Her back straightened at the biting sound of his voice, but she did not turn, nor speak.
"Come here," Hugh demanded.
The entire kitchen came to a standstill as they waited for what was to come. They all looked on in rapt attention, expecting that the fallout from Rowena's lies had come at last.
Slowly, Rowena wiped her hands on her skirts then started across the short space, she kept her gaze low so fringed lashes shielded her eyes, her hands clasped in front.
She tried to pass him so they might speak in private, but Hugh did not budge. From here on out, if he could help it, there would be witnesses present when and if he spoke to Rowena.
He blocked her with his frame filling the only exit to the small chamber.
"Do you deny starting a rumor that upset my wife so much that she left the keep yesterday morn and was nearly killed?" he asked.
Rowena glanced up at him sharply with fright in her expression, then peeked around him out the door. "Was she injured?" she asked with a hint of excitement.
Hugh narrowed his eyes and bared his teeth at her. "You are verra lucky she was no. Now, answer me."
Rowena turned over her shoulder to look at the other women. "Mayhap I said something oot of line, but Hugh—" She reached out for him, to place her hands on his chest, but Hugh caught her by the wrists and held her at arm's length. He gave her one hard shake, his rage sparking.
"Hugh!" Her throaty contralto shot from placating to a shrewish pitch as her shock and outrage coalesced.
He glared on his former lover. "Henceforth, do'na use my given name. Now, turn yourself around and tell them the truth."
She blanched.
"Do it, or I swear by all that is holy, woman, I'm more of a mind to throttle you right here and now."
Rowena searched the rafters, her cheeks turning a deep hue as she hesitantly turned to face the other women. "I spoke a lie several days ago," she said on a half-whisper, hardly catching their attention.
Hugh gave her back a nudge. "Louder."
She cleared her throat. "I spoke a lie," she said, gaining stony expressions in return. "I'm sorry."
Gertie stopped what she was doing to level a hard glare on Rowena, and then snorted before returning to her work. The old woman muttered a string of Gaelic as she shook her head.
Another shove at Rowena's back prompted her on. "Hugh was never in my bed, no since returning. And as far as I ken, he has been in no other woman's bed, either, save that of his lady wife."
Giggles and chattering stirred up on the far side of the kitchen, the sound sparking Rowena's ire. Her face mottled with rage, and she clenched her fists.
Hugh bent around her shoulder. "There, now. Was that so hard?"
Rowena turned with an icy glower. "You'll regret this one day, highlander."
"Are you threatening your laird? Same as you have threatened my marriage with your lies?"
"I'll never come back to you. No after this."
Hugh straightened. "Good, I do'na want you back. There will never be anything between us again, Rowena."
On the verge of tears, Rowena started to shoulder past Hugh, but he caught her by the arm and gave her a shake.
"Repeat it, so I ken you and I are of an understanding."
A twitch ran alongside her nose. "Aye, nothing between us ever again. I understand." The bitterness in her tone carried into her stare as she glared at him once before pulling from his hold and fleeing the kitchen.
****
Catriona woke up with a start, Bess shaking her awake once again.
"What's wrong?" she asked with alarm, taking Bess's arms in her hands.
"Laird Hugh went to Rowena."
Catriona sat up straight, uncertainty curled a fist in her belly. Surely not.
"Oh, you should have seen her face, milady." Bess's face broke into a beaming smile.
"What do you mean? You witnessed him with her?"
"He turned her aboot in the kitchens early this morn and forced her to tell one and all that what she had said was a lie. I'd say the way Laird Hugh brought oot that admission took her down a peg or two." Bess clapped giddily. "This whole morn, after she returned, she has said hardly a word."
Immense relief flooded through Catriona, and she lifted a hand to her breast. "Is that so?" she asked absently, but inside she was smiling, butterflies flitting around her belly up to her heart.
Bess reached for the tray she had sat on the end of the bed and positioned it on her lady's lap before crossing the chamber to open the shutters for light and then went to Catriona's trunk to pull out a fresh gown.
Catriona picked through her breakfast, but quickly discarded the meal so she might dress quicker.
"I see the sun has peeked oot," she said as Bess worked her hair into a braid.
"Aye, milady."
Too bad she was barred indoors.
Catriona was forlorn at the thought, yet, there was more to her melancholy than that.
She had been wrong about Hugh, and she chafed with guilt, having put him through more than one false accusation when he had been true to her all along it would seem.
She regretted her arguments with him now more than ever.
When Bess finished, Catriona strolled to the chamber window to look out into the face of the bright Highland day. The rain had passed, leaving glistening drops in the trees and the ground drenched. The storm had washed away icy patches of snow and left behind mud and puddles. With the rain gone and the sun shining the morning could almost be termed balmy if a slight breeze wasn't blowing. Her hair waved and lifted in the window, and she breathed in all the warmth shining on her face from the heavens. The sunlight was like a warm bath of joy raining down over her.
Catriona sighed and then peered down on the warriors and servants coming in and out of the keep. She hoped her husband and Alaric would catch the person responsible for her fall and the arrow soon. The sooner they were apprehended, the sooner she could get back to her work and enjoy being out of doors once again.
"What is that awful sound?" Bess asked.
An erratic squawking caught her ear, too, and Catriona leaned out the window further, craning her neck to the side to see where the noise was coming from.
"'Tis Claude," she called back.
A flapping of white caught her eye at the edge of her garden. Her bedchamber almost overlooked the small, walled area except the garden was at the side of the keep. However, if she leaned out and craned her neck in a highly uncomfortable position she could see the short stone walls just barely.
Catriona sucked in a gasp.
Claude was flapping madly about in the garden, waddling over torn beams and over mounds of turned up earth.
"Nay!" Catriona fell back from the window several steps.
"What is it, milady?" Bess asked on a shriek, seeing Catriona's sickened reaction.
Catriona was already running for the door. She threw the heavy barrier open and lifted her skirts, continuing down into the hall as fast as her legs would carry her. She rushed past the guards who tried to block her, but failed as she had quite rushed them unexpectedly.
"Catriona!" Gillie called after her.
She heard the commotion at her back, the worried voices and running steps, but didn’t care. Didn’t care if Bess, Hugh, her cousin, or whoever else may be chasing her down was closing in.
She didn’t stop until she was at the entrance of her disheveled garden.
There she stopped cold.
"Catriona, stop." Gillie's hand closed about her arm just as she stopped of her own accord at the entrance and stared in at the mess before her.
"I do'na believe this!" she cried, crushed by the scene.
"You ken you are no supposed to leave the keep. No for any reason, and especially no for this garden," Gillie blustered around gasps for breath.
A multitude had followed them outside, half the warriors with their swords drawn as they searched the area for any sign of a threat.
Catriona pulled her el
bow from Gillie's hand as she turned and looked up at her cousin. "Where is my husband?" Her fury shot to the forefront of her dismay. "I will have someone held accountable for this." She swept an arm behind her at the scene.
"All right, come on then." Gillie gave a cursory glance over her shoulder at the garden. "We'll find him together, but you must come inside now. I've been told you are no to go oot for any reason, now do'na be getting me in trouble."
Catriona took a deep, quaking breath to steady herself. The sound rattled her chest, and she let out a heavy sigh tinged with anger.
All her hard work had gone to ruin now, and she had the distinct feeling she knew exactly who to blame.
****
"That woman has ruined everything," Catriona shouted as she stormed into the chambers Hugh and Alaric stood in, looking over a table with a map spread over the polished surface.
She began to tread a path, ignoring both men.
Hugh didn’t so much as flinch at first, allowing her words to sink in for a moment. He then moved a heavy marker into place to hold the map as it was before he straightened to study his wife. He glanced to Alaric.
"What's that, lass?" Alaric asked, saving Hugh.
Hugh frowned. "What has happened?"
She turned to Hugh, and her delicate hand squeezed into a fist, which she slapped onto her other palm. "My garden has been utterly destroyed, and I will hold someone accountable." Her cheeks flamed with anger, her eyes bright with her high emotions. She thrust a finger, pointing at the wall, but Hugh knew she pointed well beyond it, to the outside and the damages she claimed.
He cringed at the news of the garden, knowing how much time she had spent on it.
"And why do you think Rowena has done this?" he asked, his brow furrowed.
Catriona scoffed loudly. "Why else? Because you sent her away this morn and she is now angry and resentful over the turn she's been dealt."
Hugh came around the table, away from the tactical map where he and Alaric had been considering the weaknesses in their defense should McAlison or Barnaby attack.
"There has to be an explanation. Surely she could no have done this on her own. Alaric, will you see to the garden situation?" Hugh asked.
Alaric nodded and left them quickly.
Only when he was gone did Catriona step closer to her husband. "Why would she do this to me? I worked so hard, and no for myself, but for everyone." Catriona tossed up her hands. "The garden would have … would have…" Her shoulders fell, and Hugh pulled her into his arms.
"I ken you've worked hard. The garden shall be set to rights, I promise. No matter who is to blame."
"What did you say to her? Bess came to me again this morn with tales from the kitchens."
"Does it matter?" Hugh came closer and smoothed his hands over her hair. "You wished me to make her position clear. I did. You will'na be oot in the garden for a while yet anyway. All can be rebuilt before then."
Catriona was clearly too furious over the garden to be mollified right now, but sank into his embrace. Hugh held her a moment, but as soon as he let her go Catriona began stalking a path before him again, her arms crossed over her breast and hurt in her eyes.
"I am sick to death of all the threats." She paused to look at him. "What progress has been made on finding Tamsin?" she asked.
Hugh sighed hard and went to lean on the table, crossing his legs at the ankles. "We were just discussing the situation earlier. This shall take time, lass."
Catriona stopped and balled her hands at her hips. "It has taken entirely too much time already," she said on a grumble and began to pace again.
"I ken you're angry over your garden and worried for your friend, but we do'na ken it was Rowena. Someone may have destroyed the garden to draw you oot of the keep just as they succeeded in doing. Thankfully Gilbert was there to return you to safety."
Catriona stopped and looked at him with wide eyes, a hand coming to cover her mouth. "I never thought of that. Tell me this has no led you to imprisoning me in my chambers again?"
Hugh chuckled. "Nay, but we must take precautions." He eased off the table then and came to her. "I've much to do here, lass. As soon as Alaric returns I shall join the scouts in the wood to find oot if they have seen anything amiss."
Catriona sighed and rose on her toes to plant a kiss to his lips. "I suppose I can enjoy the warmth of the sun from a window. I suppose I shall collect Bess for company and return to my—" she rolled her eyes, "embroidery."
Hugh chuckled at her glum attitude toward the indoors. "Gilbert," he called. "Escort your cousin to her rooms and guard her chamber for the time being." And then to Catriona, "I shall see you this evening and perhaps we might take a stroll together. Until then, behave yourself."
Her spirits clearly perked, and she kissed him once more.
When she was gone, Hugh let out a curse to stir the dead.
Alaric returned a few moments later shaking his head. "Aye, 'tis destroyed. You shall be needing that place cleaned up and rebuilt before she sees it again. 'Twas the lass's refuge, you ken?"
Hugh growled and rolled his eyes. "Aye, I ken." He turned to the map once more, his eyes studying the terrain.
"Where is that lass?" he wondered aloud.
Catriona was his priority, but a number of days had passed since he had made any move to assist the young McLaren lass, and time, in her case, was of the essence.
Hugh drummed his fingers. "See to questioning Rowena. 'Tis best if I do'na speak with her for I am fair tempted to strangle that wench at this point. Yet I doubt 'twas her who has done this. 'Tis so much to be done here I do'na ken where to start, where the trouble begins or ends. Who shot an arrow at my wife, and who pushed her down a steep hill? Now her garden." Hugh threw his hands into his hair, dragging them to the back of his head where he laced his fingers at the base of his neck.
Alaric regarded him a moment. "Rowena, a king's angry brother, McAlison? Rowena is the jealous type and hotheaded, but while a ruined garden runs along her vein of revenge, if she could pull that disaster off on her own." He stopped to scoff and roll his eyes. "Murder is'na. I simply do'na see her taking wounded pride that far."
"Aye, me either. McAlison? What motive does he have to want Catriona dead?" Hugh asked.
"Methinks he would want Catriona alive. He wants the McLaren lass, and what better way to find Tamsin than through Catriona?"
Hugh shook his head. " 'Tisn't a better way." He released his hands from behind his head and braced himself against the table. "I want you to follow Catriona when you can. Find oot who else watches her every move so closely. Those scouts were close, but no close enough to ken her love for that garden. Only someone closer could ken that." Hugh glanced up to Alaric. "'Tis there we shall find the person behind this."
"A spy inside the keep?" Alaric gave a low whistle.
Hugh nodded.
****
Gillie on her heels, Catriona did not follow Hugh's direction. Not exactly. A small detour inside the keep would do no harm. She went straightaway to the kitchen, but Rowena was not there. She searched the hall below, unsure of what she planned to say to the other woman, but she wanted to confront her. She wanted the harlot to feel the heat of her anger.
"Erick, Gregor," Gillie called frantically.
Catriona whirled on him. "Nay, Gillie. I shall see this through. I will find Rowena before I am returned to my prison!"
"Come, take her to her rooms," Gillie called. "She's no having any of this."
Catriona had little time even to bare her teeth at her cousin before she was grabbed up and heaved forward toward the passage to her chambers. "Gillie!" she screeched.
Catriona dug her feet in all the way there, and to her mortification, she was pushed into Rowena just as the other woman exited the passageway. Rowena jumped back in alarm at seeing the commotion outside the narrow doorway. She glanced between the foursome, frowning, and then laughed.
Gillie had the decency not to force Catriona to suffer Rowena's humor
. "Release her," he said to the men.
Catriona was immediately unhanded, and she brushed herself off.
"Why?" Catriona shouted. "'Tis all I wish to ken. I've done naught to you."
Rowena's derisive laughter halted anything else Catriona would have said, but the sound turned her eyes as hard and cold as Rowena's had ever been.
"You have done nothing to me?" Rowena snarled, pointing a finger hard into her own chest. She took a step toward Catriona. Gillie and Jamie's men's hands went to their weapons. She gave them a reproachful stare and shook her head. "I'll no try to harm milady here and now." She gave a condescending bow, her lips turned at the corner tauntingly as she returned her stare to Catriona and rose.
"You did try to kill me, didn’t you? Before."
"You actually think you have a place here, do'na you?" Rowena asked.
"I am your—"
Rowena waved her off. "'Tis weel you learn now that a mercenary does'na care aboot anything or anybody. He may claim to have left his former life behind, but in his heart, Hugh is all mercenary. He will never care for you, just as he never cared for me. He will never bed you the same as me, or Galena, or any of the others. You are just his wife. Nothing more. I'll bide my time."
She pushed past them then and flounced across the hall. Catriona turned to notice a bag of sorts in her hand and briefly wondered if Rowena was leaving for the village as she had suggested Hugh send her there. She watched her until Rowena threw open the large doors and left them to fly back against the wall. She disappeared as servants rushed to close them behind her.
A hand to her arm startled Catriona, and she jerked free with a glower. "I can see myself to my own chambers, thank you." She turned to likewise flounce up the stairs.
Behind her, Gillie shook his head. The men looked between their ranks with various mutters about women floating between them.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Catriona glanced sideways at her husband over the top of her goblet as they sat in strained silence through a dragging meal. She hoped he would notice her, but alas he continued to brood over their lack of progress in finding out who had ruined her garden, and she sighed.
After their gentle interlude last evening—when Hugh had come to her rooms with his explanation—their relationship seemed on the mend, yet the threats toward them had her husband on edge more than ever. His stony expression only intensified her glum mood over her garden and being forced to stay inside. She had the feeling that her being cooped up inside for safety made him just as miserable.
Belonging to a Highlander Page 21
