Catherine and Catriona stood together, their husbands at their backs. They looked at one another, neither sure what to do. Catherine spoke first. “I wish to cast one stone. Just to ken that I did to reassure maself that I didna turn ma back on ma aunt and ma cousins.”
“I’m the same. I have been angry with that mon for most of ma life. I think I would feel better for it, but I dinna need to watch that kind of slow death.”
“Neither of ye have to,” Andrew Óg said. “We’ll take ye inside as soon as ye’re ready.”
“Dinna ye have to stay out here?” Catriona asked.
“Nay.” Rab shook his head. “Our clans will mete out his punishment. Neither Óg nor I am tasked with it. Our greater concern is for our wives.”
Rab and Andrew exchanged a look over the women’s heads. Neither wanted their wives in the crowd, knowing how volatile public executions could become. They knew both women were aware since they’d each witnessed them during their tenure at Stirling Court, but they’d never participated in one. Andrew led them to where a pile of stones lay beside a stretch of inner wall that was being repaired. They each found a stone and made their way back to the crowd. They watched as people used their clothing to carry their rock selections. Maxwell shifted nervously as he tried to watch everyone. It wasn’t long before the crowd encircled him. He opened his mouth, “Heavenly Father—”
“Keep yer prayers for God’s ears only. Nay one wants to hear them,” Caelan snapped. He tossed a rock in his hand, pretending to weigh it and test his hold.
“Maxwell Douglas, ye are sentenced to death for the deaths of each MacFarlane and MacLaren who died during the feud ye caused. Ye will die with the same lack of mercy ye showed those ye ordered killed. May God have mercy on yer soul because we willna.” Andrew Mòr decreed before nodding his head. The first wave of rocks pelted Maxwell, knocking him to his knees. Catherine and Catriona threw theirs, striking him in the head. Rab and Andrew Óg followed suit, Rab’s striking Maxwell’s left cheekbone while Óg’s struck Maxwell’s left temple. The men shielded the women as they pushed through the gathering, steering the women into the keep. Catherine looked around, shocked to find the Great Hall empty until she realized everyone was in the bailey.
“I canna summon a bath for ye, Catriona, until the servants return.” Catherine frowned, thinking about how much she wished to enjoy a bath too.
“We will bring the tubs up and the hot water,” Andrew Óg offered. “Cat, I’ll take ye to our chamber.”
“I’ll take ye to ours,” Catherine said as she took Rab’s hand. The two couples moved abovestairs in silence, all four lost in their own thoughts. It wasn’t long before Andrew and Rab brought tubs to each chamber and then buckets of hot water to their wives. The water was cold in each tub by the time the couples climbed out of their respective baths. Both pairs of newlyweds drowned out the sounds from the bailey by creating melodies of bliss in their own chambers.
Chapter 20
Catherine swept her gaze over the MacLarens who’d rushed into the bailey when the bells tolled, announcing their laird’s and tánaiste’s return. They stared, mouths agog, as the MacFarlanes followed the MacLarens within Edinample’s barmekin. Lady Nessa MacLaren hurried down the steps, headed toward her husband, her arms outstretched, until she recognized Catherine. With a squeal, she veered toward Catherine and Timber. Catherine tossed her leg over her saddle and slid to the ground, engulfed immediately in Nessa’s embrace.
“Catherine, sweet lass,” Nessa whispered.
“Nessa,” Catherine breathed, as she returned the embrace. She found the same comfort in her mother’s-by-marriage embrace as she had in her own mother’s and her Aunt Aveline’s. She clung to the woman, finding strength she hadn’t realized she lacked. She shifted when she felt Nessa release one arm, then Rab pressed against her back.
“Mama,” Rab said, before kissing Nessa’s cheek. “Kitty and I—”
Nessa squealed again as she pulled the couple in for another embrace. “Do I have another daughter?”
“Another?” Rab and Catherine asked. They pulled away and found Douglan and a dark-haired woman with a rounded belly watching them. Catherine’s belly clenched as she came face-to-face with the woman who’d shared her bed with Rab for two years, the woman who’d thought to trap Rab into marrying her. From Rab’s stillness, Catherine could tell he didn’t know what to do either. When his arm slid around her waist and drew her to his side, almost as though he intended to shield her, she glanced up at him. She expected to find him watching Douglan and his former leman, but Rab fixed his attention on her.
“Ye dinna need to meet now if ye dinna wish,” Rab whispered. He tilted his head an inch toward where his mother and father stood talking to both Andrews and Catriona, knowing they were being watched.
“Better now than drawing this out.” Catherine swallowed as she pressed her lips together.
“Lady Catherine.” Douglan stepped forward with a clearly uncomfortable bride at his side. “Rab.”
“Douglan,” Catherine said with a forced smile. They’d talked little while they were at Inveruglas since she and Rab spent most of their time in her old chamber. She finally met Katherine’s gaze, and she felt a moment of pity for the woman. She watched how Katherine watched Rab, watched the realization sweep over her when the former leman heard the shared name. Catherine didn’t perceive any anger, regret, or love. Just shock. She watched as her could-be rival turned toward Douglan and rested her head against his shoulder. Douglan wrapped his arm around the woman’s shoulders.
“Kitty,” Rab started but was unsure how to proceed.
“Aye,” Catherine breathed, steeling herself to say more. “Katherine, it’s nice to meet ye. I see I come as much of a surprise to ye as learning aboot ye came to me. But I also see that ye and Douglan are clearly a couple nay longer in hiding. I wish ye happy.”
Katherine blinked several times before dipping into a curtsy. “Thank ye. I—I—” She glanced helplessly up at Douglan. “I’m sorry. We’re sorry.”
“Brother,” Douglan said and waited.
“Mayhap we can take this inside, since people are staring,” Catherine suggested. The two couples walked up the keep stairs, aware the entire clan watched them, and the MacFarlane entourage was curious. Catherine wished she were still embracing Nessa, preferring to catch up with her mother-by-marriage than have the most awkward conversation with her brother- and sister-by-marriage. They went to Caelan’s solar, where Rab shut the door behind them.
“Douglan, I’m nae angry at ye or Katherine. I wasna vera honorable with Katherine, even if I thought I wasna doing any harm.” Rab studied his brother and his former mistress. He felt nothing toward the woman, and his brother only mildly irritated him. The overwhelming feeling was still relief. “It’s clear that ye love each other. And it’s never been a secret how I feel aboot Kitty. The Lord has seen fit to put the right couples together.”
“But can ye forgive us for lying to ye? For me trying to trap ye?” Katherine blurted.
Rab glanced down at Catherine, realizing she wasn’t as prepared to forgive and move on as he was. “I am because I’m married to the right woman. Can ye forgive me for using ye?”
