Come here, lad."
Tucking the bit of plant in the boy's belt, he said, "This is the badge of
the MacGregor clan. The physician will not dare harm you. Tell him to seek my
wife. She may have need of his healing."

The child smiled bravely and hurried from the
hall.

Alexander scowled as he walked up the stairs to
Katherine's chamber a short time later. Her room was the farthest one from his.
As he neared it, the physician came out closing the door quietly behind him.

"Ah, Laird MacGregor, yer lady should sleep
now. Ye shouldna awaken her. She told me her sleep has been fitful of late, so
I gave her a strong sleepin' draught."

"What malady ails my wife? I would give much
for her to be hale and herself again. I have much to say to her."

"M'lord, I am a healer of the body, no the
spirit. Yer lady appears healthy, but is withdrawn and listless. 'Twould seem
she pines away. Fer what, I dinna ken. I advise rest and quiet surroundings fer
her. She should come round again in time. Now, with yer leave, I will prepare
fer travel. I have been called away."

Nodding silently, Alexander walked to his room.
Sitting before the fire with a half-filled goblet in his hand, he stared into
the swaying dance of bright flames. The golden glow of the blaze likened
Katherine's hair and the snap and crackle reminded him of her constant sparkle
and energy. He glanced over to his bed. It still rested beside the window.
There, for days on end, she had devoted herself to his care. Her gentleness
and, aye, even her bit of temper had drawn him out of illness and apathy into a
world of health and renewed hope. 

Absently, he raised his goblet to his lips for a
drink. But his wavy reflection in the wine stopped him. Aye, only a devil such
as this dark visage would have mistreated such a woman so. And yet, she'd cared
for him diligently in spite of his actions. Guilt gnawed at his conscience
until he couldn't stand the sight of his own image any longer.

He slung the wine from the goblet. It flowed like
a deep purple ribbon into the flames where it hissed and sizzled for a moment
before disappearing. Whatever it took, he must undo the harm he'd done. He
mustn't let his chance of happiness with Katherine vanish into the air as the
wine had just done. Setting the goblet down on the stone floor, he headed for
her chamber.

After he knocked gently on her door and heard no response,
he quietly let himself into the room and walked over to her bed.

She lay sleeping on her side, breathing gently,
with her glorious hair spread out about her. In her sleep, her face was free of
worry and anger. God, how he wished she would look at him with that same sense
of peace and contentment.

The white bed sheet lay draped loosely over her
slender form. It puddled at her shoulders like two airy wings. She reminded him
of the bright angel he had often dreamed of during his illness.

Suddenly his mind realized what his heart already
knew. The angel hadn't been one of fanciful illusion, but had in fact, been
real. Even as Katherine had cared for him physically, she had also lifted him
out of his despair. Her whispered words and gentle touch had drawn him from
those feverish, dark dreams, just as her skill as a healer had brought him back
to health.

As he looked down at her, an overwhelming surge of
tenderness ran through him leaving him shaken. What a fool he'd been. Only this
woman could ever teach him to love.

Kneeling beside the bed, he slowly leaned over her.
Ever so gently, he brushed her lips with his. Just that and nothing more. Then
he sat back on his heels and gazed at her, memorizing the sight before he
turned and left the room.

**

Alexander dodged blows and thrusts from two of his
men. His skill with the broadsword was more than enough to fend off their
attack. Methodically, he worked them back towards the inner castle wall, but
even knowledge of his impending win did naught to ease his troubled thoughts.
He'd hoped this would improve his spirits. 'Twas why he'd accepted Malcolm's
offer to watch the men train.

But merely standing there viewing it had left him
feeling all the more unsettled. He longed for action. Thinking entering the fray
would clear his head, he'd challenged two of his warriors. It hadn't worked.

His thoughts only grew more tortured, thinking of
where he'd rather be. For the last three days, he'd tarried about the keep,
hoping to spend time with her or that she would join him for a meal, yet
Katherine had continued to keep to herself. He was frantic to see her, speak to
her. But how could he convince her to accept his company without forcing her?
He would never gain her trust if he coerced her to remain in his presence. A
sudden movement and flash of color caught his attention and he looked up.

Katherine stood on a small balcony shaking out a
tapestry.

Hot pain sliced through his upper arm. Jerking his
gaze to his left arm, he saw a red slash now seeping blood. He grit his teeth
and lunged at his attackers. Swinging his sword in a broad circle, he knocked
the first man's weapon from his hand and swiftly dropped to one knee as his
other opponent ran toward him.

Just as the man's arms rose lifting his blade
above his head, Alexander rolled forward hitting the second man's legs with his
shoulder, knocking him to the ground. Before the man could move, he turned and
touched the tip of his sword to the man's chest. Breathing heavily, he said,
"Never leave yourself so open. Next time it may cost your life."

The man's flushed face turned grim. He nodded in
silence.

Alexander withdrew his sword and shoved it into
the ground. Then he reached out his right arm and helped his man rise. Looking
across the field, he called out in a booming voice. "Ho, lads, your skills
are improving. 'Tis been enough for one day. After you've seen to your weapons,
tell the steward to break out an extra cask of ale. You've earned it."

Then gripping his left arm where the sleeve of his
shirt was turning a bright crimson, he turned to Malcolm. "Friend, see
that my sword is taken care of. It seems fate has answered my wish. I will seek
my wife's skills to stitch this wee scratch."

**

Katherine opened her door to find Alexander
standing at the threshold. The sight of his bloodied arm sent alarm spiraling
through her. "Sweet Mary, Alexander, what has happened? Come, let me see
to your wound."

She led him to a chair beside the fireplace and
gently pulled the blood soaked fabric from his arm. Biting her lip in fear, she
examined the cut and then sighed. "Thank God, 'tis not deep but will need
to be stitched.  How fast can one of your men return with the physician?"

Alexander shook his head. "Not soon enough.
You will have to do it."

"Me? But I've only done so a few times
before. I… I might do it wrong. Can no one else do it?"

He laid his right hand across her arm. "No,
lass, I want no one else. My faith is in you. I trust your skill. You will not
fail me."

Tears welled up in her eyes at the seeming
sincerity of his words. How she had longed for him to speak to her in such a
gentle tone, but never because he needed her care in such a way. She drew a
deep trembling breath and nodded. "I'll need to clean the wound before
'tis stitched. Can you take off your shirt by yourself while I get my
things?"

"Aye." He stretched his arms upward,
pulled free of the sticky garment and tossed it to the floor.

She swallowed a lump in her throat at the sight of
him. Blood covered much of his arm, smeared over part of his broad chest and
mingled with the dark curling hair. Even wounded and dirty, he took her breath
away. In truth, his body was simply magnificent.

Tearing her gaze from him, she hurried across the
room and gathered her basket of healing herbs, linen strips, and needle. With
shaking fingers, she cleaned the wound and raised her worried gaze to his face.
"I have no wine here. If you wish, I will send for some. 'Twill ease a bit
of the pain."

"No, lass. Your touch is all I need."

 A wave of apprehension coursed through her at the
thought of piercing his arm repeatedly with the needle. The last thing she
wanted to do was cause him more discomfort. But without it, his wound would not
heal properly. She let out a long quivering sigh, threaded the sharp instrument
and fetched her candle closer so that she could see.

As she pierced his skin and felt it pull through
his flesh, she threw an apologetic glance at him. His jaw tensed visibly but no
sound came from his lips.

Somehow, she managed to find her voice. "I'm
sorry 'tis painful. 'Twill be finished soon."

His gaze turned to her and he smiled. "Lass,
I meant it when I said only your touch could take away my pain. The ache in my
arm is naught compared to the pain in my heart of late. Now with your
attention, both are eased." He slowly raised his right hand and caressed
her face.

A single tear ran down her cheek and he wiped it
away gently. "No, don't cry. I never again want you to feel sorrow because
of me. I only want to bring you joy if you will let me." He pushed a
strand of her hair back from her face, then placed his hand in his lap and
waited.

She couldn't speak. Her heart was too full. With
all of her soul, she wished it to be so. She nodded once and finished stitching
his arm in silence. After she packed the area with dried meadowsweet and
marigold then bound it with linen strips, she gave him a tremulous smile.
"That is all 'twill need for now. But I will have to check it often."

A glint sparkled in his eyes and he grinned.
"My every hour of every day will be at your disposal, my lady. Will you
join me to break my fast? I may need your help to feed myself."

Katherine laughed. "Oh, I don't think that is
necessary. I'm sure you will succeed without me."

His downhearted expression tugged at her heart and
she relented. "Oh, all right. I can't have the laird of the castle
spilling ale on himself, now can I?"

After the meal, they walked beyond the castle
together. He picked a few wild flowers and gave them to her with what seemed to
be an apologetic smile.

"I am sorry there is no garden at Ironwood.
Would you like one? I will see it done if you wish it."

"Aye, I would like that. Thank you."

He held her hand as they walked back to the
castle. When they were once again inside the keep, he said, "My lady, I
won't force you to stay by my side, but will you join me for the evening meal
tonight? 'Twould please me greatly to share your company."

"Aye, Alexander. I will see you then." As
she walked back to her chamber, her heart felt lighter than it had in months.

**

Katherine took special care as she dressed for
dinner. Humming, she smiled at her reflection in the mirror and fastened a thin
silver chain with a single amethyst around her neck. The pink and silver
ribbons she had twined through the braids at her temples brought additional
color to her already flushed face. She looked down at her heather colored gown.
Its color pleased her for it reminded her of the lovely flowers Alexander had
given her on their wedding day.

A young maidservant knocked at the door and
quickly entered the room. "Lady MacGregor, the laird sent me to fetch ye.
He says the food grows cold and urges ye to haste. I was told to bring ye
straight away."

Katherine frowned slightly. "I don't think
'tis such need to rush."

"Please, m'lady, I dinna wish to anger him."

"Aye, all right then. Let us go."

 Alexander was already seated at the lord's table
when she reached the great hall. Impatiently, he gestured for her to join him.
He nodded to Malcolm as soon as she was seated. "Go tell the cook to bring
the food, now that my wife is finally here." He turned to face her.
"I fear our food may not be hot. I had hoped you would have joined me
earlier."