Highlander's Bride (Heart of the Highlander Series Book 1) Read Free Page B

across the land she called home.
    If she were forced to marry and live in the remote
Highlands, would she ever see her parents again? Even though their plans
angered her, she loved them. And what of her dreams of a life with Daniel? Did
wealth truly mean more to him than having her as his wife? Perhaps she had
misjudged him in her despair. Had he not asked her to trust him and sworn to
come for her before the wedding could be forced upon her?
    Katherine swallowed against the tight lump in her
throat. By the saints, she wanted no part of this foolish betrothal to some
Highland stranger. The mere idea of it had nearly destroyed her faith in love.
In Daniel. She must be more fervent in her trust. If she thought hard enough,
she would find some way to change things. She had to.
    The chill air sent a shiver through her. She tugged
her cloak tighter and stared at the heavens until she was too weary to think. A
good night's sleep would help. Taking one last look about her, she descended to
her room.
    **
    Katherine had risen and dressed by the time the
first pink glow of sunrise bathed the castle in its faint light. Her tossing
and turning in worry during the night had left her tired and unsure. She took a
deep breath and forced herself to think calmly. If she let her dismay take
control, all would be lost. She would face the day and its challenge head on,
not shrink away from it like some meek maid too slow witted to know her own
mind.
    The sound of a knock at her door drew Katherine's
attention. She smiled at the young serving girl who entered.
    "M'lady, yer parents await ye in the great
hall to break yer fast before ye leave."
    "Aye, please tell them I will be down in a
trice."
    After the girl left, Katherine looked around her
chamber. A bittersweet longing rose in her chest. She had lived here all of her
life, surrounded by her parents love for her and for each other. Ever since
she'd begun to take notice of the young men around her, she'd hoped to marry
for such love. There must be something she could do to convince her parents to
change their minds.
    Frowning, she wrapped a shawl around her shoulders
and walked over to the wall mirror to smooth her hair in place. Fie, her frown
looked sour enough to clabber cream. It wouldn't do to antagonize her parents
this morn. Not if she hoped to persuade them to undo their decision. She must
do as Daniel asked and let them think she had accepted the idea… for now.
    Pinching her cheeks for a spot of color, she
pasted a smile on her lips then gathered up her skirts and hurried downstairs.
    When she arrived in the hall, her parents were
just finishing their meal. Smiling, she walked over and kissed each of them on
the cheek. The apparent look of relief on her father's face when she greeted
him as she always did, nagged at her conscience.
    He nodded. "Good morrow, Katy. I didna know
how you'd be feeling toward me this morn."
    Swallowing against the lump in her throat, she
managed to find her voice. "Oh, Da, I admit your news shocked me. I still
do not quite know what to think of it. But it doesn't change the way I feel
about you."
    Angus' eyes glistened with moisture and he cleared
his throat. "Well, now, come sit beside your mother while I see to the
horses and wagons. We shall be leaving soon." He ruffled her hair as he
had when she was small, gave her mother a quick kiss on the cheek and left.
    Monique reached out and gently squeezed her hand.
"Darling, you made your da very happy, just now. He worried half the night
you would be angry with him."
    Truth be known, she was. Afraid her face would
give her away; Katherine quickly scanned the contents of the table. Sighing,
she looked back at her mother. "'Twas no need. I love him as I do
you."
    Monique's chin quivered. She nodded and stood.
"Eat quickly." Wiping at her eyes, she turned away, silently motioned
to the servants to follow her and walked out of the hall.
    Katherine took a few bites of a bannock and sipped
her watered wine in