Page 61 of The Cursed Highland Bride

“He will ken that she is here, and he will come for her. I saw the love that he bears for her in his eyes.”

“My laird,” the messenger called up to him once more. “What do ye wish for us tae do with the lassies?”

“Leave them where they are. He will never find them. He will believe them tae be here, and he will nae stop until he has seen for himself that they are nae here. By then, he will be dead.”

“How do ye wish for them tae be treated?”

“Keep them alive for now. When I am done with them, ye may do as ye wish.”

“Aye, my laird.” The messenger grinned and nodded in confirmation. He turned his horse back around and rode out of the castle gates from whence he had come.

Alistair turned his eyes back toward the north, smiling at his good fortune. A fluttering of color in a window of the castle caught his eye. He turned his head to find his daughter standing in the opening looking out at the wounded being treated in the courtyard below. Alistair’s smile faded when he saw the look in her eyes. He saw sorrow, anger, and something else that he could not quite identify. He had not meant for her to see it, but it was a challenge to get her to stay in her room and never learn of the chaos outside.

Sighing, he descended the stairs and entered the great hall. Climbing another set of stairs, he walked the length of the corridor to his daughter’s bedchamber. He was not certain how much she had heard of what he had said, but he hoped that she had not heard any of it. “Katherine,” he called through the wooden door as he tried the latch. The door swung open, and his daughter turned to meet his eyes.

“Faither, what have ye done?”

Alistair crossed over the threshold and came to stand beside her at the window. “Dunn Leòideach did this.”

“Faither, I am nae blind. I see that ye are prepared for war. Men are bleeding in the courtyard. Women are wailing for those that did nae return. Did the Laird o’ Leòideach discover yer deception? Is this his retribution?”

Alistair considered the possibility of Dunn having learned the truth and weighed the likelihood of him coming after his wife if he knew the truth about her identity. Will he come for a Romani whore? For the first time, he doubted his plan.

“I dinnae ken whether he has discovered the truth or nae. He was attacked by a band o’ Romani and wounded. He returned tae Orkney. His man Bran delivered word tae me o’ what had happened, and I sent men tae offer our aid against this new enemy. Instead o’ taking my help, he attacked my men. I’m simply preparing tae defend myself against his unwarranted aggression.” He told the lie as easily as if it were the truth. He had been lying to her for years and had long since stopped feeling guilty for it. He studied her face to see if she believed him.

“Then it is a misunderstanding.” She reached out a hand to him, and he took it. “Can ye nae explain tae him that ye were nae attacking him but were there tae offer him aid?”

“It is too late for that. Blood has been shed.”

“Why would he attack ye if he believed ye tae be the faither o’ his bride?”

“He is the Viking beast o’ the Orkneys. He has nae honor.”

Katherine’s frown deepened. “I have heard him tae be a fierce warrior, a dangerous man, but a lack o’ honor was never mentioned.”

“Ye are a lass, my dear. Certain things are nae discussed in yer presence, and ye are tae be protected from such bloodshed and dishonorable acts.”

A light of rebellion sparked in her green eyes, but she bit her lip and said nothing. He had raised her to honor her father and not to argue with him about things beyond her understanding. Since returning from the nunnery, she had shown an intelligence that was oftentimes inconvenient. He was proud of her, but he would have preferred for her to remain the demure obedient child that he had raised. Her mother had had spirit. It had caused strife between them in their marriage, but he had loved her. As she stood before him now, he was once again reminded of the similarities his daughter had with her.

“The woman who took my place…” She paused to choose her words carefully. “Will ye take care o’ her if ye kill her husband? She has rendered us a great service and deserves tae be protected.”

“As long as his people believe her tae be his true wife, they will care for her as one o’ their own, as their laird’s widow.”

“Will they? If their laird is without honor as ye say, will they nae be glad tae rid themselves o’ him and his family? Even if they are loyal tae their laird in mind and heart, will they nae blame her as the believed daughter o’ their enemy who has killed their laird? She will need our help, Faither. She will be left there, alone and hated.”

Alistair stepped closer and laid his hand upon her cheek in affection. “Ye have a tender heart, just as yer maither did. We will do what we can for the lass, but I will nae have yer life risked in the doing o’ it. The king still believes that we honored his wishes. He believes that the wife o’ the Laird o’ Leòideach is the beautiful Lady Katherine Morgan. Were he tae discover the truth, we would all be at risk.”

“Promise me that ye will do what ye can for her.”

“I will. I promise. I will see tae her fate myself.”

Smiling, Katherine stepped up on her toes and kissed his cheek. “I will aid the other women in the care o’ the wounded.”

“When Leòideach comes, ye will hide. I will nae have ye at risk tae save any life.”

She opened her mouth to argue but, seeing the look on his face, thought better of it. “Aye, Faither. I will do as ye ask.”

“Good lass. I will come for ye when the battle is over.”