Page 19 of Kilted Hate

“Get away from me,” she shrieked.

She was unharmed, but clearly humiliated, and as she struggled to wade through the water, Domhnall’s eyes fell to her gown. Clinging to her body, it showed off every curve, including her pert nipples that, with the cold, now peeked through her soaking wet clothing.

Good God!

He then realized that all his men could see what he could, and swinging around, he barked, “Turn around and keep yer eyes averted.”

Immediately, the men did as they were told, all of them looking a little embarrassed that they hadn’t done so without being asked.

With her body shaking from the cold, Lady de Beaumont finally climbed out of the stream, and even with her skin turning blue, it was clear she was raging with anger.

“That is how you win your battles, is it? By being a complete brute?”

But Domhnall didn’t care that she was angry. The guilt of what he had done was eating him. It was one thing to lose his temper with his men, but a completely different thing to lose it with someone so delicate as the woman who stood shaking with cold in front of him.

Magnus had retrieved the shawl that had fallen from her shoulders in battle, and approaching her with it held in front of him, so he could not look upon her body, he handed it to her.

Snatching it from his hands, she wrapped it around her shoulders, and stormed past the brothers. But then she stopped and abruptly spun around to face Domhnall.

“As strong as you are, you are nothing more than a bully. Your men might respect your strength, but it takes more than brutish force to be a man. Indeed, you are stronger than I, but you will discover, Laird MacLeod, that I will not be dismissed so easily.”

Domhnall opened his mouth to speak, but she had already spun on her heels and was storming back to the castle before he had a chance to say anything. All he could do was watch her go.

“Well done, brother,” Magnus snarled sarcastically. “First Kai, and now ye. I’m sure Lady de Beaumont feels right at home now.”

Domhnall had no words to defend himself, and instead, barked to his men that training was over. As they quickly dispersed, Domhnall could only stand there feeling like an idiot. A very guilty idiot.

He had known what she was doing, and instead of letting her words wash over him, he had allowed her to trigger his darkest regrets. It made him wonder if she knew about his family and the losses they had sustained. Surely, she wouldn’t be so cruel. After all, she had lost her own father in battle.

It doesnae matter what she kens. Ye cannae lose control around her ever again.

No. He couldn’t. He had been intrigued by her boldness, but whether she knew it or not, she had managed to reach the pain he kept hidden deep inside. It was no excuse. He had to get a handle on himself when he was near her.

“Are ye happy now?” Magnus said.

“O’ course, I’m nae happy,” Domhnall spat. “I should’ve stopped the first time ye called me name.”

“Aye, ye should,” Magnus said knowingly. “She’s hurting as much as ye, ye ken. Neither o’ ye want tae be in this position. Butye ken yer strength, Domhnall. Ye cannae allow yersel’ tae lose it again like that when ye’re near her.”

“Get out o’ me head, Magnus.”

“Actually, I wasnae in yer head, braither,” Magnus replied. “I’m just talking sense.”

“Aye. Well. I have things tae be getting on with,” Domhnall said before walking away.

Indeed, there were things he needed to attend to, but on his way to his study, he would divert to the kitchen and get Cook to make up some manchet bread with butter and honey. It was hardly going to fix what he had done, but it was an olive branch of sorts.

Ye mean, it’ll alleviate yer guilt.

He wished it would, but it wasn’t going to be that easy.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Though her body shook with cold, Katherine’s face burned with embarrassment as she ran through the castle. Down each corridor, she met surprised and aghast faces of servants, all of whom tried to ask her if she needed help. But Katherine only continued on, determined to get to her bedchamber in the least possible time.

Once inside, she slammed the door behind her and proceeded as fast as she could to remove her soaking clothes. Still shivering, her hands could barely undo the ties of her corset, and her trembling body was hardly helping. Layer by layer, Katherine eventually removed all of her clothes, leaving them in a pile on the floor before slipping into her nightgown and moving in front of the fire.

Standing there with her hands outstretched, a small moan of relief left her lips as she began once more, to feel her fingertips. The rest of her body warmed, slowly but surely, to the point that she had to step back from the flickering flames for the heat was nearly burning her skin.

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