This would be warm and dry and private.
The unavoidable fact that she’d been trying not to think about came crashing down on her—this house was for Aidan MacLerie’s leman. A place where they could meet and where he could spend the night in her bed. With his lover.
With Catriona.
She swallowed deeply against every sort of image and thought that brought up.
And yet, where was the righteous anger that she should feel over this? The man had sent his cousin to barter like the fishmongers she’d seen selling their wares near the river. He’d never asked her. Turning around, seeing the whole of the chamber as it was meant to be, she now understood the strange discussion with Ciara.
‘Catriona?’ She pivoted to find Muireall in the doorway, staring at her with a confused expression.
‘Have you read it? What does it say?’ she asked, crossing her arms over her chest, but unable to hide the shivers that coursed through her body at the thought of spending nights here with a man she did not know.
Muireall came close and motioned her even closer. Leaning their heads together, her friend explained everything in a whisper.
‘He is publicly declaring you and claiming that you are his leman. This house...’ she glanced around the chamber and then back at Cat ‘...this house is yours no matter what happens between you. The laird has given it to you. There is a settlement for you, he’s calling it your “widow’s portion”, provided by the earl in gratitude for Gowan’s loyal service to help you save face. And there will be money every year for your care.’
Stunned by the generosity and the nerve, Cat could not even think of questions to ask.
‘And you said you did nothing with him?’ Muireall asked.
‘He kissed me once and I slapped him.’ At the doubt in her friend’s eyes, she shook her head. ‘Nothing else. There is nothing else between us!’
‘Catriona,’ Muireall began to advise her. ‘I have seen enough men to know a couple of things about them and about men like Aidan MacLerie.’ She looked around to see if Ciara had moved from the table and drew Cat over to the window. ‘First, this, all this...’ she waved a finger at the house ‘...this speaks of two things to me—guilt and desire. That he feels guilty about his behaviour speaks well of him. The desire is not a surprise considering him and considering you.’ Muireall’s gaze fell to Cat’s breasts, which she’d always thought too large. ‘And he is willing to pay for his pleasure, not like most nobles.’
‘Muireall!’ Shaking her head, she asked, ‘How many noblemen do you know?’
‘I have lived here my whole life and seen my share of them, Cat. And believe me, some don’t pay, they just take. At least the young lord is looking to protect you and to provide for you. Better than most women can expect to be treated, at that.’
‘Are you suggesting I let him pay to bed me?’ she asked.
‘I believe you when you say that nothing has happened between you. But...’ she glanced out to the common room and lowered her voice again ‘...the arrangements he’s made for you, they speak of his desire for you and his hope that something will. So, make no mistake in this—he wants you and he wants you in that bed.’
‘I will refuse this, him,’ she said. ‘I cannot whore for him.’ Cat stepped back and turned to go out and refuse these shackles. And she would have, if Muireall had not grabbed her wrist to stop her. ‘You think I should do this?’
‘There is not a word in that document that requires you keep the arrangement between you, or requires bedplay in exchange for this house. Nothing is promised by you at all. Only him. Aidan promises in it that this is all freely given for reasons known only to him and you.’ Muireall let go of her hand and took a breath, shaking her head. ‘I am no solicitor and no peacemaker as Ciara and her stepfather are, but the wording is clear and concise. This is all yours once you sign that contract.’
It made no sense. Contracts were agreements in which each party got and gave. If he was giving this, he must expect something in return? Or did he truly feel guilty over her spiral down into disgrace because of his attempts to seduce her?
‘And if I refuse? If I do not sign it?’
Muireall shrugged. ‘I think that is what you need to ask Ciara now and Aidan when he arrives later.’
‘He is coming here?’
The smile that met her question made it clear how her friend viewed the situation and exactly what she though Aidan MacLerie expected to happen. A pointed glance across the chamber at the bed, that bed, and a tilt of her head confirmed it.
Even if everyone in the village thought she was his lover already and even though she faced a bleak future, she would not be paid to give herself to any man. She had faced death once to avoid it and she would have to find a way out this time as well.
Taking a deep breath and letting it out, Catriona understood what she had to do now. She walked back into the common room where Ciara and the damning document sat waiting for her.
‘I think this is something I should talk to the earl’s son about before I agree to anything,’ she said.
The lift of one eyebrow was the only sign of a reaction from Ciara. If she’d thought this a matter accomplished, she gave no sign of dismay at all.
‘I will await your word then, Catriona. Aidan said he would arrive here shortly so you can speak to him directly. All you have to do is sign this, or make your mark on this line, and return it to me.’
After pointing to the place to be signed, Ciara stood and nodded to both of them before walking to the door. Just before pulling the door open, Ciara turned back and smiled once more.
