Page 71 of Kilted Hate

Katherine’s eyes flew wide at his words, but worried that her brother would see her shock, and that he might react once more with violence, she dulled her expression, watching him while trying to maintain a lifeless face.

“After that, we can blackmail the others. No doubt, his siblings will give anything for his safe return, and I do think deeds to these lands would be a fine exchange.”

Reginald suddenly spun and stared at her.

“What do you think, Katherine?”

He was testing her, she knew that. The brother she had always thought she had clearly did not exist, and now, fearful for her own life, for she had a very real feeling that he would have no qualms at all in taking hers, she had to think quickly. Agreeing with this madman just wasn’t going to be enough.

“There… there are not many times he is alone,” she stammered. “It is not going to be easy.”

“Which is why I need you,” Reginald replied, his tone as calm as though they were discussing the weather. “Now, I need to know exactly where he will be tomorrow night.”

Katherine looked confused and then shook her head. “I have no idea,” she replied. “He is in many places at different times of the day.”

“So, supper is not at a given time?” Reginald pressed.

“Yes, but?—”

“And afterward, does he not retire to his study and play chess with Magnus, his brother?”

Katherine frowned, for she could not understand how he could possibly know that. But Reginald only smiled a cold, mirthless smile, his blue eyes piercing into hers.

“You didn’t actually believe I was going to leave my revenge to chance, did you, Katherine? That I was going to rely on you alone, a woman whose heart is as fickle as the day is long?”

Katherine felt pained at his words, but now understood that Reginald was getting his information from someone else. There was a spy in the castle, or at least, the castle grounds.

“So,” Reginald continued, “am I correct? Does the laird retire after supper?”

“Yes. Yes, he does.”

“Good. Then I will need you to ensure that that is exactly what happens tomorrow night, do you understand?”

Katherine nodded. “I do.”

“Excellent. Then it is high time that you return to the castle before anyone begins to miss you. We can’t have any one getting suspicious, can we?”

Hands grabbed at Katherine, shoving her roughly to her feet. The man behind her then took her by the arm and led her to the wooden door. Just as Katherine was about to step through it, she heard Reginald’s voice.

“Just to be clear, Katherine. If Laird MacLeod is not in his study tomorrow night after supper, his whole family will die.”

He glared at her with a steely expression.

Katherine then turned from him. Stepping out of the tiny building, she was astonished to find herself in the courtyard of the castle.

Reeling at the realization that she had never left, Katherine stumbled across the courtyard, wondering how her brother and his men had managed to get themselves past the guards at the gate, sneak around the gardens, and take her against her will.Maybe it had something to do with the spy they already had in place.

What does that matter? You have bigger problems.

And indeed, she did. But after all the time she had spent considering her options earlier, she now knew exactly what she was going to do. She did not have a choice. There was not a chance she was going to let her brother get his hands on Domhnall, no matter how badly this was going to turn out for her.

She loved him. She simply could not let him come to any harm. Clearly, her brother was a madman, and while he believed he had fooled her with his talk of blackmail and lands, it was clear Reginald wanted Domhnall dead. There would be no ransom, nor any exchange for Domhnall’s life. He was in dire danger. It was now up to her to tell him so.

Avoiding eye contact with anyone in the corridors, Katherine hurried back to her bedchamber. If she was going to tell him the truth, she also wanted him to know how deeply she felt about him. It was doubtful he would want to hear that after what she had to say, but she was determined to write him a letter.

It would be something. Something of herself that she could leave behind. He would likely hate her for the rest of his life, but he had to know how she felt. How sorry she was that she had lied to him. How she wished she could have had the courage to tell him the truth before now. How he had shown her how to be the person she had always aspired to be, and how she had only beenable to do it with his love, encouragement, and support. How she had never loved a man before she had met him, and how her heart would be broken for the rest of her days without him.

Hurrying down the corridor with all these thoughts flying through her mind, she reached her bedchamber. Barging through the door, she came to a sudden halt, gasping a great breath in.

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