by Alisa Adams
In fact, Agnes Gunn knew him.
They were enemies; the Gunns and the Keiths.
Cat hurried over to Kaithria and lowered to her knees on the floor beside her chair. She grasped Kaithria's hands, which were folded together in her lap.
“What is it? Tell me, for I know something is wrong. Did me great aunt Agnes frighten ye?” Cat asked worriedly as she held Kaithria’s stiff hands.
Kaithria looked down at her friend. “I dinnae belong here, Lady Catriona,” she said softly as she pulled her hands out of Cat’s grasp. “Yer aunt feels the same.” She looked around the pleasant room with its tall, four-poster bed, and it’s soothing cream walls. The furniture was feminine, like that in the little solar. All the fabrics had been chosen in colors of rose and pinks. There was also a painted floor cloth on the floor of yellow and cream diamonds. It was a lovely room. She took a deep breath. “I will leave and—”
“And what Kaithria? Go look after me brother Wolf and Swan’s children?” Cat said quickly. “Ye deserve to have a life of yer own. Not live in the shadows of others!”
Kaithria looked solemnly at Cat. “I am not like ye, Lady Catriona,” she said quietly. “I have no place. I have no title.”
“Me aunt Agnes has invited several people here,” Cat said excitedly. “Perhaps ye can meet a mon that ye—”
Kaithria held her hand up to stop her. “I do not wish to marry, ever,” Kaithria said solemnly. “Men can be...” She stopped and hesitated. Finally, after a moment, she added, “I do not like to be touched.”
Cat studied the almost exotically beautiful woman. Kaithria was such a mystery. And one Cat was determined to solve. Secretly, she hoped that her uncle Keir would fall desperately in love with Kaithria. But Kaithria not liking to be touched would be a problem for any man. How have I missed that? Cat thought.
But it made sense. Kaithria froze when Cat had hugged her earlier that day. She had pulled her hands away. She was always so calm, so serene, even her voice was soothing and soft, as if separating herself from any situation. Not allowing herself to feel. She had always placed herself in the background, behind others, or off to the side. She stood with her hands folded together, hidden in the draping of her black cloak, or pushed down deep into the pockets of her cloak.
Cat knew that her own hands were always flying about when she was happy or excited, or clenched when she was nervous. Cat wanted to ask Kaithria more questions but Kaithria held her hand up once again to stop her.
“Lady Catriona?” Kaithria said softly as she looked down at Cat where she was still kneeling beside Kaithria’s chair. “Ye fear yer great aunt, but I dinnae think ye should.”
“Why do ye think that I shouldnae? She is terrifying!” Cat said with surprise.
“Look around ye.” Kaithria moved her arm to encompass the room. “It was your aunt Agnes who decorated this house. And the solar. All in very pretty, very feminine furniture and peaceful, calming colors. Anyone who can do this is not a person to be feared.” She paused and grinned, which for Kaithria was rare. “Besides,” she added, “yer aunt wears breeks and rides a huge mule.”
“No matter! She is enormous and intimidating!” Cat declared.
“Aye, but look deeper Cat. The thistle has many thorns, but still, it is beautiful.”
“Ye sound like me uncle Keir. He thinks that Aunt Agnes is wonderful.” Cat frowned as she looked around the room.
“Lord Keir has your great aunt well figured in his mind,” Kaithria said quietly as she stared at Cat.
Cat peered at Kaithria from under her lashes. Her eyes glittered merrily. “I was thinking when we were standing there in her solar that certainly none of those dainty chairs could support Aunt Agnes!”
Kaithria tried not to smile.
Cat looked up at Kaithria and her eyes became speculative. She jumped up from where she had been kneeling on the floor. She opened a large wardrobe that sat against one wall. It was filled with a variety of dresses in varying colors.
“Bi crivens!” Cat exclaimed. “Uncle Keir said I would find some things in the room we could use but—oh!” She pulled out a bright jade-green gown.
Kaithria stood up and walked over to the wardrobe. “What is all this?”
“Uncle Keir said that he traded one of the horses he bred to a merchant in Edinburgh,” Cat explained as she looked through the colorful dresses. “The merchant gave him some cloth in return for the horse. Uncle Keir accepted. He had gowns made for a lady…” Cat hesitated to continue.
Kaithria’s eyebrow rose as she fingered the fine cloth. “He had them made for a woman he cared for?”
“Aye,” Cat whispered. “But the woman never wore them. I dinnae think she even looked at them. She chose another. Which is unimaginable,” she added in disapproval. “Uncle Keir is wonderful!” She put her hand to her forehead and rubbed it in agitation.
Kaithria placed her hand briefly over Cat’s. “Are you well? Did you eat today?”
“Aye, I nibbled on some of me biscuits in me saddlebag. Uncle Keir pushed us hard today to get here before dark.” She stepped forward and hugged Kaithria, even knowing that Kaithria would freeze in her embrace. She ignored it and hugged her tightly. “Thank ye for asking but I am fine, truly.” She lowered her voice and whispered gently, “And ye’ll have to get used to me hugs. As our dear friend Neely says, a hug can make anything better.” She lightly kissed Kaithria’s cheek. “And I have a lot of hugs to give.” Then she let go and stepped back.
Kaithria looked at her, touching her cheek where Cat had given her a friendly kiss.
“Why do ye hate to be touched Kaithria?” Cat asked as she looked at Kaithria with her head tilted slightly as she studied her mysterious friend.
Kaithria’s body eased from the tension she had felt come over her at Cat’s sudden embrace.
“I do not know,” Kaithria answered quietly as she folded her hands together in front of her skirt. She studied Cat. Are those shadows under her eyes? “Ye should lay down and rest before the evening meal, Lady Catriona,” she said gently.
Cat spun away from her and walked quickly over to the shaft of sunshine near the window. “I’ll not be locked up again, Kaithria!” she said firmly. “Niver again, I tell ye!”
Cat turned back to the window and pressed her forehead against the cool glass. She took a deep breath and managed a tremulous smile as she kept her face to the glass, looking out on the scene below her. “Bunny is very happily eating the grass under yer horse’s belly. ’Tis a good thing that Dummy is so sweet,” she said.
Cat watched as every now and then the donkey's tall ears would graze Dummy’s stomach. The horse was unfazed. As Cat's eyes roved over the two old warhorses grazing the grass in the sunshine, she saw all their scars from their many battles, and she realized that a teeny, tiny donkey would not faze them. They had seen far too much in their lifetimes.
“No one is going to lock ye up,” Kaithria said calmly. She hesitated, giving Cat a moment to relax. When she saw that Cat’s shoulders were still tight and rigid, she said, “Dummernech is a vera sweet gentleman and he seems to love yer tiny donkey.” She paused, thinking. “Would ye mind if I lay down to rest for a bit?” she said in her husky voice. “I find that I am vera weary.” Kaithria went over to the bed and laid down on one side of it after taking off her boots. She sighed in bliss. “‘Tis goose down!” she said with surprising pleasure. “‘Tis not straw or horsehair. I think I love your aunt Agnes…” she murmured, closing her eyes.
Cat looked over at her and smiled. “Vera well, I shall rest as ye are tempting me so.”
Kaithria opened one eye and peered at Cat’s back as she sat on the bed and pulled her boots off. Cat laid down with a weary sigh. She was asleep within moments.
Kaithria rose up slowly and cautiously on one elbow. She looked down at Cat’s face. Aye, those are shadows under her eyes…
Then Kaithria looked down at her own wrist. It is ugly, crooked. It happened long ago when Ronan had punished
her for who knew what. It had never healed from where he had broken it. Just like her ankle. Her mother had known she could not run on it.
Aye, I do not like to be touched. And I do not trust men. Any man.
3
“I cannae believe ye talked me into doing this! I dinnae belong here. And wearing this?” Kaithria said to Cat as they slowly walked down the stairs. She held her skirts up carefully so as not to trip. The thin slippers on her feet offered no support to her ankle.
“Ye look lovely! ’Tis perfect for ye,” Cat whispered back, ignoring the first part of what she had said about not belonging. “What were ye going to wear? Yer black cloak and that faded and dusty skirt ye always wear?”
“I am not used to all these layers, and this corset, and most of me hair being all on top of me head in this cockernonnie,” Kaithria said under her breath. She saw the frown on Cat’s face and offered a smile. “Though I am grateful. And ye look positively radiant, Lady Catriona. That shade of green is perfect on ye.”
Catriona’s dress had been quickly and cleverly altered to fit by Kaithria. She was wearing a bright green, tightly-fitting overdress that was like a robe that fell open from the waist down to reveal a cream lace underskirt peeking through. The neckline was cut low in a square and had the same cream lace edging just above the breast. The cream lace went up into a high collar, which looked pretty with her short hair.
As the two women walked slowly down the stairs in their voluminous skirts, Kaithria could see the gathering of people below them in the great hall. The candles in the sconces along the walls as well as the candles glowing in the large overhead chandelier gave a beautiful glowing light to everything and everyone.
Kaithria’s slippered foot hesitated on the stairs as her eyes found Keir. He was dressed in his finest kilt of darkest blue with a black and green tartan pattern. He wore a fine silver-tipped sporran decorated with white horsehair tassels that hung down in the front of his kilt. A black jacket of wool with crisp lapels over a white shirt, and ruffled cuffs, encircling his wrists made his dark hair and eyes even more handsome. His hair was combed back over his ears to tame the waves that fell to his shoulders. Kaithria stared at him, her breath caught in her throat.
Suddenly Keir looked up the stairs, and their eyes met, and held.
He knew Kaithria was beautiful, he just never had any idea that she was this beautiful. She wore a midnight-blue overdress that clung to her trim waist and breasts. The underskirt matched his tartan. For some reason that made his heart race in his chest with pride. The black ruffles edging her bodice curled up and around her neck, framing her elegant chin. Her black hair was piled on top of her head with a long, wavy lock falling loosely down past her breast. As she stared back at him, he found he could not move, for those mysterious golden-colored eyes of hers caught the candlelight in such a way that made his pulse race throughout his body. He realized that he was a captive in her gaze. He also realized that he had no wish to fight his captivity.
Without taking his eyes off of her he started walking slowly towards the bottom of the stairs.
“Kaithria!” whispered Cat urgently as she curled her arm through Kaithria’s. Cat ignored the tensing of Kaithria’s arm against hers. “We must keep going. People are staring, and Uncle Keir is coming to the stairs. And...oh sards! So is Aunt Agnes!” she groaned.
Kaithria blinked a few times, then continued walking carefully and slowly down the stairs.
Keir stopped at the bottom of the stairs, his eyes intent on Kaithria.
Kaithria looked away from him, her cheeks stained pink with the embarrassment of his interest in her. Her eyes went instead to Lady Agnes Gunn. The huge woman’s gown was all a somber black save for the bodice, which had a large ruffle of black lace. She gave her a respectful and very genuine smile. She stepped from the last step onto the floor of the great hall and sunk into a deep curtsy.
“Lady Gunn,” she said quietly, “you have made Kinbrace an astonishingly beautiful home.”
Agnes had been about to say something but she pursed her lips together and gave Kaithria a small nod.
Keir had not said a word. He continued to stare at Kaithria.
Agnes bumped him with her arm. “Ye are making a fool of yerself Nephew! Introduce yer niece to our guests. Then ye will escort her to the large dining room.”
Keir pulled his eyes away from Kaithria to look at his aunt with a vacant stare.
“Your niece,” Aunt Agnes repeated with a scowl. “The Lady Catriona McKay.”
Agnes did not wait for his answer but looked fully at Kaithria. “Come girl. You will walk with me.”
Kaithria fell into step beside the giant woman.
“I will be blunt with ye girl,” Aunt Agnes said as they walked slowly along the length of the great hall. “I find that is always best. I dinnae like those who dither on aboot things.” She took a breath and said, “If ye are here to snare me nephew Keir, who is now laird, for yer husband, I ask that ye leave, immediately.”
Kaithria met the eyes of the huge woman as Agnes stopped and turned to look at her. They were out of earshot of any of the other guests.
“I have no wish to marry,” Kaithria said. She looked down to the other end of the hall and saw Keir staring at her as he talked to a group of men. She quickly looked away.
Agnes pinched her lips together and narrowed her eyes. “Whot? Is he not good enough for ye then?”
Kaithria shook her head. “Nay, he is an exceptional mon,” she said as she glanced towards Keir, who was surrounded by several young and old men. She could hear them begging him for tales of his exploits in battle. “However, I do not want a husband.”
“He is an exceptional mon. So exceptional that he has been running two of the Gunn estates by himself since his parents died when he was a young man. He’s led his men to victories in every battle. Not only does he have his men’s’ trust and loyalty, but he is trusted by the king. He takes care of his own, at his own peril, and all know this.” She blinked rapidly as if to blink away tears. “He is far too good for this world!” She huffed out a breath as her bosom lifted high. Then she eyed Kaithria. “He has had his share of women falling over him, handsome charmer that he is. I have selected several appropriate ladies for him to choose from, and ye arenae one of them!”
“I understand,” Kaithria said calmly, not reacting to her obvious insult. “As I said, I dinnae wish to marry.”
“Ye are a strange lass,” Agnes murmured under her breath. “’Tis not natural to remain unmarried. Why do ye not want a husband?”
Kaithria simply said, “I cannot say. I only know that I do not.”
Agnes looked sharply at Kaithria once again. “Who are yer people?”
Kaithria shook her head. “I cannot say, only that I have none,” she said quietly as she raised her chin to stare at the giantess.
“No people?” Agnes shrilled. “Ye must have some people. Who is yer clan?”
“I was raised in an orphanage,” she answered politely. “At a convent.”
“Are ye a nun then? I thought ye looked like a nun in that cloak ye wore earlier. Did ye care for me niece at the convent, when she was sick?”
Kaithria frowned, looking down at her lovely gown. “I am no nun,” she said calmly.
“But how came ye to be with me niece?” Agnes demanded as she glowered down at the woman.
“The convent was attacked in the Clearances. I fled with several of the children.” She shrugged her shoulders lightly. “We ended up at Brough Castle. It was there that I met Lady Catriona’s brother, Laird Wolfram McKay, and your nephew. Lady Swan and I pulled them out of a bog, where they and their horses were caught. It was through Laird McKay that I eventually met Lady Catriona.”
Agnes stared at her. “I see…” she said slowly as she worked her lips. She pulled a pipe out of a pocket in her voluminous skirts and adeptly and expertly lit it. She closed her eyes and took several puffs on the stem, and blew out the fragrant smoke. Then she opened he
r eyes, just a bit, into narrow slits. She peered at Kaithria through the haze of smoke that billowed up and around her head. It seemed to form a halo there, hovering above her head. “I thought me niece was dead,” she said almost to herself, but she was still looking at Kaithria.
“Your niece is very much alive.” Kaithria paused as Agnes puffed furiously on her pipe.
“Dinnae be impertinent, girl.” Agnes scowled around the pipe shoved into the corner of her wrinkled lips.
Kaithria bowed her head. “That was not my intention, Lady Gunn. Yer niece was sick, very sick in fact. She told me a little aboot it.”
“Is this why her hair is as short as a lad’s?” she asked in a quieter voice.
“Aye, my lady, it is,” Kaithria matched Agnes's quiet tone. “The healer cut it all off when she was too sick to stop him. She fears it is too slow in growing back. She is nervous about how others see her.”
“Och! People are numpties, most of the lot of ’em!” Agnes shrilled. She looked down the great hall at the group of people milling around as she puffed away. “There’s a few canny ones...a few…”
Kaithria looked down the hall at the people that held Agnes’s attention.
Kaithria watched as Catriona turned to three women that walked up to her. Kaithria realized with a spurt of happiness that it was Lady Ina Ross, now Lady Ina Beaumont. Beside Lady Ina was a small, older woman with her grey hair in a knot that surely was supposed to be atop her head, but now seemed to have slid down to rest on her ear. Beside the old woman was a young girl who was looking interestedly around the hall.
Agnes grunted, bringing Kaithria's attention back to her.
“Stay away from me nephew. Or ye’ll answer to me.” At that, Agnes grunted again and walked away, back towards the others.
The dining room was as lovely as the rest of the house. Kaithria ended up at the far end of the long, elegantly laid out table. Though she was as far away as possible from her friends; Lady Catriona, and Lady Ina, who sat at the other end, it did give her the chance to look around the beautiful room. The green walls with their hand-painted intricate scrollwork of gold were aglow with the many candles in the exquisite, glittering, glass chandelier that had hundreds of shimmering teardrop-shaped glass drops hanging from it. There were also bright, brilliantly polished brass candlesticks placed all the way down the center of the table. Everything was luminous with the soft luster of candlelight. Her eyes passed Keir, who sat at the head of the table. His eyes caught hers and he smiled with just the tip of one corner of his mouth and nodded slightly. Once again, Kaithria quickly looked away, her cheeks going pink.