Highlander's Bride (Heart of the Highlander Series Book 1) (27 page)

The drawn out silence prodded his frustration and
he growled, "Well, don't just stand there. I have work to do."

Malcolm snorted. "Aye, I can see that. 'Tis a
travelin' tinker at the gates seekin' admittance. Do ye wish to give him leave
to enter? Mayhap yer lady would wish to see his wares on the morrow."

"Aye, let him in. I will send word to
Katherine in the morn." A spark of hope began to glimmer. A tinker's wares
would surely coax her from her chamber. Perhaps he could buy her something that
would please her and he might speak with her.

Malcolm nodded silently and leaned back against
the doorframe as if he planned to stay there.

Alexander frowned at him. "Is there anything
else? I told you, I'm busy."

Malcolm walked over, leaned on the desk and faced
him. "Aye, so ye did. 'Tis just one wee thing more—"

"Well, spit it out. I do not wish to spend
the night talking when there's work to be done."

Malcolm's arm flashed out, grabbed the ledger, and
spun it around in the opposite direction. "Ye will have better luck
readin' if 'tisna upside down." Grinning, he walked out of the chamber and
shut the door.

Alexander looked down at the pages in front of him.
Bloody hell.

**

Alexander was awake long before the light of dawn
streamed through his bedroom window. The thought of spending time with
Katherine had left him tossing and turning throughout the night. Looking below,
he saw a few people begin to mill about the bailey. A tinker's wain stood not
far from his window. He longed to escort Katherine there and buy her anything
she desired. But if he were there, she would decline to leave her chamber. Of
that he was sure. He'd have to use strategy if he hoped to see her today. Long
before the chambermaid came in to stir up the fire, he was dressed and ready to
set his plan into motion.

"Good morrow, lass. I have tended to that
already. Pray go to Lady MacGregor and tell her there's a traveling tinker in
the bailey with wares to sell. Tell her I regret that I will be too occupied
with affairs of the castle to accompany her, but she is welcome to seek out the
tinker if she wishes."

The maid smiled and hurried to the door.
"Aye, m'lord and dinna fash, I'll be happy to go with yer lady."

Hopefully, Katherine would be just as interested.

He waited and observed as the tinker set up his
wares. The man's plaid was worn and faded as if he spent all his profit on
things other than his person. Eventually, her voice rose through the morning
air. There she was. God, he missed her so. Her laugh at her kitten's antics
brought a smile to his lips; the first in over a sennight.

Katherine handed the kitten to the chambermaid
saying, "Jeanne, please take him back to my chamber and keep him out of
trouble. Later, you can come back and pick out something you like and I will
pay for it."

"Aye, m'lady, thank ye." 

Jealousy bit at Alexander as he watched Katherine
greet the merchant with a smile. "Good morrow, tinker. Have I viewed your
wares before? Your face seems familiar."

A slight frown crossed the tinker's face and he
shook his head. "Och, nay, m'lady. I would remember someone as lovely as
yerself. There are many tinkers that do ply their trade. I fear we all appear
the same. But I have the finest goods of them all. Come, see fer yerself."

Alexander gazed down at her as she looked at bolts
of cloth and ribbons. He wanted desperately to atone for his actions. Perhaps
after her outing, she would feel well enough to dine with him tonight.

Aye, he'd order a festive meal for the two of them
to be sent to her chambers later this eve. Then he would go to her, tell her
how wrong he'd been and beg her forgiveness.

"I vow ye are deaf."

Alexander jumped, startled by Malcolm's gruff
voice. Red-faced, he turned toward him. "'Tis naught wrong with my
hearing. I was simply lost in thought. What do you want?"

Malcolm grinned and nodded. "Aye, so I see.
The men are waitin' below. Ye said to have them ready to train early this
morn."

The older man glanced out the window and back at
Alexander. "Or are ye too busy to train just now?"

"Wipe that smirk off your face. If I said I
would train this morn, I shall." Darting one final glance out his window,
he followed Malcolm out of his chamber.

**

Katherine picked up a length of brilliant green
velvet from the tinker's cart. It was the same color as Alexander's eyes and as
soft as the kitten he'd given her. She tried to speak, but her voice caught.
Clearing her throat, she tried again. "I haven't seen such lovely color
since I visited Edinburgh, years ago. Not many fine goods come so far this
way."

The tinker waved his hand toward the pathway
beyond the castle. "Ah, m'lady, I leave fer Edinburgh on the morrow. Ships
have arrived with wares fer me to peddle. Ye should see what wonders they
bring. I dinna dare tarry here fer fear they leave me with naught else to peddle
'til they return."

She spoke, as if awakening from a dream.
"Ships are in harbor, now, that are soon to be bound away? Where do they
head?"

"There are many ships, bound fer many places,
m'lady. I am but a poor tinker. I dinna ken much of them, but I have heard one
leaves near here in a few days time. 'Tis what causes me haste."

She replied quickly, before her heart could
question her actions. "Good tinker, if you would guide me to a ship
leaving here soon, I would pay you well. I… I must leave here. 'Tis a matter of
great urgency!"

"Fie, m'lady, why dinna ye travel under
escort of the laird of the castle? My travels take me through rough
countryside, to be sure. I dinna bide in the comfort of inns and such. Ye would
have to travel alone with me."

"I cannot ask the laird of the castle for his
leave, for surely he wouldn't grant it. But, I must leave. Please help
me."

The tinker stood silent for a moment, rubbing his
chin. "M'lady, after I finish here I will bide beside the wee burn beyond
the castle wall, beneath an old oaken tree. If ye were to meet me there by
moonrise this eve, I could lead ye to a ship, fer payment in silver. But ye
must come alone and let none ken of it."

A shiver passed through her at the thought of
leaving, but she couldn't bear to live under the same roof with Alexander,
yearning for his love and knowing he would betray her trust. Nodding, she
bought a length of gray wool and some black ribbon. After pressing many silver
coins into the tinker's hand, she whispered, "Look for me," and returned
to the castle.

The sounds of Alexander training with his men
filled her small chamber as she sorted through her belongings and packed a few
pieces of clothing and goods for her journey. She pinned the brooch her mother
had given her on her dress, but her hands trembled so badly, it took several
attempts to close the clasp.

Glancing about the room, she spied the beautiful
tartan sash Alexander had given her on their wedding day. Tears filled her eyes
as she walked over and held it to her cheek. 'Twould only bring her more
heartache to take it with her. Gently, she folded it and placed it in the chest
at the foot of her bed.

She touched her brooch for strength. Perhaps in
future years she would find a way to let her parents know where she was and
that she was well. For now, she had only this brooch to hold them close in her
heart.

The hours dragged by as she waited. 'Twould be
dark soon. She sat near the fireplace trying to read, but the words only
blurred before her watery eyes. The smoke from the blaze must be worse than
usual. No, 'twas no use trying to blame the fire. Her throat tightened and
heaviness in her chest made it difficult to draw a steady breath.

The iron hinges on her chamber door creaked loudly
as it opened. Her head jerked up as her maid walked in, her arms filled with
fresh linen. Carrying her load to the wooden chest at the foot of the bed, the
maid asked, "Are ye hungry, m'lady? I can fetch ye a wee bite to eat if ye
wish. 'Twill be some time yet before yer dinner arrives."

Frowning, Katherine shook her head. She needed to
be left alone. No servants delivering food then returning later to take away
the dishes. "Don't bring anything. I… I'm not feeling well and wish to
retire early. Please see that I am not disturbed for any reason tonight."

"Aye, m'lady."

After the maid left, Katherine glanced at the
heavy wooden bar leaning against the wall. Tonight she would use it. She must
make sure no one found her gone too soon. Her hands trembled as she lifted it
and placed it across the door, securing her privacy. Then walking to the middle
of her chamber, she looked about her one last time.

She would never live here with Alexander as she'd
dreamed. Never hear the halls ring with their children's laughter. Never again
wake to see his smile, know his touch. A burning lump rose in her throat. She
stifled a sob and bent to retrieve her small bundle from its hiding place
beneath her bed.

The kitten ran over and latched its claws into the
parcel, tugging playfully. Then it let go and scampered across the room for the
ball of spun wool she'd given it days ago. She watched it cavort about her
chamber and pounce on the ball. It jumped away only to run back and jump on it
again, sliding across the bare wood floor.

A bittersweet smile touched Katherine's lips. The
kitten had made her lonely isolation bearable. She remembered Alexander's
teasing prank when he'd surprised her with the wee creature. His thoughtfulness
had pleased her so. And then later, when they made love, she had been sure, so
sure. No one else in the world would ever hold her heart.

Sweet Mary, 'twas all too much. She sank to the
floor and sobbed.

The kitten perked up its small ears at the sound,
scurried over and nuzzled against her, purring. Cradling the animal in her
arms, she stroked its silky fur until her tears finally ceased. "I will
miss you, little one. Watch over Alexander for me."

She kissed the kitten, carried it to its basket
and tucked it in. Then picking up her bundle once again and gazing around her,
she descended the private stairway from her chamber that led to Castle
Ironwood's chapel and out to the castle grounds.

The rising moon gave scant light as she picked her
way carefully across the bailey. The wind moaned and caught at her cloak as if
it, too, grieved for the lost love she'd hoped to build her life around.
Silently, she let herself out of the postern gate and quickly headed for the
burn.

The tinker stepped out of the shadows as she
approached. "O'er here, m'lady. I am prepared to leave."

She joined him without a word. Looking back, her
tears blurred the image of the castle walls. She didn't speak as she climbed
onto the wain. She couldn't. The wind whipped her hair back from her face and
Katherine nodded. She was ready. But would the painful heartache end with leaving
everything behind? Perhaps one day.

"Hold to the seat, m'lady. 'Twill be a rough
ride."

She gripped the edge of the coarse wooden plank.
Her fingers squeezed tightly, matching the painful pressure in her heart.

The tinker called to the ox, slapping it with the
end of his reins. She took one last look at the castle then forced her gaze
ahead of her as the wain slowly lumbered away.

**

Faint moonlight shone through Alexander's window as
he finished dressing. The soapy water in the large wooden tub was still warm
from his bath. He would have it cleared away before he went to Katherine's
chamber. If dinner went well tonight, perhaps he wouldn't return there alone.

Humming happily for the first time in weeks, he
walked down the corridor to her chamber, knocked on the door and waited.  When
several moments went by and no one responded to his knock, he tried to enter,
only to find the door barred against him. Sensing something amiss, he called
out Katherine's name and pounded on the door. 

The noise brought her maid from a pallet, further
down the corridor.

Frowning, he turned to the girl. "What are
you doing out here? You should be attending Lady MacGregor. Why is her door
barred?"

"Forgive me, Laird MacGregor. Yer lady bid me
leave her alone and let naught disturb her this night. She said she was weary
and wished nay food or company."

Angered that Katherine had closeted herself away
from him again, he scowled at the maid. "God's wrath. Go to the kitchen
and tell cook to feed the hounds with tonight's fare. I will return to speak
with my wife on the morrow, whether she wills it or not!"

Thoughts of breaking down the door to Katherine's
chamber crossed his mind. Alas, it would surely convince her he meant her ill,
and that he was determined not to do. Angrily, he strode back to his chamber
and slammed the door shut behind him.

He dropped into the chair by the fire and stared
into the flames. The golden dance only reminded him of her long shimmering
tresses. How he'd hoped to feel it cover him as he held her in his arms
tonight. By the saints, how much more could he stand before he did indeed break
down her door?

Time dragged by at a snail's pace and the wind
moaned eerily. It echoed the lonely cry of his heart. Aye, alone, but not after
tonight. With the dawn, he would change all that. No Highland warrior had ever
besieged a castle as surely as he would her. Come the morrow, he would scale
the walls of her indifference and win her heart.

"Laird MacGregor!"

The urgent voice outside his chamber roused him
from his thoughts. Hurriedly opening his door, he saw Lewis, the castle
steward, standing before him. From the man's grim expression, something was
very wrong. "What is it?"

Lewis yanked his head in the direction of the end
of the corridor. "M'laird, strange noises have been heard from within yer
lady's chamber and the door is barred."