Dangerous Pride (45 page)

“If only I got that kind of response from all the beautiful lasses I meet,” Iain joked as he drew his sister closer for a heartfelt hug.  “It looks like marriage agrees with you, Catriona.  I have ne’er seen you looking more lovely.”

Catriona smiled her thanks, taking comfort in the small measure of confidence his compliment instilled in her.  “You have no idea how glad I am to see you,” she said softly as she stood back, her eyes settling on her husband for a brief moment before she returned her gaze to Iain.  “I fear I am in great need of an ally this evening.”

“You need no’ worry, little sister,” Iain returned comfortingly, misinterpreting the direction from which her anxiety stemmed.  “I’m sure yer big oaf of a husband will protect you from our da.”  With a start, Catriona turned again to acknowledge her husband as he stood silently before them, a cold look in his eyes as he took in every detail of his wife’s appearance.  Refusing to flinch under his demeaning appraisal, she instead offered him a curt nod before turning her attention back to her brother.

“Certainly, Iain, but it’s always comforting to have yer kin watch yer back when you go into battle, do you no’ think?”  Iain’s gaze flickered between the couple as he sensed the tension between them.  Catriona seized the opportunity of his indecision to take matters into her own hands.  Quickly she slipped her arm into the crook of Iain’s elbow, turning to face her husband with the brightest smile she could muster.  Despite his paleness, Lachlan looked so handsome in his evening clothes that it took every ounce of her willpower to stand firm against his considerable charms.  “You will no’ mind if Iain sees me to dinner tonight will you, my lord?  After all, I have no’ seen my brother in some time.”

“Aye, wife, I ken you’ve positively pined for his company,” Lachlan replied, his eyebrow arched as he struggled to contain his amusement.  He had to give the lass credit – she was certainly prepared to marshall the forces for the battle that loomed ahead.  If being with her brother gave her a sense of comfort, he had no intention of standing in her way.  “Yer verra lucky Iain chose to return to Boyne this afternoon, or you would have been denied the pleasure of his scintillating conversation.”

Any doubts Iain may have had about the state of his sister’s marriage evaporated as he witnessed the undercurrent of tension between the two.  Instead of fanning the flames, he  attempted to defuse the awkwardness with humor.  “Surely you canna begrudge me the company of my sister, particularly when she is looking as beautiful as she is this evening?  It is hardly fair for you to keep such a greedy hold on her company, though I suspect I would do the same if I had a wife as comely as Catriona.”  The look that was exchanged between the two men said more than words ever could.  After a long moment, Lachlan nodded his consent, then turned to speak with Rory, who had appeared at his arm.

Catriona’s heart caught in her throat as Iain led her away from her husband, and towards the back of the great hall.  “Thank you, Iain,” she said quietly, her eyes frantically scanning the room for any sign of the Earl.  “I do no’ think I could bear to face him on my own.”

Iain lay a comforting hand on his sister’s arm as he steered them closer to the table, idly nodding his greetings to the various kinsmen they passed.  “Then perhaps you should seek the support of yer husband, lass,” he said finally, noting the way her grip on his arm tensed.  “But that is a discussion for another time – though mark my words, we will discuss it.  For now, though, let’s just concentrate on surviving the night relatively unscathed.”

Catriona smiled her gratitude, thankful for her brother’s kind nature as he distracted her with tales of his life in Edinburgh.  His efforts to transfer many of his responsibilities to Colin Fraser had not been going smoothly, and his amusing stories helped keep her mind off the matters before her.  Iain intended to be situated at Boyne within a matter of weeks, to reinforce his position as heir to Boyne Castle and the Earl’s holdings.  It was soon clear that her brother had much work to accomplish in that short span of time.  Not the least of his worries was their father’s unfounded faith in Calum Leslie, though he and Lachlan had clearly developed a strategy for overcoming that hurdle.

After some time, Catriona heard her father’s voice booming from the main entrance of the Hall.  Despite his frail health and advanced years, he still enjoyed commanding the attention and respect of his people at every opportunity.  That was no doubt as to the reason he had fallen victim to Calum’s empty flattery and manipulative nature.  Strange, Catriona reflected, how the very traits that had made her father seem so brave and impressive when she was younger now seemed to be merely sad reflections of a tired, overbearing old man.

Iain leaned over, drawing his sister closer as he bent to whisper in her ear.  “It will be over before you ken it,” he counseled as their father drew near.  “The worst will soon be behind you.”  Catriona nodded gratefully, but the Earl had reached them before she had a chance to reply.

“It has been a long time since we have welcomed you within the walls of this keep,” he offered, his words stilted and critical. 
And you still don’t welcome me
, Catriona wanted to reply, but instead she fixed a smile on her face while she held her tongue.

“Father,” she replied cooly, her own tone matching his.  Her father’s hair, once a vibrant auburn, similar to her own, was now almost entirely grey.  His sturdy frame, always prone to fat, had thickened over the years, and his eyes, once bright and intelligent, were now dull with fatigue and age.

There were dark circles under his eyes, and though he was immaculately groomed, his reddened, veined face showed evidence of his excessive indulgences.  “Really, Catriona, at yer age you should ken better than to wear that shade of blue,” he stated after staring at her dispassionately for some time.  “It makes you look like a bairn.”

Catriona shrugged indifferently before she even realized what she was doing.  In that moment, she recognized within herself a strength and security she hadn’t known she possessed.  Instead of feeling any pain at her father’s insults, she felt only contempt and pity for the man.

Once, she had lived her life starved for his affection and approval.  Now that she was no longer a young, terrified child, she understood his acceptance was no longer important to her.  In an instant her fears for the confrontations she would face that evening vanished, and she felt completely at ease.

“Thank you for yer warm welcome,” she replied as she smiled at her father, her amusement apparent to all who had watched the exchange.  “The hospitality at Boyne Castle is every bit as generous and enthusiastic as I had remembered.”

At her side, Iain coughed suddenly in a frantic attempt to stifle the laughter that threatened to overtake him.  When it became clear the Earl was too shocked to speak, Iain took a half step backwards and gestured to the head table.  “I think perhaps it is time we take our places for dinner.”  With a curt nod, Seafield stomped to the table, a scowl firmly in place as he ignored the greetings of their clansmen.  Iain and Catriona exchanged a look of triumph as they slowly followed behind.  “You really should no’ bait them like that, you ken,” Iain chided gently, his eyes twinkling with mischief.  “But I must admit that I enjoyed every word.”

Lachlan, too, had been absorbed by the exchange.  The moment his wife had walked into the hallway, he had been struck by how beautiful – and vulnerable – she looked.  He had to fight the urge to run to her side, to offer his strength and support, but he knew he could not give into the desire to close the distance between them.  Catriona needed to overcome these particular demons on her own if she were to move forward, a woman confident and comfortable in herself.

And he wasn’t sure he was ready yet to acknowledge the feelings Catriona was awakening in him.  Indeed, he decided, it was wiser for him to keep his distance until he had his own emotions under control.

He had been grateful, and a little relieved, when Iain had come to his sister’s rescue.  Lachlan had not yet had an opportunity to speak to his friend about what had transpired of late, and he knew that his brother-by-marriage would be curious about the tension between the newlyweds.  There was naught he could do about it now, he reasoned, as he slowly made his way to the dais.  Catching sight of Rory entering the room, he motioned for the man to sit with him for the evening meal so they could discuss their plans.

The rest of the immediate family members and guests had already been seated on the dais when Lachlan neared the table.  The Earl sat in the center.  Iain sat at his right, and beside him sat Catriona.  Distant relatives and guests filled the other chairs, and it was Lachlan’s intent to take the two seats that remained at the very end for himself and Rory.

He was barely seated when Seafield’s deep baritone voice boomed across the room.  “Have they taught you so few manners that you do no’ ken where to sit at the table, lad?”  The Earl’s voice managed to bring every other conversation in the great hall to a grinding halt, as dozens of curious eyes were riveted on the scene unfolding before them.  Clearly enjoying all the attention, the Earl was not content to insult only his son-in-law.  “Or rather, should I assume my daughter displeases you so much you canna bear to sit with her? ”

Lachlan unconsciously flexed his left hand as he considered Seafield’s insults.  The slurs to his own character he could handle without complaint, but the way the man treated his daughter was beyond forgiveness.  Lachlan’s eyes strayed to his wife, who sat stiffly in her chair, her eyes downcast as she absorbed her father’s condemnation in front of the entire clan.  He knew the lass was doing her best to present a brave front, but her father’s words had wounded her.

That, he couldn’t abide.

Slowly, Lachlan turned to face his father-by-marriage, fixing him with a dark look that usually sent men scurrying for cover.  “yer too kind to think of our comfort, my lord,” he said finally, his eyes never leaving the older man’s cold,  questioning stare as he made his way to his wife’s side.  “I thought only to give my wife a chance to visit with her brother, from whom she has been parted for too long.  If it would please you, I would be only too happy to enjoy my beautiful wife’s company.  As I do every night,” he stressed as he reached Catriona’s side.  His temper soothed, his eyes now bright with mischief, he pulled his wife to her feet, claiming her lips in an all-consuming kiss that had the clan breaking into spontaneous applause.

The Earl waved his hand dismissively, disappointed that the younger man hadn’t risen to the bait, then abruptly turned to signal to the staff to begin serving the evening meal.  Soon everyone’s attention was diverted to the food that was placed before them.  Lachlan was pleased to note that the wounded expression on Catriona’s beautiful features had been replaced by a look of surprise.  And passion.  With a nod of acknowledgment, Iain stepped back to allow his brother-in-law to take his seat, then made his way to the end of the table to join Rory.  Catriona’s gaze remained unfocused as she absently placed her fingertips atop her now swollen lips.

“Thank you,” she whispered after several long moments, when she finally found her voice.  “I ken it is no’ the way you would have chosen to take yer meal.  But it would be…hurtful…for me if everyone were to see the tension between us.”

“You did no’ deserve to be embarrassed in full view of yer kin, Catriona,” he replied, smiling at her warmly in the hopes of forestalling any further gossip in the castle.  “Besides, it is time we put the past behind us and concentrate on the future.”

Surprised by his new attitude, Catriona could only guess at what had prompted the sudden change in her husband.  Unwilling to risk the tenuous peace, she chose instead to postpone that discussion.  “I hope you can forgive my father,” she said instead.  “He does no’ realize how hurtful his words can be.”

“It is no’ yer fault, lass, nor yer place to apologize” Lachlan replied, turning his attention to the meal before him.  Shyly, Catriona reached out and covered his hand with her own, silently acknowledging his support.  Gently, he squeezed her hand, his eyes twinkling as he raised her palm to his lips.

The rest of the meal passed with a minimum of conversation.  Lachlan requested an audience with the Earl after dinner, and was grudgingly given an invitation to join him in his den later that night.  Other than that brief exchange, the two men studiously avoided each other.

Catriona endured the meal, but was only able to manage a few small bites of the food that were placed before her.  The serving staff saw to it that her glass was never empty, and before long she was lightheaded from the wine and lack of food.  The events of the day had taken their toll, and soon it took all her energy just to keep her eyes open.

When her father waived in the entertainers who had been engaged for the evening, she knew she would be unable to endure much more.  Quietly, she leaned over to whisper to Lachlan that she wanted to retire to her room for the evening.  With a nod he pushed himself up from the table, standing to help her from her chair.  The room spun around her as she rose from her chair, and Catriona was grateful for the steadying presence of Lachlan’s hand at her waist as she politely bid goodnight to her father and brother.  The rest of the guests were amused at their early departure, but quickly forgave the newlyweds their desire for privacy after offering their boisterous, rowdy farewells.

“Steady, lass,” Lachlan whispered as he steered her from the room.  “If I did no’ ken better, I would think that you’ve had a wee bit too much to drink this evening.”

Catriona could only nod, not trusting herself to reply.  Nausea swept through her stomach in rolling waves, and she was beginning to doubt her ability to make it to her room under her own steam.  Sensing her unease, Lachlan slowed his pace and peered down into her pale face.  “You look a little green around the gills, lass,” he said as they reached the entrance to the great hall.  “Do you think you can make it to the room?”  When she shook her head, he cursed softly under his breath, sweeping her into his arms as if she weighed nothing at all.  “Like as not, they will think I’m a besotted groom who canna wait to have his bride all to himself.  Hang on, lass.  We’ll be there in but a minute.”