“Oh, no, I couldnae impose on ye like that,” Katherine protested. “Ye’ve just said ye’ve had tae take in more people tae feed, I couldnae add tae the crowd and fuss and bother.”
“Ye’ll sit and eat with us, and that’s the end of it,” the old woman told her firmly.
“But surely people who have just had their homes destroyed by my father’s men willnae wish tae share a table with me.”
“Oh no?” She smirked knowingly. “Why, I think they might find it fascinating, tae say nothing of informative; tae be abletae ask ye about where ye come from, the sort of man yer father is, and the odds that things will get worse before they improve. More than that, they may take great comfort in knowing we have a McGregor on our side, tae even those odds somewhat.”
“Well, when ye put it that way, I suppose I dare not refuse.” Katherine chuckled uncertainly. “Lead the way, then.”
As they proceeded toward Fiona’s cottage, some things the old woman had said to Katherine came back to her, specifically that when two clans have such a long history of animosity toward each other, the only way forward is through forgiveness and mutual acceptance.
Was that the true reason Fiona was so adamant about having her over for supper, she wondered? Could seeing the face of a McGregor, seeing that she was just a person like the Oliphants, not some demon or ogre, light a fire of understanding within the hearts of those who were living with Fiona? The women and children who had been burned out of their homes, who had lost everything at the hands of McGregor thugs?
If meeting and dining with those people could be a solid first step toward peace between the clans, then Katherine was glad of the opportunity to do so.
There was some awkwardness, naturally, when she first arrived and Fiona’s houseguests recognized her. Most of them openly stared at her, and there was a bit of dark muttering among them.
Katherine chose not to allow any of that to bother her, though. Instead, she simply introduced herself to them, and asked them questions about their families as she helped to set the table. They were visibly surprised by this, and it put them off their guard.
“Ye have lovely children,” Katherine said to one of the women. A young lad and a younger lass hovered at her sides, and the girl spent half her time hiding behind her mother’s skirt.
The woman was thin and haggard, and Katherine noticed several scars on her hands and neck where she had been burned by the flames that consumed her house. Her expression was wary as she surveyed Katherine, but she was too polite to ignore the comment – so she nodded slowly. “Thank ye. His name is Auley, and she’s Ainsley.” She paused, then added, “I’m Amelia.”
“‘Tis a pleasure tae make yer acquaintance, Amelia.” Katherine gave her a small curtsy.
Amelia didn’t quite seem to know how to respond to such civility from a McGregor, so she returned the gesture before she knew what she was doing. “Here, let me help ye set out the dishes, my lady.”
“Och, there’s nae need tae address me with such formality,” Katherine assured her. “I’m nae a noble-born lass here. My station is no different from yers. In fact,” she added with a laugh, “I’d say yer station is rather above mine here, since ye, at least, are a true-born Oliphant. I’m, well, I dinnae quite know what I am here, and that’s the truth. A captive? A traitor?”
“A friend,” Fiona spoke up. “One who is welcome at this table. Now sit and eat, all of ye, before it grows cold.”
They sat together, and continued to talk and laugh as they learned about each other. By the time the meal was over, Katherine felt as though she had known these people her entire life. She could not remember ever having had so much fun with the members of her own family.
When she and Isla returned to Castle Oliphant, though, she found Captain Black waiting for her in the courtyard with a stricken look on his face.
She’d been having such a lovely time with Isla, Fiona, and the rest that she had briefly forgotten the rest of it; the plan for her to be wed to Kirk Oliphant so that the clans might be lawfully united.
Now, the sorrow in Bryan’s eyes made it all come flooding back to her, and her heart felt as though there were cold and heavy chains wrapped around it.
“Forgive me, Lady Isla,” Bryan said in a strangled voice. “Might I have a word with Lady Katherine?”
Isla’s eyebrows went up quizzically. “Very well. I would only advise ye both tae remain here in the open while ye converse, for there are those who might suspect a more private talk between ye would be inappropriate, given her betrothal. I would also remind ye both that avoiding bloodshed with the McGregors is the priority of the day. Even if ye both wish it could be otherwise.”
“Thank ye for yer wise words, my lady.” Bryan’s words were polite enough, but the tension beneath them was unmistakable.
Isla nodded and took her leave without further comment.
“Were ye able tae enjoy yerself a bit today with Lady Isla?” the captain inquired, trying his best to sound casual.
“Aye, it helped take me away from my cares for a few hours,” she answered demurely. “The Oliphants are a warm, kind, and welcoming people.”
“None know that better than I,” he agreed. “They accepted me into their fold when they had little reason tae do so. Which is why I take my duty tae them so seriously, and why I dinnae say what I am about tae say lightly.”
She shook her head. “Dinnae say it at all. Yer first duty is tae the people of this clan, tae keep them safe, just as my first duty is tae protect mine, by keeping them out of a war with the Oliphants. A war they would surely lose.”
“But tae marry a man ye dinnae love?” His voice was plaintive, his eyes full of pain and doubt. “There must be another way.”
“There isn’t.” Saying the words out loud hurt her deeply, mostly because she knew the truth of them in her bones. “Weshall only drive ourselves mad in attempting tae find one, and delay the inevitable.”
