All in all, the space appeared to be arranged with the comfort of its occupant prioritized above all else.
She supposed that was the sort of thing most people would have taken for granted. However, in the McGregor home,function was paramount, with comfort far behind. Beds and chairs were hard and stiff, the better to harden the sensibilities of those who used them. That was what Laird Angus had always insisted upon; the better to raise children who would not expect the world to be soft and welcoming to them.
Children who had been taught to disregard pain or discomfort. Children who would be able to stoically endure, no matter what challenges they encountered.
The sort of children Laird Angus would have been proud of.
Aye, and perhaps he was able to mold one of his offspring accordingly, in the form of Romilly, Katherine thought mournfully as she reclined on the bed. She could never live up to those sorts of rigid standards. However, they were both prisoners of the Oliphants despite all of their father’s hard lessons and harsh treatment.
Though her situation was certainly more appealing than Romilly’s at the moment.
What would her sister look like when Katherine finally got to see her, she wondered? Her own dark visions and nightmares during the previous weeks had conjured forms of a filthy, crazed, skeletal Romilly, with half her hair fallen out and her teeth likewise due to malnutrition. A madwoman who had been a feast for rats, and other foul beasts that crawled and slithered. Perhaps there would be matted blood on her hair and skin from having hurled herself against the stone walls and iron bars in a frenzy.
And would the Oliphants bring healers to her, to tend to these wounds and conditions?
Before, she would have assumed the answer to be no. Now that she had spent some time with Bryan, she was not nearly so sure.
Although her movements were being monitored, the fact remained that she could leave her room if she desired. Shecould visit the library again, or perhaps familiarize with Castle Oliphant a bit more. She might even be allowed to wander its farms and villages a bit, as long as she was accompanied by Bryan Black.
Therefore, it is fair to say that I enjoy more freedom in my “captivity” here than I could often claim within my own home.
The emotions that came with that notion were somewhat confusing. There was plenty of sadness, certainly, at the realization that an enemy was willing to treat her more fairly, and demonstrate more trust in her, than her mother and father had been. Had this truly been how she was raised? And her sister as well? No wonder things had come to such a pass for both of them, having been spawned from such a pernicious household.
And yet…
Now that there was so much distance from that home, perspective came with it. She was seeing her own homeland and upbringing in a way she’d never been allowed to before. She had been raised to view all other clans as inferior to the McGregors in every way, and as potential enemies as well.
Here she was, in this pleasant place, full of happy clansmen who were led by a man who seemed to manage being strong with being fair; being loved and respected as well. A laird who ruled without relying on cruelty and intimidation, from the look of it. A laird whose agents were genuinely loyal to him, instead of merely in terror of the punishments he might choose to mete out.
Might she find this to be a more suitable home for her? Might she choose to assist the Oliphants, and thus prevent some needless war between them and her own people?
For such a war would be needless, of that she was certain.
She rose from the bed and went to the window, leaning out so that she might get a better view of the people in the towns a short-distance away. They seemed happy and healthyas they went about their business—not oppressed, not starving, not cursing the McGregors or dreaming up foul plots to conquer them or steal what was theirs.
If her father would simply cease his scheming against them, then Katherine was certain the Oliphants in turn would never cause the McGregors any harm at all. They could coexist without bloodshed.
And once that had been established and agreed upon, Romilly could be freed from the dungeons.
Is there anything at all that I might do to bring about such a favorable outcome?she asked herself.Is there any knowledge I possess, any valuable information I might pass along to the Oliphants, to aid them in preventing combat between our clans?
She hoped so.
But given how her father had largely shut her out of his plans, she wasn’t so sure.
8
Adeep and dreamless sleep overtook Katherine, and when the sound of a knock at the door woke her, she felt oddly refreshed, even if it took her a few moments to remember where she was. The rays of dappled sunlight that came in through the window were more crimson than they had been earlier, and they had changed position as well, indicating that several hours had passed and it was now late afternoon.
Another knock, more insistent, this time, and she suddenly recalled her situation and knew that she had better answer at once to prevent the person at the door from assuming she had attempted escape after all. “Aye?”
The door creaked open and Bryan peered in. “I didnae mean tae disturb ye. Were ye able tae get some rest?”
“Indeed I was.” Katherine realized that she was still lying in bed—an improper way for a lady to greet a male visitor. She sat up sharply, clutching the bedclothes around her. “That is, er, it seems I got a bit too much rest! I ought tae be up, and making myself more presentable!”
His eyes surveyed her reflexively, and then he lowered them, grinning sheepishly. “If ye say so, Lady Katherine, though forwhat it’s worth, ye look more than presentable tae me.” He caught himself, and cleared his throat uncomfortably. “What I mean tae say is, where we’re going, yer personal grooming will nae exactly be judged too harshly. If ye still wish tae see yer sister?”
“Oh, aye, I do!” Katherine rose from the bed and smoothed out her dress eagerly. “And ye are right, I dinnae need tae waste another moment fussing over my clothes and such, when those are moments I could be spending with her.” She quickly put an arisaid over her shoulders.
