Her mother gave an unladylike snort. "You live in a dream world, Catriona! If you were a woman grown, as you claim, you would know the MacPeter is one of the most prominent and wealthy chiefs in these parts. A highly sought-after husband."
Cat cringed. "If you admire him so much, you marry him."
"Cease your silliness. He wants a young bride, as I told you before. He needs an heir."
"Why wouldn't you want me to have a kind husband who will treat me well—the way Da treated you."
"I've seen no evidence Chief MacPeter is unkind."
"Well, I have. He is vile and brutal. All the men who know him will tell you 'tis so."
A loud commotion erupted in the courtyard. Had Torr and the men returned already? Cat ran to the corner window and looked out. She could not believe her eyes.
MacPeter.
"Oh, saints preserve us," she gasped. Her stomach clenched with nausea. How could she get word to Torr that the beast and his clan had arrived?
"What is it?" Her mother joined her at the window. "Oh, he is returned?" Her mother's eyes widened... with excitement or fear, Cat could not tell.
"Where has he been?" Cat asked.
"I have no inkling." Her mother blinked a bit too innocently.
A cold pang of fear slammed into Cat. "Did you send someone after him when I returned?"
"Now, why would you think such a thing, sweeting?" The faux innocent tone was a new ploy for her mother and a dead giveaway.
Cat's nausea intensified. She'd had no idea her mother hated her so much. "You did. You would go to any length to leg-shackle me to him and destroy my life. Why do you hate me?"
"Nonsense. I love you. You're overreacting yet again, darling. I had no idea he would return."
"Why did the guards allow him entrance so easily?"
"He is an ally. In the Highlands, we would never lock out our allies."
Everything in Cat rebelled at that. "He is my foremost enemy!"
"Stop it, child. And freshen up. Change clothes, for these are muddy. He will want to sit beside you at supper." Her mother hurried from the chamber to greet the filthy swine she admired so much.
Cat was not eating supper anywhere near him. She was too nauseous to eat a bite anyway. Ma had betrayed her. Well, in truth her mother had always been on MacPeter's side. When had she stopped loving Cat and started plotting the most miserable life possible for her?
Blast it! Cat wasn't a child, and she wouldn't hide like one. She would gather her courage and confront the beast head-on. If she convinced him to leave before Torr returned, there would be no battle or bloodshed.
She washed her face but decided not to change her mud-spattered clothes. Hoping MacPeter would find her completely unappealing, she left her hair in the messy bun.
When she descended the stairs and cautiously entered the great hall, her mother presided over the maids serving tankards of ale to the MacPeter clansmen. Their disgusting leader turned his head, and his glower landed on Cat. She hoped he found her as repulsive as she found him.
"You'd best be glad you returned, lass," he growled forcefully, his scowl dark with fury.
Silence descended over their immediate area of the great hall, and all eyes locked on her.
A chill passed through her. "I came back to help my brother. Not for you."
MacPeter's eyes narrowed. "You were promised to me as a bride, and I intend to collect."
Waves of revulsion radiated through her. "I cannot marry you."
"You can, and you will!" he pronounced through clenched teeth.
