Katherine dismounted, her brown hair blowing gently in the breeze as she gazed at Romilly quizzically. “They are good people,” she retorted, “and besides, what business is it of yers? My activities do ye no harm.”
“They harm our entire family,” her sister snapped, “for we are rulers, and not meant tae consort with a pack of lowborn ninnies! Because of ye, our people take us less seriously than they ought tae. Teaching them tae sew dresses and weave rugs will nae help our clan win battles or gain power!”
“There is more to life than such pursuits,” Katherine told her quietly. “Far more. I pity ye, that ye do not see it.”
“And I pity ye, that ye would prefer tae behave as a servant lass than a proper lady! Ye must learn yer place, Katherine! Ye must do more tae serve yer family!”
“My ‘family’ barely acknowledges my existence most days,” Katherine informed her archly. “Yerself included.”
To her surprise, Romilly’s face softened somewhat.
“‘Tis because we know ye have no interest in our affairs. But if that changed, if ye demonstrated that ye were willing tae take a more active role in things, then ye would be included. Sister, I know ye believe I dinnae care about ye, but I assure ye, nothing could be further from the truth. If I appear harsh, ‘tis only because I dinnae wish tae see ye follow the wrong path in life.”
“I know,” Katherine conceded. “I simply wish ye didnae feel the need tae be so bloody spiteful about it.”
She knew the words had been a mistake as soon as they left her mouth, but it was too late to take them back.
Romilly’s expression hardened again. Katherine was struck—not for the first time—by the similarities in their brown eyes, and by the differences as well; for although they were the same color, Romilly’s always seemed darker somehow, as though shadows perpetually clung to their edges.
“Spiteful, am I? Very well, do as ye please, and tae the devil with ye!” With that, she turned and stalked away.
Katherine sighed. For the briefest of moments, it seemed to her as though she might have her sister back. But then the moment vanished like a snowflake in the palm of her hand, and now she felt more alone than ever.
Later that evening, she joined the rest of the family for supper. It was one of the rare occasions when their mother chose to venture from her chamber, and so she felt it would beappropriate for her to attend as well, even though she had no appetite and was—as usual—largely ignored by the others.
As she picked at her supper, though, she slowly noticed that her father was watching her. She met his gaze, raising an eyebrow.
“Do ye intend tae starve yerself, is that it?” he growled.
“Mayhap I do,” Katherine shot back. She did her best to keep her expression neutral, but inwardly, she was quite hurt. He had barely spoken to her for weeks, andthiswas what he finally chose to say?
“Very well,” Romilly chimed in. “In that case, I shall ensure it doesn’t go tae waste!” She reached across the table and snatched Katherine’s plate away.
This was more than Katherine could bear. She’d had enough of tolerating her family’s meanness toward her. “Give that back! It’s mine tae eat or not, as I please!”
“In fact it ismine,” the laird snarled, “along with everything else in this damned castle, tae do with asIwish. Ye forget yerself, Daughter.”
“Why should I not, when everyone else seems tae have forgotten me?” Katherine countered hotly.
“If ye refuse tae eat, then it ought tae go tae yer sister,” Angus insisted. “She will need all of her strength in the days ahead, and so it must be nourished. ye may sulk above an empty plate for all I care.”
“I should much prefer tae ‘sulk’ in my room!” Katherine replied, standing.
“Sit, Katherine,” Annabel said, rubbing her temples at the pain in her head. “Dinnae cause problems.”
“ye hear the way they speak tae me, ye see the way they treat me!” Katherine balked. “And ye accusemeof ‘causing problems’?”
“Yer sister spoke tae us of yer journey today,” her mother groaned. “Ye have been told over and over that it displeases us when ye mingle with the lowborn rubbish of the villages and farms.”
“At least it makes me feel useful!” Katherine retorted. “What is there for me here, but tae be ignored and mistreated?”
“There is the prospect of a marriage to a lad who will better our prospects and strengthen our clan,” Angus informed her. “That is what ye should be focused on, rather than wasting yer time with those who are beneath us.”
“Or perhaps I ought tae focus on war, bloodshed, sabotage, and other such acts of savagery, as ye and Romilly do!”
Angus’s eyes blazed, and he stood, his face twisted with rage. “Such endeavors may displease ye,” he rumbled, “but they shall save this clan.”
“Why does this clan need tae be saved?” Katherine demanded. “Are we doing so poorly that we are required tae drag other clans down? Is more money or land worth the sacrifice of our honor?”
