Page 32 of The Cursed Highland Bride

“Please, send our regards tae the king,” Katarina answered with perfect courtly manners. As much as she hated Alistair Morgan, she had to admit that his education preparing her to be a lady had been thorough.

“I shall. He will be pleased tae hear news o’ yer marriage. He takes a great interest in those whom he places together.”

Katarina fought the urge to strike the man in lieu of his king. As if he could read her thoughts, Dunn squeezed her hand. Whether the gesture was meant to restrain her or reassure her, she did not know. Either way, she appreciated it. He drew her close, wrapping his arm around her waist, but did not look down at her. “We shall endeavor nae tae disappoint,” she answered instead.

“As ye should. Farewell, for now.” His last words were spoken as more of a warning than a salutation. Mounting his horse, he rode out of the courtyard toward the boat awaiting him on the beach below the cliff.

Sighing in relief that the man was gone, Tor turned to his brother with a frown. “I do believe that we were just threatened.”

“Aye,” Dunn nodded solemnly. “We were.”

“The king, or rather his regent, appears tae have taken a disliking tae yer family,” Katarina observed.

“There is bad blood betwixt us,” their grandmother answered, turning her cold gaze to Katarina. “Much as there is betwixt our people and Laird Morgan’s.”

Katarina knew that she was missing something about what was going on between the king, Alistair Morgan, and Dunn’s family, but she could not afford to expose her ignorance. She had learned that Alistair Morgan and his forebearers were responsible for the deaths of Dunn’s father and grandfather. She did not understand how that involved the king or the king’s regent, however. Looking up at Dunn, she could not help but feel for the situation he was in as the protector of his clan. It was a heavy burden for one man to bear.

Dunn turned his eyes down to meet Katarina’s and held them there. Smiling, Tor motioned for Adamina and their grandmother to give them a moment alone.

“Let us have the priest sprinkle holy water about the place, now that the foul spirit is gone.” Their grandmother laughed at this and allowed her younger grandson to lead her into the castle. Adamina gave Katarina a reassuring look, then followed behind them.

“I turned around, and ye had gone. Why did ye flee? Did I frighten ye?”

Katarina gauged how much to admit to. “I frightened myself.”

His brows arched in question. “How so?”

“Neither o’ us asked tae be wed. We were both forced intae this marriage. Even so, I was still hurt when ye laid with another woman on our wedding night.” She raised her hand when he opened his mouth to proclaim his usual protestations of what was right and wrong between a man and woman. “I am nae saying that I need yer love. I dinnae want it, nor do I wish tae give ye mine. I only wish tae be treated with respect.” Disengaging herself from his arm, she left Dunn to stand alone in the courtyard.

* * *

Dunn watched Katarina walk away from him and felt as if a piece of himself was walking away with her. He stood in silent reverie, considering everything that she had just told him. She had been blunt, straightforward. She did not want his love, nor did she intend to give her own. She could not have been clearer. She had given him exactly what he thought he wanted.

Now, as he stood there in the wake of her declaration, he knew that he had been lying to himself. She was the one that he wanted. She was the only one that he wanted, and she could never know.

Love cannae exist where trust is absent. She is the daughter o’ my enemy. There will never be a time when I can forget that.

For the rest of the day, he did not see her again. Come supper time, he entered the hall to discover that his wife had asked to be excused from attending. Concerned, he climbed the stairs to her bedchamber to inquire after her well-being. Knocking, he awaited her response, but none was given. Pushing the door open, he entered to find a darkened room with the fire burning very low on the hearth. He walked over to the bed and laid a hand on her shoulder.

“Katarina, are ye well, lass? I was told that ye did nae feel well.”

He received no answer. Her breathing made her chest rise and fall evenly as if in sleep, but he could feel the slight quiver of her body beneath his touch. Not wishing to fight with her again, he did not press her further, and left her bedchamber to rejoin his brother in the hall.

“How is she?” Tor asked with genuine concern on his face.

“She is sleeping.” Dunn was not willing to admit that she might have simply been ignoring him.

“I pray that she is nae falling ill.”

Adamina joined them, sitting in the chair opposite her brothers. “Perhaps she is simply in need o’ rest.” Dunn could tell from his sister’s tone that the rest she referred to was from him.

Sighing, he motioned for Tor to pour them each a brandy. They had other things to discuss than whether his wife was sleeping or not. “The king’s man,” he began.

“Aye,” Adamina’s brow furrowed in concern. “He did nae seem convinced that his plan tae tame the Viking beast o’ the Orkneys has worked.”

“People talk,” Tor shrugged. “It is clear tae all that there is still a great deal o’ animosity betwixt our people and the Clan Morgan. A marriage is nae going tae make years o’ hatred fade intae the mists.”

“He was here as a spy.” Their grandmother came to sit beside Adamina. “Did ye expect the crown tae leave ye alone? Ye bear yer grandfaither and faither’s blood in yer veins. The fight is far from over.”