“Do not give me orders!” she shouted. “I do not answer to you!”
“You do when you are in my castle!” he shouted back. “Return to your own if you want to be familiar with the servants!”
Caitlyn saw red, and slapped his cheek with all the strength she had, then took a step back as she saw the thunderous darkening of his face. “You are a—” She flung a word at him that was so coarse that it was usually only used by men.
Alastair put his hand on the stinging red patch as he glared into her wild green eyes. All his passionate imaginings came to the forefront of his mind as she filled his vision, all the daydreams where he possessed her. In those dreams he had thought he was in charge, but he realized that all the while she had had the upper hand, but not anymore.
“You vixen,” he growled, advancing towards her. She backed away from him, only to come into contact with the wall behind her. She had nowhere to go.
He dragged her into his arms and kissed her, not a passionate but tender kiss, but a punishing, brutal one. He held the back of her head so that she could not move away, while his mouth ravaged hers, his tongue thrusting into her mouth and pushing her teeth against her lips.
She resisted for a moment, then gave herself up to it, because despite herself she found herself responding. It was thrilling, exciting, passionate, and she became lost in a heaven of sensation and desire. Even if she had the strength to get away, she realized she did not want to. Despite herself, her body was responding to him, moistening and throbbing with a sweet pain.
When he let her go suddenly, she stumbled backwards and almost fell. He reached for her but she pushed him away and landed painfully on the hard polished wood of the floor, then she grimaced in pain for a moment before trying to struggle to her feet.
He tried once more to assist her but she shoved him violently away. “Don’t touch me!” she screamed. She was beginning to cry tears of rage, but did not want him to see them in case he mistook them for distress. She managed to get to her feet at last and stood regarding him with a hostile stare. When she spoke, it was with icy dignity.
“Thank you for your hospitality, M’Laird. We will be leaving soon and will trouble you no further. If you tell me the sum you require I will make sure you are paid in full before Mother and I leave.”
This was an insult of the first degree, and Caitlyn knew it. She was throwing Alastair’s hospitality, no matter how grudged it was, back in his face, but she felt nothing but anger.
“I do not remember asking for any recompense,” he said angrily.
“Nevertheless,” Caitlyn replied, her voice once again deathly calm, “I am not one to leave debts unpaid. My mother’s medical treatment must have cost a penny or two. You are out of pocket, and I will settle with you. I will say no more about it.”
She climbed the stairs to Ava’s room, leaving Alastair staring at her retreating back. He knew he could not see his sister in his present state; he could only hope that whatever Caitlyn told her was not too dreadful.
He went to his office to busy himself in the ordering of supplies to the castle and tried to put Caitlyn out of his mind, but it was a fruitless effort. He dined alone that evening, but merely picked at his dinner, leaving most of it uneaten. Eventually he took the whisky bottle to his bedroom
All women are faithless, heartless, and untrustworthy,he thought, in a state of maudlin self-pity.I will never love any of them again.
Then he drank himself to sleep.
11
About Kirstine
Ava smiled when she answered the door without her usual caution, and welcomed Caitlyn warmly.
“It looks like a beautiful day outside,” she remarked as she went to the window. She looked pretty in a pale blue shift dress, having been inspired by Caitlyn’s plain but stylish mode of dress. “What have you been doing today?”
Caitlyn sat down and smiled. “I went to see the portraits of your family,” she replied, then her face broke into a beaming smile. “Then I went for a ride with your brother, and I have some good news for you.”
Ava gave her a questioning look. “What?” she asked.
“Pinky has been found,” Caitlyn answered, smiling, “alive and well.”
There was a silence, then Ava burst into tears. “Thank God!” she cried. “My beautiful girl! Thank God!”
“I am so happy for you,” Caitlyn smiled. “I know how much she means to you.”
Ava’s tears gave way to laughter and she wiped her eyes with her fingertips. She poured a glass of wine for her friend. “To my Pinky!” she smiled. “And to my good friend Caitie! Slàinte Mhath!”
They clinked their glasses together and drank to the health of Ava’s darling companion.
“Where do you think she has been? Is she in good condition?” Ava asked suddenly, looking at Caitlyn keenly.
“We think she had been in the woods for a while,” Caitlyn answered. “She is very dirty, but she is still docile and good-humored, and she recognized Alastair straight away. No doubt she looks much better now though, now that the grooms have seen to her. Do not fash, Ava. She is fine. Perhaps Alastair could ride her underneath your window and you could have a look.”
