“Forgive me, Lady Katherine. Your beauty has me tongue-tied,” he managed.
“I am flattered, Milord. I am told I resemble your late wife.”
“So, Angus, my daughter pleases you,” Hugh Stuart interrupted. “I’ll get straight to the point. I desire a match.”
Katherine’s face colored with a blush. “Father, we’ve only just arrived.”
“These are men’s matters. It is either Angus or Brian Blackburn, but I will see you wed before the month is out.”
“Why the rush?” Angus asked.
“Supporters of the English throne rally to defeat us. Joined by blood, we present a more formidable front.”
“Aye, so,” Angus agreed. “What say you, Lady Katherine, will you be my wife?”
She paled, aghast at how easily they decided her fate. “I… I… of course, Milord,” she stammered.
Hugh Stuart smiled. “My Katherine always does as she is told,” he said smugly. “An asset in a wife, don’t you agree?”
Angus hoped his doubt did not show on his face. He would work on winning Lady Katherine Stuart’s heart.
Just before they spoke the vows, Laird Brian Blackburn came for a visit. Angus knew the first time he saw them together that Katherine Stuart’s path lay in a different direction. He released her from her promise.
Katherine married Brian Blackburn a scant month later. In a year, she gave birth to a daughter. The young woman who captured Ian bore her mother’s name. He wondered if she was as beautiful as her mother was. If so, he could understand Ian’s carelessness.
Chapter 10
“Milady, what are ya doin’? May I be of help?” Maura gaped at Katie as she dug through her gowns.
She knew the woman meant well, but at this moment, Katie much preferred to be alone. “I dinna need you, Maura,” she said sweetly. “I just canna find my emerald green gown. Do you ken what became of it?”
Maura’s eyes danced. “Have ya checked Lady Brianna’s room? She’s had her eye on that dress for some time.”
Groaning, Katie selected a blue gown. Maura came over and started lacing Katie up tight when she slipped it on. The fitted garment hugged her curves and dipped low in the bodice to show the swell of her breasts. Beaded with pearls, it shimmered when she walked.
“Who do ya dress for, Lady Katherine?”
“Must you always call me by full name every time you suspect some other reason for my actions? You ken I go by Katie.”
“Aye, lass.” Looking Katie up and down Maura shook her head. “Too beautiful fer yer own good. You’re the image of yer mother.”
Putting her arm around the servant, Katie smiled. “You still miss her, don’t you?”
“Aye. And you bein’ so like her, I feel like she is reborn.”
“I’ll take that as a high compliment. I ken you were her attendant from the day she came to marry my father.”
Maura still assessed Katie. “Ya play with fire if ya tempt Laird Rannoch. He watches ya all the time. Up to no good that one.”
Letting out her breath in a huff, Katie wagged her finger at Maura. “Dinna call him laird, he isna laird here. He is only in charge for a brief time until father is well.”
The older woman shook her head. “Are ya lookin’ close at yer father, lass? I canna believe he will last much longer.”
Pulling herself as straight as she could, Katie smoothed her dress. “Sorcha is changing his medicine. There is still hope.”
“And ya go to entice Rannoch and so he will bend to yer wishes?”
Katie started to speak then just spluttered. “How do you always ken what I am about?”
“Ya dinna dress for any man unless ya have a purpose, lass. Ya are much stronger than yer mother. She was fine lady, but none of yer grit. So tell me, what are ya up to?”
“I need a favor from Rannoch. He will be more persuaded if I look pleasing.”
Maura laughed. “’Truth be told, I dinna think ‘tis possible fer ya not to look pleasin’.”
Rolling her eyes, Katie checked her appearance one last time. She hoped he would be distracted and give her more information than he intended. “Where is Rannoch?”
“In the great hall, Milady. I’ll draw yer bath later and have it nice and warm fer ya.”
Katie smiled. “I shall need one to wash off the residue of Rannoch.”
“Have a care.”
“I will,” she murmured as she exited her chamber and headed toward the great hall of Duntaigh Castle.
Her thoughts flew to Ian. Had Laird Innes started to search for his son yet? She had not ransomed her captive or bargained for a cease of hostilities. What if Ian told the truth and Rannoch started the skirmishes by stealing livestock and attacking villages? What would be his motive? It struck her then that the Scottish king would be much more likely to grant Rannoch’s petition to marry her in the midst of warring clans. Was this, too, part of his plot? And now what did she do with Ian Innes?
Katie reached the door to the massive chamber. As she went to enter, several servants came by her in a hurry. “What is it?” Katie asked.
“Laird Rannoch asked us to leave,” one said as they hurried by.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door and entered. The pungent smell of burning peat hit her in the face. Brianna sat fawning over Rannoch at a table in the front of the huge, two-story chamber. They were near the fire. He looked up startled when Katie interrupted them. It appeared Rowan Rannoch was about to kiss her sister. When he saw Katie, he stood with a quick, short bow.
Brianna pushed back in her chair with a sharp exhale. She wore Katie’s emerald green gown, which somehow had slipped off her shoulder.
“Lady Katherine,” Rannoch said formally. “A pleasure to see you.”
“You ken I prefer Katie,” she snapped.
“Aye, so,” Rannoch agreed with a hint of amusement. “Lady Katie,” he corrected.
It occurred to Katie he thought her jealous of her sister. How could Brianna be so stupid? The man was a monster, but then Brianna didn’t know about Rannoch’s plot. Probably best she interrupted them or who knows what foul thing might have occurred between her smitten, spoiled sister and the man trying to kill their father and steal their lands.
“Brianna, could you leave us please?” Katie asked. Her sister’s face grew bright red. Brianna didn’t challenge Katie’s authority in front of Rannoch. Standing, she flew past Katie and headed for the door. “Brianna, dinna borrow my gown again without asking,” Katie reprimanded.
The door to the chamber slammed with a resounding echo. Returning her attention to Rannoch, Katie smiled sweetly. “Milord, Brianna is smitten with you. I wilna have you take advantage of her youth and innocence.” Launching a full on assault, Katie moved closer to the man she now hated with a vengeance. “You tell me you wish to take me for your wife and a day later I find you ready to deflower my sister in the great hall of Duntaigh Castle. What am I to make of this, Milord? Perchance I need to send my own missive to Robert the Bruce and request your replacement as our ward.”
Rannoch’s eyes moved over her in cunning assessment. “You didna care to hear about my plans yesterday. I thought a more willing sister might best suit my purpose.”
“And what purpose is that, Milord?” she asked.
“I already told you, Milady. I seek to protect your family through a marriage that will ensure I rule until your father recovers or Jamie is of an age to take over.”
“Aye, so you said. Apparently you dinna care which sister.” She met his gaze. “Brianna is too young for such a union.”
“She seems ripe to me,” he said with a slow smile. “Your father protected all of you from the ways of the world, kings and princesses promised and given at tender ages. Alliances made in the marriage bed every day. If you are lucky, the arrangement pleases you.” He moved closer to her. “If you are not, you suffer until you die.”
It seemed more like a threat than a casual observation. “I am sure you are right, Milord
,” she managed. Turning from his heated perusal, she exhaled and tried to calm her pulse. He came up close behind her. She felt his presence.
“What do you want, Lady Katherine?” he asked.
Wheeling around, she lost her temper. “I want to know where you sent Keith. I have need of him and I canna find him.”
He stood his ground ogling her with his dark gray eyes. “Another camping trip?”
“Nay, Milord, I just need to speak with him.”
Reaching over, he ran his hand lightly across her hair. Katie fought to keep from gagging. All she could see in her mind’s eye were the disgusting things he did with Sorcha.
“Keith wilna be back for some time. I sent him to speak with Laird Innes about the raids.”
“Alone? But, Milord, they may kill him.”
“We will see.” He smiled and ran his finger under her chin, forcing her to look up into his eyes. “This displeases you.”
“Aye, so. I wouldna have us lose someone of such loyalty on a fool’s errand.”
“He is loyal. I’ll give him that. He wouldna tell me where the two of you really were.”
“Now you question my word, Milord?”
“Aye, sweet Katie, because you dinna lie very well.”
“I am not a liar.” Turning on her heel, Katie headed for the door.
“You wilna escape me, Katie,” he threatened. “I will have you and your besotted sister.”
Trying to control the tremor that swept through her, she hurried into the hallway. She could hear Rannoch’s footsteps behind her then he turned down the other passage vanishing into the darkened corridor.
Katie made it back to her chamber to find Brianna waiting. Her sister paced back and forth in front of the fire. She turned on Katie as soon as she walked into the room.
“You dinna want him yourself. Why do you care if he and I find a spark?” Brianna asked.
“He is not the man you think he is. I saw him with Sorcha. They are lovers.”
“You lie.”
“’Tis not a lie. He petitioned Robert the Bruce to marry me, but ‘twas not a request born of desire. ‘Twould give him control of our lands. He doesna care about either of us, only about securing his rights to Duntaigh Castle.”
“Perchance you err about which sister he asked for,” Brianna said. “He shows interest in me and now you lie to keep me from him.”
“You canna trust him, Brianna.”
“Rannoch helped us in our time of need. Now you make him out to be the villain, but he is not. He’s strong and brave. He defends us against our enemies. All men have lovers. That doesna mean they dinna crave a wife of proper station.”
The fire in her sister’s eyes when she spoke Rannoch’s name told the whole tale. Katie could not trust Brianna with the knowledge of the poisoning, at least not yet. “You almost let him take you in the great hall,” Katie accused.
Brianna opened her mouth to protest then stopped short.
“Would you deny it? I saw the look in your eye. You desired him.”
“So what if I did? He would make me his wife.”
“Is that what he told you?”
“He didna tell me anything except how beautiful I was. He wants me.”
“Any man would want you. You are young and lovely, but you are very innocent. His ambition knows no bounds.”
“You dinna wish to marry him. Why shouldn’t I have him?”
Katie grabbed Brianna. “When he and Sorcha were together, he did things to her. He strapped her to a table. Brianna, he hurt her. He did it on purpose.”
Brianna pushed Katie out of her face. “You saw this?”
“Aye. I went to the chamber beside his, the one with the spy hole. I saw it all.”
“Sorcha is just a whore. A wife would be different.” Brianna glared at Katie.
“What passed between you in the great hall?” Katie asked, almost afraid of what her sister would answer.
Brianna eyed Katie defiantly. “I let him slip his fingers inside my dress. He stroked my breast.” Brianna closed her eyes. “I enjoyed it. I wanted him to take me. He saw I was willing and sent the servants out. I would have been his if you had come later.”
“I saved you. Even though, you didna want to be saved.”
“I want to be his wife. I think he would make a fine husband.”
“Brianna, he is evil.”
“I dinna believe it. Unless you have proof, I intend to let him ken I am still willing to be his.” Pushing past Katie, Brianna left the chamber. She slammed the door on her way out.
Katie drew a deep breath. “Zounds,” she muttered. Should she have told Brianna about the poisoning? She knew the answer. To do that might warn Rannoch because her sister desired him above all else. Brianna played with fire. Until she saw Rannoch’s true colors, Katie could not confide in her.
Footfalls in the passageway brought Ian to attention. Had she come back to release him? He saw a dim light coming toward him, but the face which presented itself at the door to his prison was not the one he expected. A young girl in fine clothes stood staring at him through the barred door. Her white-blond hair and blue-violet eyes made her seem ghostly in the dim light. Was he imagining her?
“You are the one,” his apparition said softly.
“Lass, what is your name?”
“I am Tessa, daughter of the protector of Duntaigh Castle and Rannoch Moor, Laird Brian Blackburn.”
“Katie’s sister?”
“Aye, so. And you are Ian Innes.” She smiled at him. “I saw you in my mind’s eye and had to come.” Tessa grabbed the keys to his cell from the wall beyond the doorway.
“Mind’s eye?”
“‘Tis my view into the future,” she responded.
Could this child have Asilinn’s gift? Ian’s sister Asilinn had foresight through dreams and visions. It served the family well over the years except when it almost got Asilinn burned at the stake for witchcraft. “Are you going to free me, Tessa?”
“Aye, I have seen your role in what is about to occur. I ken Rannoch and Sorcha are poisoning father. We need your help.”
“Does Katie know you are here?”
“Nay, Milord. My predictions upset my family. I have learned to keep them to myself more often than not.” Tessa struggled with the lock to the outer door for a minute before she succeeded in getting it open. She rushed forward and handed him the keys to his manacles and leg irons, holding her torch high so he could see to unlock them.
Free at last, Ian turned to his rescuer. “Thank you, Tessa.”
“I count on you to stay and help us now you’re free,” she stated matter-of-factly. “I ken you care for Katie.”
“I do.”
She smiled again. “All of us are in grave danger. You are our only hope.” Smoothing her purple velvet gown, she looked at him expectantly. “Will you help us?”
“Aye, in happier times, my father and yours were good friends. What I have discovered since my imprisonment explains much about the current unrest.”
Satisfied with his response, his young rescuer handed him a long cloak with a hood. “Put this on and cover yourself well. If we encounter any guards, do not speak. Do you understand?”
Ian nodded.
She motioned for him to follow her. When he walked closer to Tessa, her nose wrinkled in disgust. “Milord, you stink. I think a bath is in order. ‘Tis not becoming for a man of your stature to smell so. Blood and grime coat your body.”
“I have been in the dungeon for some time.”
She grinned. “Aye, my sister’s doing.”
“I must hide until I devise a plan.”
Tessa nodded. “The family chambers are all together in a separate wing of the castle. The greatest danger is close to my father’s room. Rannoch and his healer are in and out of there constantly. My chamber and those of my siblings occupy a section removed from the immediate area. I will take you there so you can get cleaned up, partake of some refreshment, and decide on a plan.”
“Thank you, Milady,” Ian said. “I am in your debt. I wilna disappoint you.” He bowed low and kissed Tessa’s hand.
She giggled. “Tessa is fine. Come, Milord.”
“Ian will do nicely.”
“Now we are friends.”
Ian nodded. “Of course.”
“Perchance when things settle down I could speak with Lady Asilinn. I think she could lend some wisdom about my special gifts.” Tessa grinned at his expression. “I would ken of Asilinn without my gift. She is legendary.”
“That she is.” Ian wondered if his family knew of his predicament. A wave of relief washed over him as he walked through the door to his prison. Now he could help the Blackburns rout Rannoch and his clansmen. No small task without knowing whom to trust.
Tessa stopped part way up the passage. “We are almost to the main dungeon. Once we enter, we are more at risk. Put your hood up and keep your eyes on the floor.” Tessa led him through several cell blocks.
“No guards?”
“No prisoners at the moment. This worked in Katie’s favor.”
“Aye, so,” Ian agreed.
At length they reached a staircase. Stone steps led ever upward into the more civilized world above the dank and dirty dungeon. The upper floors were a maze of wide hallways and spacious chambers. Every room had fine furnishings, rich wood pieces, and tapestries. Things looked well kept.
Rounding a corner, Ian saw two guards coming down the hallway ahead of them. “Eyes down,” Tessa whispered. Ian complied.
As they grew closer to the men, his young companion called out to them cheerfully. “Good evening,” she said.
“Lady Tessa,” one man responded. “Who is your companion?”
Ian tensed. He had no weapons. Still he thought he might be able to best these two if they did not raise the alarm.
“The bishop sent this monk to pray for father at the behest of our rightful king, Sir Robert the Bruce. The monk canna speak.” She made a gesture in the air and rolled her eyes. “They cut out his tongue. Laird Rannoch charged me with finding him a small chamber near father’s room so he can begin his prayer vigil.”
Highland Legends 04 - Captive Highlander Page 7