“She says that she is not hungry.”
Liam could see the glint of amusement in his brother's eyes, but he did not find it the least bit funny. He was not about to have his new wife starve herself only to have the castles occupants gossip about his mistreatment of her.
Liam stood up from the table and began tossing roast chicken and bread along with some vegetables carelessly onto one of the plates. Once the plate was filled to almost overflowing he marched silently out of the great hall and to Catriona’s bedchamber.
“My lady?”
Liam knocked heavily on the door to Catriona’s bedchamber and waited, but there was no answer.
“My lady?” he knocked again, louder this time.
“Catriona!” Liam started to get frustrated and considered letting himself into her chamber when the door opened at last.
“Laird MacDonell?” Catriona opened the door just wide enough to be able to look up at him. Liam’s frustration was quickly replaced with concern. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her skin was chalky and pale. Had she been up here crying this whole time? Had Iain known?
“Ye did not come down for supper,” he said awkwardly.
“I was not hungry,” she whispered.
Liam lifted the plate of food for her to see. “I brought ye this in case ye change yer mind later.”
Catriona eyed the over-filled plate for a moment before finally relenting, and opened the door wide enough to allow him entrance.
“Thank ye, Laird MacDonell,” she whispered.
Liam set the plate down on the dressing table across from the bed and closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. He had done his duty, and she would not starve. There was really no reason for him to stay, but Iain’s words continued to play over in his mind.
“I think that now we are married, ye should probably call me Liam.”
“Thank ye for bringing me my supper… Liam.”
He turned around to look at her, properly look her for the first time since the night they had met. Catriona stood in the middle of the room with her eyes downcast focused on the floor. There was no air of triumph about her, no victory. The dark circles under her eyes betrayed her exhaustion, but was that her fatigue from the journey to Invergarry, or the crying she had so obviously been doing before he had arrived?
Maybe Iain had the right of it after all. Catriona was well and truly alone here. And if she had, in fact, not schemed with her father to force him to wed her, then he was forcing the lass to suffer for no reason other than his own stubborn pride. He had not even given her a chance to tell her own side of it.
“I'm sorry if I've been cruel to ye, lass,” he said, softly. “I did not mean to upset ye.”
Catriona instantly squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. Liam watched as her eyes narrowed in suspicion, and he felt like a great hulking beast. Had he really treated her so poorly over the past few days that she now could not trust a few simple words of kindness from him?
“I understand if ye do not wish to hear my apology…” He trailed off, at a loss for words. Iain was the one that always ken what to say. Liam was used to speaking plainly and to other men. He did not know how to soothe an irate wife.
“I accept yer apology, Laird MacDonell… Liam. If that is all, ye may go now.”
Frustrated, Liam took two steps toward the door, and then stopped.
“I want to trust ye lass, I do. But I dinna like being tricked into marriage. I never wanted this.”
The color raised in Catriona’s cheeks, and her eyes were like sharp daggers cutting through him.
“And ye think I wanted this, is that it?” she asked. Her voice was devoid of all emotion as she stepped toward him.
Catriona tilted her head back so that she could look Liam in the eye. She may have been a good head and shoulders shorter than him, but her glare suddenly made him feel as though he were a man of half his stature.
“I'll have ye know, Liam MacDonell, that I did not want to marry ye either. I begged my father, pleaded with him to release ye. I tried to convince him that ye were not the one who attacked me, but he would not listen. There was nothing I could do. Do ye really think that given a choice, I would choose to be here with ye? To be brought to a place without friends or family, and wed to a man that pays me so little regard that he has only spoken a handful of words to me the entire time we have been wed? A man so devoid of humor that I have yet to see him smile? A man who, every time he looks at me, has eyes so filled with suspicion and derision that it is all I can do to stand my ground and not look away? Tell me, Laird MacDonell, why would I ever scheme to trick a man like that into marrying me? What woman with even the smallest amount of wits would choose to wed herself to someone so cold and unfeeling?”
Her words cut to the very heart of him. His emotions warred between the great feelings of relief that washed over him, because he could hear the truth in her words that she had not wanted to marry him, and the frustration that now he knew he could trust her, she wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. He wanted to apologize to her once again, but she continued on before he had a moment to recover.
“I do not know why ye were so quick to judge me guilty of some imagined crime. Perhaps it had something to do with yer previous wife. But I have taken more than I can stomach of yer suspicion and insults.”
Liam reached out and grabbed Catriona by the upper arms and pulled her closer. All thought of apologizing fled his mind at the mention of his first wife.
“Where did ye hear about my first marriage? Who told ye about Fiona?” He demanded.
Catriona’s eyes widened in fear, and she struggled against him.
“It was Iain,” she snapped. “Who else could it have been? Yer brother is the only one of ye to have shown me even the least bit of kindness. Now unhand me!” She tore herself out of his grasp and took a hasty step back.
“Husband or no, I will not be manhandled by the likes of ye, Liam MacDonell! Ye are a terror and a brute, and I wish I had been married to yer brother instead!” she shouted.
A hard knot formed in Liam’s stomach, and he snorted in derision. It was not the first time a woman would prefer to be with his brother instead of him. Liam thought that the sting of it had lessened over time, but for some reason, knowing that his new wife would have preferred to be married to his brother stung more than he wanted to admit.
“Oh, aye, well, all the lasses prefer Iain, and Iain has had affections for many a pretty lass. I would suggest ye spend some time getting to know my brother before ye start dreaming him up to be some gallant prince, lass. Especially if ye have hopes for a husband that will not stray far from yer marriage bed,” he added, cruelly.
Catriona blushed furiously but held her ground. “That may be so, but at least he has shown some concern for me. Whereas all ye’ve shown is how little ye want to do with me. Ye dinna even want me to share yer bedchamber!”
Catriona froze the moment the words were out of her mouth and she whirled around, turning her back on him.
Liam’s heart pounded as he tried to decider Catriona’s meaning.
“Are ye saying that ye want to share a bedchamber with me then?” he asked.
“No, of course not!”
“Of course not,” he mimicked harshly. “Why would ye want to share a bedchamber with me when ye’ve been dreaming of yer shining knight Iain MacDonell?”
Catriona’s fists clenched at her sides, and she turned back around to face him.
“I have not been dreaming of Iain. Why must ye twist my words?”
“Ye’ve already admitted that he would rather be married to him than me—”
“But that does not mean…! Oh! Why must ye be so infuriating!” Catriona shouted.
“Well if I'm infuriating, at least I'm in good company, lass!” Liam crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her pointedly.
“Oh!” Catriona stormed over to the door and held it open. “Thank ye very much for bringing me supper, Laird MacDonell, but I
have grown overtired. I think it is past time for ye to leave.”
Liam raised his eyebrows at her but didn't budge.
“Are ye trying to force me out of a chamber in my own keep?”
“Of course not,” she said with all the dignity she could manage, but her eyes betrayed that she recognized the absurdity of the situation. “But I'm sure that as a gentleman ye’ll respect my wishes and go.”
“Oh I'm a gentleman now then, am I?” The corner of Liam's mouth twitched as he fought to control a smile. “I thought ye were just telling me what a great unfeeling brute I am?”
Liam did not know why he continued to bait her, but seeing Catriona standing there with her back straight and the color high in her cheeks as she fought to keep her temper under control suddenly made him want to laugh.
“Are ye mocking me?” she snapped at him.
“Of course not.” Liam shook his head but could not keep his shoulders from trembling.
“Ye are so! Ye’re laughing at me!” she said, obviously outraged.
“I am not, Catriona, I swear it.” Unfortunately his body betrayed him as a liar, and unable to control himself any longer, Liam threw his head back and roared with laughter.
“It’s not funny!” Catriona shouted as she stared at him. “Have ye completely lost yer wits?”
Liam leaned against the table and let the laughter consume him. It was all he could do with the absurdity of the situation. With every passing day it felt as though more and more was slipping out of his control, and now… this.
As Catriona stood there watching him her shoulders too began to shake, and soon she was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down her face.
“This is absolutely… absurd!” she gasped, stumbling forward to collapse on the bed.
“I ken, lass,” Liam agreed.
He sat down beside her as he tried to get his breath, then very slowly, took one of her hands in his own. “I ken ye dinna like me very much,” he said gently. “And I ken I have not given ye much of a reason to. But, I think we can agree that what is done is done, aye? And maybe, in time, the two of us can come to a peace?”
Catriona looked down at their joined hands and then up into his eyes.
“I think that I would like that,” she told him. “In truth, I was not sure how much longer I would have been able to stand it if ye went on hating me. While I knew it was unlikely I would ever get to marry for love, I had hoped that my future husband and I would at least share some affection, and friendship.”
Liam squeezed her hand gently and she smiled at him. It was the same open smile that he had seen her give his brother on the journey to Invergarry Castle. He tried to suppress the swift wave of jealousy that rose in him at the thought of his brother and tried to focus on the fact that now, he and Catriona might have a chance at an amicable marriage after all.
“I should leave ye to yer supper and get some rest,” he said, releasing her hand and getting to his feet.
He noticed Catriona’s smile slip a notch and a spike of pleasure went through him. She wanted him to stay.
“Tomorrow I can take some time and show ye around the keep… If ye like.”
“I dinna suppose…” she trailed off and bit her bottom lip.
Watching her, Liam was suddenly struck with the desire to do that very same thing. And in that moment he wanted nothing more than to bend down and nibble on Catriona’s bottom lip.
“Aye?” he asked, his voice gruff and his eyes not leaving her mouth.
“I dinna suppose there are any paints in the keep? I dropped mine the night of… the night we met, so have not brought any with me. I like to paint, and it will help me to pass the time.”
Liam could not think of a single person that might have paints in the keep, but he wanted nothing more than to see her smile again.
“Dinna worry, I can find ye paints.”
Chapter 9
Catriona ran her hands over her sides and tried to smooth out the non-existent wrinkles in her lavender gown. It was plain vanity, she admitted to herself, which made her choose that specific gown over the others. The color brought out the blue in her eyes, making them appear both larger and more intense in color. She had carefully dressed her hair in a single plait swept to one side and brought down over the front of her shoulder which she had fastened with a lavender ribbon that matched her gown. She turned to the left and right, trying to assess herself in the mirror. Though her hands were steady, she could not deny the slight fluttering sensation deep in the pit of her stomach. She wanted the day to go well. It was a chance for her and Liam to make a fresh start. Was it possible that there was a flicker of hope for their marriage after all?
Catriona took a deep breath, followed by another, and tried to calm the fluttering in her stomach. It was ridiculous for her to feel so ill at ease. She had not gone down to the great hall for breakfast, feeling too unwell to eat, and she hoped that Laird MacDonell… nay, that Liam, did not misinterpret that as a sign she had changed her mind. She was looking forward to him showing her around the keep and introducing her to her new home.
Catriona smiled and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. For the first time since she found out she was coming to Invergarry Castle, she finally felt as though it could be a home to her one day. She and Liam had taken the first steps towards an accord between the two of them, and she wanted to make sure she did all that she could for them to continue on in the right direction.
She wiped her damp palms against the soft woven fabric of her gown and paced the length of the chamber while she waited. I wonder what he would do if I simply left to go find him?
It was not as if she had been confined to the space. There was nothing stopping her from leaving and venturing out to hunt down her new husband on her own. The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became. It was unfair of him to keep her waiting like this.
There was a quick rap on the door, and all feelings of annoyance were quickly replaced by those of anticipation. She couldn't help but wonder if he would take her hand again, the way he had the night before. She never would have guessed that he would be so gentle with her. His carrying of her up the stairs on their wedding night most certainly did not count. Though she still warmed at the memory of what it felt like to have his strong arms wrapped around her and the hard lines of his broad chest against her cheek.
“Good morning,” Catriona said as she hurried to open the door. “I have spent all morning looking forward to ye showing me around the—Iain!” she finished, surprised to be looking up into his devilish face.
“Ye flatter me, my lady,” he said to her with an easy smile and a wink.
Catriona blushed furiously, not only for his comment, but for the things she had said to Liam the night before. She couldn't believe she had said such things to her husband about his own brother. She eyed him as he stood outside her door, and wondered if Liam had told his younger brother what she had said about him.
“That is not what I meant,” she hurried to explain. “I was just surprised to see ye. I have been expecting—”
“Liam, aye, I know. My brother has sent me to ye with his apologies. He has been called away from the keep for the day by his duties as Chief. I am to pass on his message to ye that he is sorry he did not have time to bid ye a proper farewell. But as he had to leave before breakfast he also did not want to wake ye.” Iain leaned against the doorframe and smiled at her. “He said that he had promised to show ye around the castle today and asked me to take ye in his stead. I know that I'm a poor substitute, but I hope ye have no objections?”
Catriona could not help but laugh at Iain’s false modesty. She could not think of a single man, woman or child that would object to spending time with Iain MacDonell. But she could not quell the flicker of disappointment she felt at his arrival. Of course she understood the pressures Liam was under as chief of his clan. She had grown up seeing just how many responsibilities her father shouldered. But even though she knew Liam hadn't a
choice in being called away, Catriona found herself disappointed all the same.
“I would love for ye to be my guide and escort today, Iain, thank ye.” Catriona tried to not let her disappointment show. “But are ye sure I would not be taking ye away from something more important?”
“Spend my morning locked up in my brother’s moldy study, or strolling the grounds accompanied by his lovely new wife? Nay, I know when to take advantage of a fine opportunity.”
He extended her his elbow, and Catriona linked her arm through his. Liam or no, it was time for her to step out of the shadows and acquaint herself with her new home.
“I dinna suppose there is a pond or anything of the like nearby is there?” She asked him as they headed towards the staircase.
“Aye, we’ve a loch not far from here. Why do ye ask?”
“I think that once I am more settled, I would like to paint the water.”
“Ye’re an artist?”
“I dinna think I would go so far as to say that, but I do love to paint and draw, aye.”
“Liam used to sketch when he was younger.”
Catriona was so stunned by that news, she missed a step, and Iain had to hold tight to her so that she did not fall.
“Really?” she asked as she clung to his arm. She would never have imagined that they would have such a thing in common. Why had he not mentioned it the night before, when she had asked him about the paints?
“I dinna think he has drawn anything in years, but when he was younger he had quite the fair hand. Maybe he will draw ye something if ye ask him.”
“Thank ye, Iain. I think I will.”
* * *
Iain and Catriona sat on a blanket on the grassy edge of Loch Oich, gazing out across the water as it sparkled in the afternoon sun. The water rippled gently from the cool spring breeze, and Catriona wrapped her earasaid more tightly around her shoulders to ward off the chill.
“Would ye like to go back?” Iain asked, noticing her shiver.
Highland Promise: The Daughters of Clan Drummond Page 6