AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Come. The lake is along here. ’Tis but a short stroll.”
Lady Mary led the way, and Katherine fell in behind her, grateful that the awkward introductions were concluded. She was flanked by the ladies Joan and Elisabeth. The conversation was sporadic and mainly concerned the various flowers and shrubs, with the occasional pointed query regarding Katherine’s English lineage.
Elisabeth had little to say, and Katherine could not mistake the animosity emanating from the young woman. She could only assume that whatever Robbie might think, there were still those in Scotland who resented the presence of an English countess among them.
Well, I cannot help that.
Katherine squared her shoulders and determined to make the best of it. After all, she had been welcomed personally by the king himself and would not be in Edinburgh for long.
“Oh, how pretty,” Katherine exclaimed when they rounded the final bend in the path and the lake glistened before them. “And there is even a summerhouse.”
The surface of the water reflected the afternoon sun. Water lilies were in flower, displaying a delicate tapestry of orange, yellow, and purple, and a pair of swans made their sedate way over the dappled wavelets. It really was exceptionally picturesque.
“The sun does seem uncommonly warm just now. Perhaps we might take a brief respite in the summerhouse.” Lady Mary was already shepherding her little flock of ladies in that direction.
Despite actually quite enjoying the clement weather, Katherine felt obliged to follow.
“Is there someone already there?” Katherine was certain she detected a slight movement through the narrow window of the wooden structure. “Perhaps we should not disturb them.”
“Nonsense,” Lady Mary insisted. “There is no one else about.” She paused to fan herself vigorously as though to emphasise the need to move into the shade with all haste, then marched up to the door and opened it. “Come, it is much cooler within.”
Again, Katherine felt she had no option but to follow the woman, but she was determined she would only remain for a few minutes, just until Lady Mary felt sufficiently restored and ready to venture forth once more. She stepped into the dim confines to the summerhouse then stopped dead in her tracks.
It was indeed occupied.
Katherine took in the two bearded, weathered faces, one of them wearing unfamiliar and distinctly grubby tartan but the other…
The purples, yellow and greens of the MacKinnon plaid were unmistakeable, though she did not recognise the vicious features of the man who towered before her brandishing a menacing sword not an inch from her nose. She had never seen this individual before, she was quite sure of that, but she was equally certain that he was of Robbie’s clan.
Why are these men here? What do they mean to do with us?
She opened her mouth to scream but the cry died in her throat when both men advanced upon her and Lady Mary.
“Right, she is here, as agreed.” Lady Mary sent a disdainful sneer Katherine’s way. “Now, get on with it.”
Struck dumb in amazement, Katherine could only gape at her companion.
“What…? What are you saying?” She backed away, but the door slammed shut behind her, closed from the outside. Katherine spun around to grab at the handle.
“We’ll be ‘avin’ nae fuss from ye,” the unknown MacKinnon growled, “unless ye want me tae slice yer gizzards open right ’ere.” He lifted his sword a fraction higher to ensure she took his meaning.
“There, I have fulfilled my part of the bargain. I shall leave her to you now.” Lady Mary, who appeared conspicuously unsurprised to find these villainous-looking characters hiding in the summerhouse, turned to go.
“But I thought…” Katherine clutched at her companion’s sleeve, bewildered. “My lady, you cannot mean to—”
Lady Mary wrenched her arm free. “Some of us have longer memories than that daft boy on the throne. My niece should ha’ been the next countess of Roxburghe, an’ when she was taken, another of our kin should have been chosen instead. It was all agreed, an’ we Douglases shall not stand for an English bitch usurping our position.” She shouldered Katherine to one side, grabbed the door handle herself, and pushed. “’Tis me,” she called. “Let me out.”
The door opened, and the woman slipped outside. Retreating footsteps could be heard, fading quickly, as the three ladies hurried away.
This is a trap. They lured me here on purpose…
Bewildered by the venomous outburst but driven by a strong instinct for self-preservation, Katherine made another desperate grab for the door handle. She was seized from behind before she could reach it. The man who wrapped his beefy arms around her made no attempt to be gentle. She found herself lifted off her feet and hurled bodily across the summerhouse to land on the bench set against the far wall. She lay sprawled across the seat, her head throbbing from having bounced her skull on the timber structure. Stunned and terrified, she tried to scramble to her feet.
“Bind ’er. An’ be quick, afore someone comes lookin’ fer ’er.”
Katherine dragged in a breath, sufficient to let out a scream, but the sound froze in her throat when the man wearing the MacKinnon plaid produced his dirk and placed the point at her neck.
“Now, I did say what would ’appen if ye made a fuss. Ye dinnae want tae do that, do ye?”
