Highland Promise: The Daughters of Clan Drummond

by Marks, Stephanie

  Liam's eyes flew to Malcolm, but the man just shrugged before kicking his horse into a canter and riding off into the night, leaving Liam to follow behind, a dozen new questions racing through his head.

  Chapter 21

  By the time Drummond Castle was in sight, Catriona never wanted to find herself seated on the back of a horse ever again. She felt as though she had spent every day of the past two weeks wet, sore, or locked up against her wishes. But instead of relief at being back at her childhood home, she felt apprehension. While she looked forward to spending time with her sisters, she did not know what she would say to her father, or if she would even be able to face him.

  People called her name and waved as she entered the courtyard, and she looked around, surprised by the exuberance of the welcome.

  “They knew something had happened to ye,” Liam told her. “They were worried, and are happy to see ye back safe.”

  Catriona nodded. Her smile was tight, but she waved to everyone as she rode by.

  Someone must have run ahead to tell her father that they had returned, because as she climbed down from the horse, he burst into the yard with her two sisters following close behind him.

  “Cat! My wee Cat, ye've come home to me!” Her father swept her up into his arms and hugged her tightly. “Saints be praised, how I feared for ye, my girl. Are ye injured? Did that bastard Macnaghten hurt ye in any way?”

  “No, Da, I’m not harmed—” she began, but was quickly cut off when her father squeezed her even tighter, making it difficult for her to breathe.

  “My God, Cat. Can ye ever forgive me? I’ve been a right fool.”

  He set her back down on the ground and released her, but before she could answer him she was quickly enveloped by the arms of her sisters.

  “How did ye get her back so quickly?” her father asked Liam.

  “It was not me,” Liam said. “In truth, she was already on her way back to ye when I came upon her.”

  “Ye escaped on yer own lass? But how?” Laird Drummond eyed his youngest daughter with a mix of curiosity and pride in his eyes.

  Catriona looked around for Malcolm who was trying to edge away from the gathering crowd. He was most likely trying to avoid her father, but she was not going to allow his bravery go unrecognized. Not after what he had done for her.

  “It was Malcom that freed me, Da, and saw me here safely. Though Liam escorted us on our way.”

  Her father's face paled at the sight of Malcolm, and he looked at his daughter with shame in his eyes.

  “Catriona, I dinna know if he told ye...”

  “Aye, Da, he did, but we can discuss that later, no? For now, I just want a bath, a change of clothes and to sleep for a week.”

  “I will go see to getting the water boiled for ye,” said Aileen, hugging her tightly again and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

  “And will ye see that Malcolm gets a warmth bath as well?” She asked her sister. “He deserves that and more, after all he's done for me.”

  “Aye,” said Aileen, taking Malcolm by the arm. “I'll see to all of it.”

  * * *

  Liam stood outside Catriona’s chamber door and raised his hand to knock, but he could not do it. His hand hung there suspended in the air for a moment before he sighed in frustration, dropped his hand, and walked away. He had only gone a few steps before he stopped and cursed himself. Squaring his shoulders he marched back to her chamber door and knocked on it before he could change his mind again.

  “Yes?” her voice called softly from the other side of the door.

  “It's Liam. May I come in?”

  There was a long pause before she finally replied, “Come in.”

  Liam entered the room to find Catriona sitting in her shift while Brigid stood behind her running a comb through Catriona's damp hair. She was a vision in flowing white. The fabric of her thin shift flowed over the gentle slopes of her body, hinting at the curves beneath.

  He wanted to take her into his arms and hold her close. But although she sat there before him, she still felt as out of reach now as she had when she was missing.

  “I was hoping to talk to ye for a moment,” he told her.

  Brigid set the comb down on the dressing table and placed her hand on Catriona’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I'll leave the two of ye alone, then.”

  Brigid walked to the door and paused before Liam, placing a hand lightly on his arm. “Thank ye,” she whispered. “Thank ye for bringing her home to us.”

  Liam nodded silently, and Brigid took one final glance back at her sister before taking her leave. He felt like a fraud accepting her thanks. He hadn’t brought Catriona back at all. His wife had found her own way back to them. He had never felt so useless as he had riding back to Drummond Castle alongside Catriona and Malcolm.

  It was his job to protect her. A job that he had completely failed at performing time and time again. And now that he knew the full truth of their situation and her innocence in it, he feared that he would never be able to prove himself as worthy of the love and trust she had tried to offer him so many times, only to be rebuffed when his distrust got the better of him.

  The door closed behind her, and suddenly he and Catriona we finally alone. “I hope that I'm not interrupting.”

  Catriona stood up and wrapped her arms tightly around herself.

  “What did you want to discuss with me?”

  Liam's heart clenched at the distrustful look in her eye. No matter what had happened to her over the last few days, he knew that he was the one to put that fear there. She had even preferred to be nearer to the man who had attacked her and put her in the position where she was forced to be wed in the first place. The truth of that stung, but if Malcolm had found a way to earn Catriona's trust, maybe there was hope for himself to do the same.

  “I owe ye an apology,” he told her. “In fact, I owe ye too many to count. I have been rude and unfair to ye since the day we wed, and there was no cause for it. Ye were not to blame. It was my pride, distrust and arrogance that put ye in such a dangerous position. Ye never should have felt the need to flee Invergarry. I'm hoping that, in time, ye can forgive me for all that I've done to ye, and that ye'll give me a chance to show ye that I can be the kind of husband ye deserve.”

  Catriona looked at him thoughtfully. “Do you mean that?” She asked quietly.

  “Aye, I do. I'll be honest with ye. I have not fully seen ye for the person ye are. I’ve been too busy looking at ye through the pain of the past, but I see now that that's not fair to ye. Ye should not be made to pay for another woman's treachery and lies.”

  Catriona sat down slowly in the chair and clasped her hands in her lap. “Are you referring to your first wife?” she asked.

  Liam's jaw clenched and his fists bunched at his sides. He did not want to speak of Alana, but after all that had passed between them, if there was one thing Liam owed Catriona, it was the truth. No matter how painful it may be. “What do ye know of my first wife?” he asked.

  Catriona shook her head. “Nothing, really. Iain mentioned that you were wed once before when we traveled to Invergarry, but he would not tell me anything about her. He said it was not his place to share your secrets. The only reason he mentioned her, I believe, was simply because he wanted me to know that there was more behind your treatment of me than cruelty. That there was a pain you were still nursing. I think that he hoped it would make me a bit more understanding toward you and your actions.”

  “It's true that I was married before. I was young and foolish—and in love. The lass was a few years older than me, and enchanting in her beauty and her ways. I was bewitched by her from the first moment we met. It was not long before I asked her to marry me. My parents were both dead, and I had only recently taken over as Chief of clan MacDonell.

  “It was not long after the wedding when she changed. She grew erratic. She would fly off into a temper without any warning and little provocation. She would disappear for days at a time. And
then I began to hear the rumors. She was sneaking off to visit her lover. She had only married me for my power, and because I was young and so in love with her that she was sure she would be able to manipulate and control me. When I confronted her one evening about her dalliance, we argued, bitterly.

  “And then, that night, when she was sneaking out again—I'm sure to see him—there was an accident. Her horse threw its shoe, and she was tossed from the saddle. She broke her neck upon impact with the ground. I was heartbroken and furious at the same time. When I contacted her father to inform him about what had happened, the man blamed me for his daughter's death. By that time, I knew that she had never loved me. I was simply a convenient means to an end.”

  “What was her name?”

  Guilt flooded Liam but he took a deep breath and answered truthfully. “Alana. Alana Macnaghten.”

  “No!” Catriona gasped.

  “Aye. And Catriona, there's more. I learned from yer father that it was Macnaghten who suggested to him that he should convince me to wed one of his daughters.”

  “I know. Malcolm told me.”

  “Malcolm. The man that attacked ye?” Liam asked skeptically.

  “Aye. I know it does not make much sense. I've come to see that Malcolm is not a bad man, he just found himself in a bad situation that grew out of his control. In the end he risked his life to free me and bring me home, and I will be forever grateful to him for that. As I am grateful to ye as well. I know that ye set out after me to stop me from reaching my father to warn him of yer intentions. I know that ye do not care for me, and yet, ye came for me anyway, to free me from Macnaghten, even though leaving me to whatever fate he had planned for me could have ridded ye once and for all of a wife ye did not want.”

  Liam went up and knelt at Catriona's feet, taking her hands in his. “I may not have wanted to be wed, but I'm glad that yer my wife. And I may not have wanted to admit it to myself for fear of being played the fool again. but I do care for ye. I've had a glimpse of who ye are, who ye truly are through yer sister's and yer father's eyes. And I see the love held for ye by the people who live in the castle. But I no longer want to see ye through their eyes. I want to take ye home, back home to Invergarry with me. And I want to get to know ye for myself. And I would like very much for ye to get to know me. If ye'll give me the chance.”

  Liam's heart pounded in his chest, afraid that she would not be able to find it in her heart to forgive him. The seconds slipped by, stretching out into eternity.

  Catriona bit her bottom lip, taking a moment to consider before finally answering. “Aye, I would like that very much.”

  Chapter 22

  The next morning, Catriona walked into her father's library where she found Liam sitting at the desk opposite her father, the two of them deep in conversation.

  “But what are we going to do about him?” her father asked.

  “We cannot let this stand,” said Liam. “For all I know, he will continue paying those men to torch my land. If ye say ye did not want anyone to get hurt, then it is obvious Macnaghten has plans that do not involve you.”

  “Da?” Catriona asked.

  Both men looked up at her in surprise, as neither had heard her enter the room.

  “Catriona, I thought ye might be sleeping for a while yet,” her father said. “Ye must recover. These last few weeks must have been trying on ye.”

  She brushed a loose strand of hair back from her face and tucked it behind her ear, suddenly feeling self-conscious about the dark circles she had beneath her eyes and the pallor of her skin. “I was feeling restless. I've spent more time than necessary in bedchambers as of late,” she told him. Catriona's eyes flicked over to Liam for a moment before darting away again.

  Liam stiffened in his seat, and even through her ire, Catriona’s heart went out to him. She had not meant to guilt him, but having your husband lock you in your bedchamber was not something one soon forgot.

  Hurt at his actions and her forgiving nature battled within her. He had come for her. And while she may have found another means of escape, the thought of him confronting Macnaghten on her behalf and demanding that the treacherous Laird release her at once sent a shiver of a thrill through her body.

  Hesitantly she moved towards Liam, rested her hand on his shoulder for a moment, and squeezed it gently in reassurance before quickly removing it.

  “What have the two of ye been discussing?” she asked.

  “Nothing that ye need to worry about, lass,” said her father. “Have ye seen yer sisters this morning? I know they would love to spend some time with ye.”

  Catriona's face flushed red as anger began to bubble up inside of her. Once again the men were dismissing her as if she had nothing of value to contribute. As if the only thing she was good for was being bartered, ransomed, or rescued. Refusing to be brushed aside so easily, she sat down in the chair beside Liam, across from her father.

  “Is it Laird Macnaghten then?” she asked.

  “Now, Catriona,” said her father, “I do not want to upset ye, lass.”

  “Da,” Catriona said quietly. “I understand ye want to protect me. But after what I've been through this past week, I cannot just... I cannot just ignore what happened.”

  “Neither can we, lass,” said her da. “That's why Liam and I are discussing what to do about Macnaghten.”

  “Are ye sure that he will not just leave us alone now?” she asked.

  “I dinna think that is very likely,” said Liam. “It sounds like he has been planning this for some time. I did not realize that he still held such hatred for me. But for him to come up with such an elaborate, plan... it is unlikely that he will give up so easily.”

  “But we know that he is the one behind the destruction on your land now. When I arrived at Dunderaven, he was furious that I had been brought to him. He didn't want it known that he was in acquaintance with the men who had kidnapped me. He said something about exposing him, and his entire plan being at risk.”

  “It looks like he is not finished with ye, lad,” said her father.

  “Yes, but surely once he realized I had escaped Dunderaven, he must have suspected that I would have told you where I had been? Would he really risk continuing on, knowing that he is most likely exposed and no longer has my father to hide behind?”

  “Laird Drummond, Macnaghten used yer desire to have yer girls wed to his advantage, but do ye have any idea why he would want to see me married?”

  “Maybe he just wanted to see ye suffer?” said Catriona. “He has been suffering the loss of his daughter all of these years. Maybe now he wants you to know what it would feel like to be trapped in a marriage of hate.”

  “Well, whatever it is, I cannot stay here much longer,” said Liam. “I must return home to find out how my brother's injuries fare. I am praying that he has recovered some by now.” He looked at Catriona. “I have no doubt that ye would like to spend more time with yer family, but we must return as soon as possible.”

  Catriona nodded. “I understand. Once we have seen to yer brother, ye will be free to pursue Macnaghten with a clear mind.”

  Catriona stood to take her leave when a memory struck her. “Did either of ye know that Macnaghten has a son?”

  “Are ye sure, lass?” asked Laird Drummond. “I had not heard of him fathering any children.”

  “It’s true. The leader of the group, the one that burned down the home and injured Alex. I found out that he is in fact Macnaghten's son. He is illegitimate and Macnaghten has not seen fit to grant the man his name. His name is Gavin. He was a terrifying man. I hope to never lay eyes on him again.”

  “Ye never will,” Liam said firmly. “I can promise ye that.”

  “Liam,” her father said, “I know ye’re eager to see how your brother fares, but Macnaghten must be dealt with now, before things grow even more out of hand. Catriona will be safe here, ye know that as well as I. Let her spend some time with her sisters while we ride to Dunderaven and deal with this, once an
d for all. Macnaghten must be held accountable for all that he has done, and I would not want to give that man any more time to put his schemes in motion.”

  Liam sat silently for a moment before nodding in agreement. “Ye’re right, this cannot wait any longer. Let us find out what Macnaghten is truly after, once and for all.”

  * * *

  Liam had never before been to Laird Macnaghten’s keep, having never had need to pay visit to the man or his modest lands, and as he and Laird Drummond dismounted their horses in the courtyard, he hoped to never have to come back to Dunderaven again. There was something about the place that he found unsettling. There was a heaviness in the air of the courtyard that made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. It was as if the all joy and laughter had been beaten out of the place and all who dwelled there. As Liam glanced around, he saw that there was nary a smile or bright face to be found. The residents moved around the courtyard at a hurried pace, their eyes downcast as they went about their tasks.

  What had Macnaghten done to his people to leach the life out of them in such a way?

  “Mind yourself, lad,” said Laird Drummond, as the two of them made their way into the keep.

  “Can I help ye?” a man asked as they walked into the entry way, his eye on the colors of their plaids.

  “Aye,” said Liam. “We're here to have a word with Laird Macnaghten.”

  “I believe his lairdship is in his office. Is he expecting ye?”

  “I believe, not, but the matter is urgent, and he’ll be wanting to hear what we have to say.”

  The man stared at them silently for a moment before finally jerking his head in a sharp nod. “I’ll show ye the way."

  “Thank ye,” said Laird Drummond.

  Liam and Laird Drummond followed the clansman up a winding staircase until they reached the top floor of the keep. At the end of the hallway was a tall door inlaid with brass bars.