Highland Vixen Page 26
He made it sound like she was to be pitied, and that stirred her temper. Katherine lifted her chin in defiance. “I find my circumstances very well.”
Shamus offered her a grunt of approval. “Aye, that pleases me, and yet ye are, as both me sons have noted, a woman grown now. The Church might overlook a fair number of things when youth is involved. They are not so lenient when it comes to adults.”
Katherine didn’t care for the feeling that a noose was being slipped over her neck. She recalled that feeling from when she was young and living in England. What she detested was the way tears stung her eyes.
She did not cry.
And hadn’t since the day the Earl of Morton had looked at her like a creature to be bartered. She’d realized growing strong was her only way to avoid becoming exactly what he saw her as. She would be more than a thing.
“Well…” Shamus resumed tapping the top of his desk. “I’m glad to see that ye agree with me, lass.”
“You have yet to tell me what you wish of me.”
“Aye.” Shamus made a motion with his hand. “Ye’ll need to keep company with the women. Helen will instruct ye on the running of a house.”
“And ye will keep a skirt on,” Marcus added sternly. “No more kilts.”
She knew that voice. Had trained under it and learned to respect it because Marcus was preparing the youths of the clan for the realities of life, where his training would mean the difference between surviving and an early grave.
Arguing with him felt wrong because he’d given her so many years of joy, and yet she felt cut to the bone by his order. So she lowered herself and left.
She hadn’t been dismissed, but Shamus didn’t call after her. She needed fresh air, feeling like a stone was crushing her chest.
But relief wasn’t hers just yet. Robert appeared next to her, clearly having been waiting for her meeting with the laird to be finished.
“It’s for the best,” Robert began, his soft tone grating against her frayed nerves.
“Don’t you dare speak to me in that fashion.” She turned on him.
His eyes widened.
“Like you do to a child,” Katherine clarified.
Robert stiffened. Somehow, she’d failed to notice his shoulders had widened and his chin was covered in a full growth of hair now.
“I’m no talking to ye like ye’re a child,” Robert said, defending himself. “Just—”
“Like a woman?” she demanded. “Go take the hand of Satan and walk yourself to hell.”
His cheeks darkened. “Ye have to stop talking like that too. Women do nae curse.”
“Easily accomplished,” she informed him. “For I will not be speaking to you anymore.”
She turned to leave, but Robert reached out and caught her wrist. The bit of strength was there, one she knew and detested because it proved that time was going to destroy the life she had thought she’d built.
“Kat,” he said. “Do nae be cross with me. Ye are a woman, and they are right. The bloody Gordons will no’ rape me. Ye need to keep to yer place. Do ye want to be known as a hellion? No man will ever have ye if that happens.”
“And so my entire worth should be measured by what a man wants me?” She scoffed at him. “My prospects for a good match died when I was abducted by the Earl of Morton.”
Robert didn’t disagree. He wanted to, opening his mouth but shutting it when he couldn’t form an argument.
“Keep yer hands off me,” she declared before she twisted and stepped to the side, breaking his grip. “And do not follow me to speak to me alone. It is improper.”
She turned her back on him and found Marcus considering them. She lifted her chin and shot him a hard look.
Wasn’t that what they all wanted? Her acting like a woman?
Well, she’d certainly not be apologizing.
Even though she ached to, for Robert was her only true friend.
And now, she was forbidden that comfort.
Why had Fate cursed her with being a female?
Order Mary Wine’s next book
in the Highland Weddings series
Highland Hellion
On sale June 2017
About the Author
Mary Wine is a multi-published author in romantic suspense, fantasy, and Western romance. Her interest in historical reenactment and costuming also inspired her to turn her pen to historical romance with her popular Highlander series. She lives with her husband and sons in Southern California, where the whole family enjoys participating in historical reenactment.
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