William's soft-spoken voice drifted across the sudden silence. "My lady …Katherine, I would give much to undo what has occurred between you and my brother. I have questioned Lord Drummond and Malcolm and know what Alexander was told. That 'twas a black lie is obvious to all except him."
Heat suffused her face. "Please, William, I do not wish to speak of it."
"Perhaps you should. By talking about it, 'twill ease your feelings and help you to understand something of Alexander which perhaps you don't know." At her silence, he continued. "You know of our mother, Mary, who died from a sudden illness when Alexander was twelve. I was only six and unable to realize the great grief my da and brother went through. Aye, I missed her, but I was young and didn't have the years' memories to continue to bring back grief and loneliness, as did they."
William tugged at the wrappings on his injured leg as if it pained him. "Shortly after she died, Alexander was sent away to train for his knighthood. After he returned, he trained for hours on end until he dropped from exhaustion. At times, Malcolm had to help him back to the keep. When my brother wasn't training on the practice field, he often visited our mother's old nurse, Elsa, and her orphaned grand babe."
Katherine remembered the sight of Fiona with Alexander. Her heart hardened momentarily before guilt scorned her thoughts. It must have been terrible for him to lose someone he loved. "Did Alexander's grief not ease with time and work?"
"No. And the more he visited Elsa, the more memories of our mother seemed to plague him. Even the wee babe seemed to cause him to grieve, for he knew she had lost both of her parents."
William shrugged. "As the lass grew, Alexander seemed to make himself responsible for her as if trying to fill the emptiness for both of them. Fiona, that's the lassie's name, grew verra possessive of him. I think she would have gladly joined with Alexander, if he had but asked. Have you met her? She's a fiery beauty. Although she would have been willing, my brother thinks of her as a young sister, needful of his care. He has never given his heart truly. Perhaps he fears to do so."
Katherine remembered her first meeting with Fiona. The woman's boast of Alexander's love rang in her head. Surely William must have noticed the way the two behaved when they were near each other? The last time she saw them together, Alexander had tenderly carried Fiona in his arms while she clung to him with her head nestled on his shoulder. The memory was still painful.
William patted Katherine's hand in a friendly fashion. "Now do you begin to understand a wee bit of my headstrong brother? I speak truly when I say his passions run deep. After aught that has happened, you may wonder why I tell you this in his cause." He smiled sadly. "My lady, I must return home soon. 'Tis my hope that you will remain here and give him the chance to right the wrongs he has done. Please think on it before you say no."
Suddenly a cocky grin spread across his face and he winked. "Be assured, when Alexander and I are both hale again, I shall be pleased to, uh, converse with him myself. And if his temper flares and I have to knock some sense into him, then it willna be more than he deserves." Sighing, he added, "Until then, I must bide my time as best I can. The passing of time will help you too, I think."
She leaned over and kissed him gently on the cheek. "You have given me much to think on. I thank you for your caring."
A slight noise drew her gaze to the doorway where a chambermaid had entered carrying fresh linens. The wide-eyed servant bobbed a quick curtsy, placed a few towels in a chest at the end of the bed and hurried away.
William looked at Katherine and smiled. "Ah, my lady, you have saved me yet again. That lass spouts gossip until I would fain drag myself from my bed and hobble from my room to cease her wagging tongue."
Laughing, Katherine promised to look in on him the next day and headed for the kitchen, deep in thought. When she found the new cook, she quickly instructed her of her duties. "Come to me with aught that concerns you. Do not take it upon yourself to resolve things without my consent as your predecessor did." Glancing over at the former cook, who now swept the scullery, she added, "I will not abide that."
**
Lord Drummond warmed his hands at the fire as two chambermaids cleaned Alexander's chamber. He still had much to tell Alex; the proof of his wife's fidelity, William's injury and Katherine's skill in setting his leg. He'd scarce had time to tell him of her devoted care throughout his illness before the servants came in bustling about. But he would wait. 'Twas not a tale to be shared with everyone in the keep. Impatiently, he waited as they whispered and giggled while they swept the hearth. Hearing their chatter, he scowled and called out sharply. "Do you two have naught better to do than stand about spreading tales? Be gone, the both of you! Leave us in peace."
Alexander grinned as the young girls scurried toward the doorway. "Och, old friend, who is in a foul humor now? What could William and my chambermaids have to goss—"
His words died a swift death. He could barely contain his next question until the chattering servants left the room. His anxious doubts vaulted to the surface again, and he called out in challenge. "You swore I had naught to be concerned with as regards my wife! If that were so, she would be with me now. Just where does Katherine go while you play nursemaid here?"
"Och, I dinna keep a rope tied to her so I can follow her about. As the lady of Ironwood, she goes where she pleases."
"Davey…"
"All right, all right. She visits your brother's room. Did you think you were the only MacGregor in need of her loving care?"
Alexander's fury almost choked him. His mounting rage boiled over and his tone turned dangerous. "By God, you dare to joke about this? You are gravely mistaken if you think to do so. What did you hear the wenches say?"
"Hell, Alex, 'twas surely nau—"
"Tell me!"
Drummond frowned and spat out his response. "One of the foolish girls said she saw Lady Katherine kiss your brother."
White-hot anger burned Alexander's self control to cinders. He tossed the blankets aside, grabbed his tunic from a peg beside the bed and began to rise.
Davey sprinted over to the bed. "Damn it man, where do you think to go? Your temper seems full restored, but I doubt all of your strength is as yet."
"Get out of my way! I will see for myself what my wife does!" He attempted to yank the tunic over his head with one hand while he shoved aside his friend's arm with the other.
As the two men struggled, Katherine entered the room and hurried over. "Ah, Lord Drummond, I will assist my husband with his clothes. 'Tis often enough I have had to aid him and his brother."
A searing pain shot through Alexander, unlike any he had known during his illness. It filled him with fear and rage at the same time. His words bellowed like the sound of a Highland bull. "What say you? Don't touch my clothes, woman!" Turning a snarling look on his friend, he added, "And you can take your… Damn it, Davey, get out. I will speak with my wife alone!"
Katherine froze with her arms outstretched.
For a moment no one moved or uttered a sound. Then Drummond leaned over to her and spoke in an apparent attempt to calm the situation. "Lady Katherine, I shall be just outside the door. Dinna let this bear's growl upset you. His bite isna as fierce as he would have you believe." After a non-committal glance toward the black scowl directed his way, Davey bowed to her and left the room.
Alexander could do no more than glare at her as he desperately tried to subdue his anger enough to speak. Every nerve ending in his body was on fire, threatening to burn totally out of control. God, what power did she hold over him to be able to torment him so? He didn't know whether to accuse her or kiss her. Wearily, he sat back down on the bed, dropping the tunic to the floor.
The last time he'd been so vitally aware of her was the day they'd married. Now she stood before him a little thinner, with a smudge of dirt on her face and dressed in plain clothing, but still lovely. She looked as beautiful as he remembered from their wedding day. Had he not dreamed of her often enough? Here she stood, with n
o ribbons or jewels, no fancy gown about her. Yet she easily stirred him to jealousy and lust. Aye, and to other emotions he didn't recognize.
His scowl deepened. "Davey told me I've been ailing for many days and that you've been faithfully tending me. Yet when I awake, you immediately desert me to the care of my old friend. You will tell me now where you have been and to what duties you were attending. What was of such import to delay your return?"
Katherine's eyes narrowed. She pulled her shoulders back and carefully smoothed her wrinkled gown before resting her hands on her hips. "For a man who has been fevered for days, you ask much. Do you now think your head clear enough to pay heed to my words?" She drew herself up straight. "Before coming here, I was in your brother's chamber. I wished to see how he fared."
The faint hope in Alexander's heart faded and died with her words. Bitterness coiled in the pit of his stomach like a serpent. Would she dare to admit the kiss or claim devotion to him alone? His voice hardened. "Tell me, wife, how did my brother fare? Was he hale and well pleased with your company? Did your last kiss linger in your mind as you came to play the attentive wife?"
Katherine gasped in outrage. "So, now you have spies informing my every deed, do you? You wish to know my actions in William's chamber? I'll tell you. Aye, I kissed him. On the cheek, as a good friend glad in his recovery. He may be the younger brother, but knows far better how to treat a lady!" With that, she spun around, grabbed up the large bowl of sticky poultice, and started toward the door.
His biting words stopped her in mid step. "Aye, what a wondrous wife you are. You admit your misdeeds freely then desert my care. Again." He watched her face turn pale and her lips tremble.
In meek silence, she returned to his bedside. Her eyes gleamed with moisture, as if she was on the verge of tears, but she didn't weep.
So, she has finally realized the wrongs she has done. He listened to the appeal of her voice and fought to hold his heart distant.
"My lord, you appear all but cured of your affliction. I thought you had no more need of me and my potions." She reached out with one hand and gently touched his cheek.
His face tingled where her fingers brushed against him. God, her skin was like velvet. He lifted his face toward her.
She smiled sweetly, then dumped the entire contents of the bowl over his head. Before he could recover from his surprise, she tossed the empty container in his lap along with her words. "Do not doubt I wish you cured. Perhaps that will help bring you to your senses. If you possess any past the end of your manhood that is!"
She turned toward the doorway as a young lad entered. "M'lady, the healer Lord Drummond sent fer has arrived. I took him to Sir William." Katherine nodded and hurried him from the room with her.
"Bloody Hell!" Alexander struggled to wipe the stinking glop from his eyes which hampered his vision. However, naught hindered his hearing. He easily recognized his friend's paroxysms of laughter coming from the chamber doorway. Blinking from under the noxious goo, he shouted, "Davey Drummond, if you value your life, you'll cease your cackling,"
He felt a smug sense of satisfaction as he heard Davey quickly bring his mirth under control with only a few muttered words he couldn't distinguish. Wiping the last of the ooze from his face, he looked over to the entrance of the room. His satisfaction slid down his face just as surely as the poultice had done.
Standing beside his grinning friend was an old, bent man with a gray beard. Drummond motioned for the man to follow him into the room and approach the bed. "Ah, Alex, 'twould seem the physician has arrived just in time. Surely he can aid you in this latest malady that afflicts you."
Alexander could swear he saw a glimpse of mirth light the wizened old man's face, but by the time he stood beside the bed, the man wore a look of bland appraisal. Fixing a defiant glare on the newcomer, Alexander growled, "I need no physician."
A knowing smirk still tipped the corners of Davey's mouth. "Come now, man. Just moments ago, didna I hear you tell your wife you were still in need of a healer?"
"Davey, you go too far. Don't push me."
Drummond shrugged and walked toward the door. "Ne'er would I do that, old friend. 'Tis easy to see you are frail and still in need of care."
With a snarl, Alexander hurled the sticky bowl after him. It hit the chamber wall as Davey ducked through the doorway, laughing.
For several minutes, the physician poked and prodded at his new patient.
"Enough!" Alexander roared, halting the examination. "I tell you I have no need of your services."
The aged healer nodded as if in agreement. "Cursed if I ken why I was bid to travel here. 'Twould seem ye have a skilled healer in the castle already. Ye and the other lad will be hale soon enough. Och weel, I will reside here a few days to rest from my travel and then be on my way. On the morrow, I will examine ye again."
Alexander frowned as the healer left the room. Why had the physician gone to see William? Was he ill as well?
**
Over the next sennight, Alexander saw little of Katherine. She sent word that she was busy with her duties as lady of the castle. In truth, the last time she'd been in his chamber was three days ago, when that blasted healer had been breathing down his neck, poking at his chest, and asking a score of foolish questions. He'd enjoyed watching his beautiful wife folding linens at the far end of the room until the physician had mumbled aught about breathing and smacked his back soundly.
"Ow. What do you? Your task is to heal afflictions, not cause them. By thunder, you have all the gentleness of the village blacksmith!" A bright tinkle of laughter drew his attention. "And what bids you laugh, wife? Do you find such treatment amusing?"
His eyes narrowed to wary green slits as she turned to face him with that meek expression he'd seen before. Ah, but he would not be fooled so easily again.
Her gaze dropped to her hands. "Fie, no, my lord; I regard your care most seriously. In truth, if the healer should wish it, I would be pleased to prepare another poultice. A stronger one this time. The last seems to have worn off sooner than I had hoped." Smiling, she left the room followed by her sunny laughter as it echoed down the corridor.
Alexander reached up and pushed his hair out of his eyes. By Saint George's toes, he'd had to wash it so many times he'd feared there would be no hair left once the goo departed. A slow grin edged around the corner of his lips. Aye, the woman showed more spirit than most.
**
By God, he'd been wrong, so wrong. Now he must try to make amends if 'twere possible.
Alexander cursed himself under his breath, but looked William straight in the eye. 'Twas not easy to face the brother he'd sorely wronged. After questioning Davey and Malcolm over the last sennight, he now knew he'd made a grievous error. How could he have believed the worst about his brother and his wife? How?
"William, I—"
The younger man thrust his arm out, stopping him. "By God, you're an arse! We both owe our good health to your wife. Though why she would minister to you after the way you treated her, is beyond my understanding! You have a great deal to explain, brother."
Alexander drew a deep breath and nodded. He'd been unfaltering in his accusations. 'Twas his duty to admit his wrongs just as staunchly. "William, I still do not understand all that has happened, but I give you my word I was told outright the falsehood that spurred my actions. When I thought on things, I became so jealous, that I didn't consider the facts."
"What things? Your wife has been loyal to you at all times."
"Aye, I know that now. But when she thanked me for wedding flowers I didn't send her and I saw the shee—"
"God's blood, Alex! Do you mean to tell me you accused her of treachery because of some damn flowers? I sent them to her in your name because you were too busy to think of it."
Alexander shook his head, reluctant to tell his brother how he had been brought to believe Fiona's deceit. "There were other things, but I realize now my thoughts arose from the stupidity of a besotted fool. My action
s were damnably wrong."
With an unwavering look, he forced his shoulders back and faced his younger brother. He couldn't blame William if he refused to accept his apology. His behavior had been unforgivable. Taking a deep breath, he stretched out his open hand. "I deeply regret the dishonorable way I treated you and Katherine and ask your forgiveness for doubting either of you."
William stared at him in silence. Then he said, "Aye, you acted a right bloody fool and have much to atone for where it concerns your wife. For her sake, I hope you are as relentless in asking forgiveness as you were in condemning!"
He stood motionless with his fists clamped to his sides as his words echoed off the stone walls. Then, with a sigh, he thrust out his right hand. "But, if I had thought such a lady's love to have been lost, as Katherine's, I might have reacted the same way. Your wife is a wondrous lady and doesn't deserve to ever be treated unkindly. I leave for During Castle on the morrow. Think on my words."
Alexander nodded solemnly and clasped William's hand. "Today the younger brother shows more wisdom than does the elder. I vow 'twill be done."
**
The sun sought to chase the chill morning mist from the air as Katherine stood beside Alexander outside the castle doors. She watched as William, Laird Drummond and his men mounted their horses and prepared to leave. Another somber farewell. Was this all she would ever know?
Silently, Alexander took her arm and they walked down the steps to bid farewell. He seemed oddly ill at ease and cleared his throat before he spoke. "William, Davey… I… uh, I wish you safe journey." Then dropping his gaze, he bowed and strode up the steps and into the keep.
Katherine stiffened. It seemed she was left to say farewell alone. She walked over to Laird Drummond. "My lord, I wish you Godspeed. My husband is honored to have so great a friend." Then she turned to William and handed him a small pouch. "'Tis not much, but it may ease some of your discomfort in travel." She glanced at the closed door of the castle and back to him. "I have decided to stay. For a time."
Highlander's Bride (Heart of the Highlander Series Book 1) Page 21
