Page 13 of Kilted Hate

“So,” Katherine paused, thinking about the other men she had met earlier that day, “there are five of you altogether. Or is there more that I am yet to meet?”

“Nay. It appears that ye have met us all,” Thora said. She then gestured to the bath. “The water’s hot, and I’m sure ye would like tae change yer clothes. Though with the late hour, perhaps ye would prefer tae ready yersel’ fer bed.”

The woman glanced toward the huge four poster bed. Only then did Katherine notice a clean set of clothes and a nightgown had been laid out for her.

“Indeed, I would. Thank you.”

As the sisters helped her undress, they spoke about the upcoming Yule festivities.

“The Yule tree will be selected soon, and then, they will bring it intae the castle,” Thora said.

“The Yule tree?” Katherine frowned.

“Och, aye. It is specially chosen and brought intae the castle with great ceremony. It will be placed on the fire and lit with a torch made from a piece o’ wood left over from last year’s Yule log.”

Enya smiled at Katherine’s confused expression. “For twelve days at the end o’ December, the sun stands still. It is why the days grow shorter and shorter. If we can keep the yule log burning bright for those twelve days, then we might persuade the sun tae move again, and the days will once again grow longer.”

“And what happens if you can’t?” Katherine asked. “What if the fire goes out?”

The two sisters gasped. “We will suffer terrible luck fer the rest o’ the year if the log stops burning,” Enya declared. “That is why we have made certain fer that never tae happen.”

Katherine could not help but feel astonished at their superstition. Of course, there were plenty of similar stories in England, but she had never heard the likes of a dying fire bringing bad luck for an entire year.

Now undressed, she slipped into the hot water and let out a delighted sigh. It was the first time she had truly felt warmth since crossing the border. The sisters continued to attend her, while at the same time, talking excitedly about what Yule festivities they were looking forward to.

“I cannae wait for the mince pies,” Thora said. “They are me favorite thing at this time o’ year.”

“What about the black bun?” Enya said.

“The black bun?” Katherine frowned.

Enya nodded eagerly. “Och, aye. It is a deliciously rich fruit cake, almost solid with fruit, almonds, and spices, all bound together with plenty o’ whisky. It is baked upon a rich pastry, and is truly delicious.” She smiled widely.

At the sound of it, Katherine’s mouth began to water, for though she had stubbornly refused to eat the food that had been sent down to her, she now felt hunger pangs in her stomach.

“They might even make it as yer wedding cake,” Enya added, “fer yer marriage will tak’ place at the same time.”

Katherine wanted to dislike these women as much as she did their brother, but with their kind regard, and warm welcome, she simply found it impossible. They were both just too lovely. However, at the mention of her marriage, other thoughts seeped into her mind.

Reginald was determined to destroy the MacLeod clan, which of course, would include the family. The marriage was never to take place, if all went to plan. But upon spending just this small time with Enya and Thora, Katherine couldn’t help but feel guilt at what was going to happen to them. What they would go through if her plan with her brother succeeded.

Sometime later, when Katherine was dressed in her thin nightgown, the sisters bid her farewell.

“Good night, me lady,” Enya said.

“Please, call me Katherine,” Katherine said.

Perhaps she ought not to get herself too attached to the women, knowing what was going to happen, and yet, at that very moment, an overwhelming feeling of needing connection to another washed over her. She was playing a dangerous game, allowing herself to like the sisters, but she found she simply could not help herself.

“Goodnight, Katherine,” Thora said with a smile, before she and Enya slipped out of the room and closed the door quietly behind them.

When she found herself finally alone, Katherine looked around her large bedchamber and heaved a sigh. The day had not gone the way she imagined it might, and now, she was completely exhausted.

As she slipped into the huge four poster bed and pulled the coverlets to her chin, even the thoughts of her father, Reginald, and what her future held could not stop the exhaustion from overtaking her, and with her head sinking into the soft pillow, she closed her eyes and fell immediately to sleep.

While she tossed and turned in the night, for her bed was far softer than she was used to, Katherine was still very drowsy when a noise roused her. At first, she could hardly force her eyes to open, but the more she wakened, the more aware she became of the noise coming from inside her bedchamber.

Eventually forcing her eyes open, she pushed herself up in the bed, and peered across the room. In that second, her eyes flew open at the sight of Laird MacLeod sitting in a chair by the fire, thumbing through her book. The same book that contained her list of sins.

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