Page 31 of The Cursed Highland Bride

“I simply wished to bathe.”

Adamina’s brow arched in disapproval. “A bath can be drawn for ye in the castle. If Dunn kenned that ye were swimming naked in the sea for all tae gaze upon, he would nae be pleased.”

At the mention of Dunn, Katarina turned away to dress. “The clan should be accustomed tae seeing naked women running about.”

They both knew she was referring to Brigid and his other mistresses. “That did nae stop ye from rutting with my brother against a stone wall but moments ago.”

Katarina’s head snapped around to meet Adamina’s eyes, and she felt her cheeks flush. “Ye saw?”

“Aye, I saw. Ye and my brother were nae being very discreet about it.”

Dressed, Katarina sat on one of the larger rocks, the scarlet blush of shame spreading across her skin. “I did nae intend for it tae go that far.”

Adamina’s brow wrinkled in question, and she sat down on another rock beside her. “Explain.”

“I cannae explain everything.”

“Try.”

Sighing, Katarina gauged just how much she could or should tell her. She was Dunn’s sister and a lifelong member of the clan that thought her to be their enemy. She eventually decided to tell her a version of the truth about her relationship with Dunn but not the full truth about her identity. “From the moment that I saw all o’ yer brother’s lovers, then witnessed Brigid emerging from his bedchamber naked mere moments after he had just lain with me, my heart has been filled with anger. He showed nae shame afterward. He gave nae apologies. He simply demanded that I accept it. I felt dishonored, disrespected, and demeaned. I sought to make him pay for the shame he brought me.”

Adamina laid a hand on Katarina’s knee. “My brother is nae a man tae be trifled with. Ye cannae play with him as ye would a kitten. He will bite ye.”

“I thought that I could tempt him, show him what he had lost, then pull away. I wanted him tae understand what he had done tae me.”

Adamina shook her head. “Ye cannae dance in the flames and nae be burned.”

“I thought that I could. I was wrong.”

Adamina studied Katarina’s face in silent thought for a moment, then gave her knee a reassuring squeeze. “I will help ye win his heart. What he has done tae ye is wrong. Ye speak truth when ye say he should ken how that feels, but ye must be wise about it. It is a dangerous game that ye are playing with a man who does nae play by the same rules. My brother keeping his mistresses is wrong, and that needs tae cease. Being cold toward ye one moment and burning like a raging flame the next is also wrong. The clan is talking about his behavior towards ye. It has become clear tae all that the marriage is one o’ difficulty for ye both. If such talk made it back tae the king or yer faither, it could be troubling.”

“The clan can see it?”

“Aye, they can. When it comes tae a laird and his lady, the people ken more than ye would think. Ye are at the center o’ their lives. They cannae help but notice when things are nae as they should be. Our parents were deeply in love and set an example for how a laird and his lady should be together. Their laird being forced tae wed the enemy has nae sat well with many amongst our people.”

“Including yer brother,” Katarina replied wryly. “I did nae wish tae wed him either. He is nae the only person in this marriage that was forced. I was given nae choice at all. As a laird, he could have risked refusing the king. As a lass, I had nae such choice. Men who cared nothing for me, my well-being, or my heart arranged this marriage.” An image of her sisters’ tear-streaked faces flashed through her mind. For Katarina, it had been a life-or-death situation. There had been no choice to it.

“Ye have suffered greatly. I can see it in yer eyes,” Adamina’s voice broke into her private thoughts.

Katarina turned her face away. “I dinnae wish for such things tae be seen.”

“Dunn sees them too.”

This made Katarina’s head whip back around to look at her sister-in-law. “Has he said something?”

“That is between a brother and his sister.”

Katarina frowned but nodded, understanding the bond between siblings.

“We cannae always control what others see within us, but we can control our own actions. My brother is wrong in this matter, but use care in yer dealings with him. He is nae as hard-hearted as he presents himself tae be.” Adamina stood and extended her hand. Katarina took it and leveraged herself up onto her feet. “Now, the king’s messenger is departing, and we must send him away with a good report for the king.”

“A happy husband and wife?”

“Aye,” Adamina nodded. “We will nae have it be said that our laird does nae keep his oath.”

The women returned to the castle where they found Dunn, Tor, and their grandmother in the courtyard with the king’s messenger. Dunn’s eyes fell on Katarina’s and held them for the briefest of moments before he extended his hand to her. Katarina went to him without hesitation; a gesture of duty for the king’s sake.

“My lady,” the messenger bowed courteously.