Page 25 of Kilted Hate

“I have news, and it’s nae good,” Magnus said.

Domhnall frowned.

“Birlinns have been discovered on the south o’ the island,” Magnus continued. “Scouts have tried tae discover who they belong tae, but nae one seems tae ken anything.”

“Katherine would have traveled in on a birlinn,” Domhnall offered.

“Aye, but the boat would have left as soon as she was on shore. These are still moored. Besides, there are three o’ them. Even with the men she brought, Katherine would only have needed tae travel in one.”

“Ye’re saying there are people on the island that dinnae belong,” Domhnall growled.

Magnus gave his older brother a wary look, confirming the very same, and at that thought, Domhnall felt anger beginning to rise. Had their family not suffered enough? More to the point,who had arrived on the island without his knowledge, and where were they?

“Where are the scouts now?” Domhnall growled, struggling to keep his temper under control. He hated the fact that he still could not seem to get a handle on his emotions, even after all these years.

“I have them spread across the island, braither. It may tak’ some time, but we will get the answers ye seek.”

“If it’s the English, I’ll kill every one o’ the bastards,” Domhnall spat.

Magnus came to a stop and turned to face him. “Let’s nae jump tae any conclusions yet. With the wedding on the horizon, it could be guests travelling tae the castle.”

Domhnall took a deep breath. It was a possibility. A possibility that hadn’t even occurred to him.

“Aye. I suppose ye might be right.”

Magnus nodded. “But tae be sure, I’m heading tae the guard’s quarters tae send more men out.”

“Good.”

“I’ll see ye at supper,” Magnus replied, turning the corner and leaving Domhnall with his thoughts.

Turning back the way he had come, Domhnall now had other things on his mind other than his future wife. Magnus may well be right. It could be guests coming from the mainland. But what if it wasn’t? He wanted to be sure, and what better way to discover that than sending a missive to those who had been invited?

He was nearing his study and readying himself to enter it, when the door opening brought him to an immediate halt. No one ought to be in his study without his knowledge or consent. No one ever dared. Even his own siblings did not enter without asking him first. It was surprising enough to acknowledge the fact that anyone was in his study. Who he witnessed exiting it, however, astonished him even more.

Katherine was in the middle of closing the door, when she turned to find him standing there, looking down at her.

“Oh, my god,” she gasped.

“Not quite,” Domhnall replied, looking down at her expectantly.

Clearly surprised at seeing him there, Katherine looked flustered and then a torrent of words spoken so fast flowed from her mouth, that they nearly tripped over each other.

“Oh, er… there you are. I have been looking all over for you. I… I was searching for you. Well, not exactly searching for you, but I have been looking for you. I thought perhaps, that you might have been in your study, but evidently, you are not.”

“Clearly,” Domhnall replied dryly.

“No. No. Clearly.”

“And why were ye looking for me?” he asked, wondering if he ought to be suspicious about how nervous she looked.

“Well. I… I thought that perhaps, we might… that we might. Er…” she struggled, floundering some more.

It didn’t exactly help her case, for either she was making all this up as she went along, or Domhnall’s piercing gaze was unnerving her.

“Go for a walk,” she blurted, as though her memory had that very second been restored. “Yes. That’s it. I thought we might go for a walk. Perhaps you could help me gather some pine branches like the ones you have in your study. They smell wonderful, it reminds me of the coming holiday season.”

Had she been talking to Enya? Hadn’t that been the very thing his sister had suggested only half an hour before? Was this some kind of conspiracy between the women to get them closer?

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