Page 56 of Fire in his Highland Heart

Cataline and Malcolm stopped in the middle of the corridor, almost right outside the door. For a moment, James was afraid they might enter, but they’d simply stopped to talk. Or, in this case, argue.

“’Tis been months since her escape, Marianne,” he heard Malcolm say, exasperated. Marianne? Had she...was that...her name now? “What would ye have me do, eh? Sound the alarm for all o’ Scotland? Raise hell an’ high water for one woman?” Malcolm was clearly agitated; James could tell by the sound of his voice.

“Yes, because she is a criminal!” shouted Cataline, or, rather, Marianne.

James heard Malcolm huff. “Ye dinnae ken she is a criminal or no. Yer angry that ye can’t conceive an’ ye’re lookin tae blame anyone else.”

Harsh words from Malcolm, James thought. He’d never heard the mild-mannered man speak in such a fiery way.

Then he heard a smack, and he knew Cataline/Marianne had slapped him across the face. Her voice came out in a low hiss. James craned his neck to get a better look at the scene. She was standing mere feet from the door, looking up at Malcolm with a twisted grimace like an angry animal. Aye, it was her, to be sure. James would never forget that terrifying, angry expression as long as he lived.

“How dare you speak to me that way. I know it is not my fault. Watch your words, husband.”

“Oh, aye? Ye ken ‘tis not yer fault? An’ how would ye ken that? Ye have a bairn I dinnae ken about? Or perhaps yer a witch yerself, eh? That would explain everything else!” Malcolm fired back.

“Why, you--” Cataline/Marianne raised her hand to strike him again, but Malcolm caught her wrist.

“Dinnae try tae hit me again, woman. I’ve no patience for that,” he said, his voice like iron.

James would have cheered, but he needed to remain hidden. Cataline/Marianne seemed to pale at the comment, but recovered quickly.

“We were happy before she killed the baby,” she said.

Killed the baby? What in God’s name could she mean? James wondered.

Malcolm heaved a sigh. “She didnae kill the babe, Marianne. Remember what the midwife said? Some things just happen. ‘Tis up tae God now.”

James watched as Cataline/Marianne rolled her eyes. In her anger, they seemed to get even greener.

“Of course. All God’s fault, is it not? All God’s fault that we’re in this mess?”

“Marianne, please. ‘Tis enough,” Malcolm pleaded.

She sniffed and rolled her eyes. “No. Everything started when that silver haired bitch tried to undermine me and you know it, but you pretend everything is fine.”

“Marianne, ‘tis enough. I’m going tae check on my father. Yer welcome tae come if ye find it in yer stone heart tae care.”

That seemed to silence her for the time being. She huffed again, and walked ahead of Malcolm, nose in the air. She really hadn’t changed a bit since her marriage to Blake. Now the stakes seemed even higher to James. Tomorrow morning couldn’t come soon enough.

* * *

James slept, but rather fitfully and not very much. His mind was whirling. Had this been Cataline’s plan all along? Why would she leave and then find a place only a three days’ ride away? And whatever in God’s name did she mean when she said that Arguen killed her child?

Dawn arrived quicker than James expected. He was anxious to get back home and share this news with Blake and see what course of action they would have to take. He knew Blake would not stand idly by and endure this.

Upon waking, he immediately went down to the kitchen to grab a bannock for breakfast and a few for the journey home. Thankfully, Douglas was awake at this ungodly hour, and he could see him off (as well as ask for his horse).

“’Twas good tae see ye again,” James said, sitting next to Douglas on one of the kitchen benches and clapping him on the back.

“Aye,” Douglas agreed, “I only wish ‘twas during better times.”

“Well, they’re not so bad, are they? I mean, I did give ye a morsel of good news.”

“True enough. I wish I could go back wi’ ye tae wish her well.”

“Och, ye’ll be reunited soon enough, eh?”

Douglas gave a weak, rueful smile. James hated to leave a friend at a time like this, but matters were urgent. Soon enough he was back on his horse and away to Ernmore Castle.