“Did ye travel straight from London?” Mary asked as her father turned to speak to Griselda.
“Aye, we took the King’s Road straight to Edinburgh.”
“A long and harrowin’ journey at times,” Mary commented, smiling dryly at Katie. “Any troubles along the way?”
“None of any consequence,” Aiden assured her, before turning to speak to another councilor who approached him, leaving Katie and Mary in a cloud of awkward silence.
“How are ye likin’ Scotland, Me Lady?” Mary asked, adjusting the fine necklace around her collar.
“It’s very beautiful, thank you for asking,” Katie replied, glancing at Aiden and realizing he wasn’t coming back to her any time soon.
“He’s a good man, Me Lady.” Mary nodded. “A fine laird—the finest.”
“He seems to have many admirers,” Katie noted, smiling at Griselda, who had nodded in her direction.
“Och, aye, a great many. He was the most eligible bachelor in the Highlands.”
“Ah, he seems to be a man of many talents, so it doesn’t surprise me.” Katie nodded, smiling at Mary. “What of you? Are you not betrothed, Lady Mary?”
“Och, nay,” Mary drawled, staring at Aiden. “However, if Laird MacNiall hadnae chosen ye, we might have gotten engaged, and this could have been me betrothal banquet.”
“Oh?” Katie asked, taken aback by her boldness and honesty.
“’Tis alright, Me Lady,” Mary said, with a sharp smirk. “He’s a good man, and ye’re lucky to have him.”
“What are you two ladies discussin’?” Griselda asked, approaching with a smile.
Mary bowed her head respectfully. “We were discussin’ how happy we all are that Laird MacNiall has chosen a bride.”
“Happy is an understatement.” Griselda smiled, her arm now looped through Katie’s. “We were afraid there were nay appropriate matches!”
Katie noticed the coldness in Mary’s eyes as she laughed, although Griselda’s laugh was genuine. Katie felt like she was once again in the middle of something and became exasperated by the prospect of the long night ahead.
“Come, me dear, let’s sit and enjoy the banquet,” Griselda insisted, pulling her toward the elevated table.
Despite the warmth and kindness of Aiden’s family, Katie felt a growing frustration throughout the meal. Aiden’s cold demeanor made it clear that their situation was far fromresolved. The difference between their behavior and his only served to deepen her sense of isolation.
As the meal drew to a close, Katie excused herself from the table. She could no longer bear to be in the same room as Aiden.
“Please excuse me,” she said softly to Aiden’s mother, who nodded understandingly. “I need some rest.”
Katie slipped out of the dining hall, the clamor of the feast fading behind her. She wandered through the dimly lit corridors, her thoughts swirling with confusion and frustration.
As she walked, the echoes of the evening’s laughter followed her.
The grandeur of the estate was a beautiful backdrop to her growing sense of disillusionment. She knew that despite the warmth extended to her, the real challenge lay in navigating the complexities of her relationship with Aiden and finding a way to reconcile her desires with the harsh reality of her circumstances.
Feeling exhausted, Katie decided it was time to make her way back to her quarters. A warm blanket and some quiet was exactly what she needed to finally get a restful night’s sleep. The corridors of the castle were dimly lit, the flickering torchlight casting long shadows that danced across the stone walls.
When she finally reached her room, she closed the door behind her and sank onto the edge of the bed. The room was simple,furnished with the bare necessities, but it offered a semblance of privacy and warmth.
She pulled the rough but warm blankets around herself, curling up in a fetal position as if to protect herself from her inner turmoil. The warmth of the blankets contrasted sharply with the cold reality of her situation. The events of the evening replayed in her mind—her brief conversation with Mary, Aiden’s cold distance, and the unexpected warmth of his family.
A loud knock on the wooden door jolted her awake. She peered out from under the blankets, then sat on the edge of the bed once again. Aiden strode into the room, shutting the door firmly behind him before regarding her coldly.
“What are ye doin’?” he asked briskly, staring her up and down.
“Getting ready for bed,” she replied just as coldly, keeping the blanket on her lap. “It’s been a long and tiring day.”
