Page 45 of Kilted Hate

Of course, he was. He had stood there and watched Katherine, Enya, and Thora enjoying the walk she had mentioned earlier. He just didn’t want Magnus to know how he was beginning to feel about her.

“Ye ken ye cannae hide anything from me, so why are ye trying?” Magnus said, walking to his desk and looking down at him. “This morning when I was sparring with Katherine, yer mind was a muddled mess o’ jealousy and possession.”

“I’ve told ye ‘afore, Magnus. Stay out o’ me head.”

“That’s hard tae dae when yer thoughts are so loud,” his brother quipped back.

Domhnall jerked his head and stared at his brother. “Ye ought tae be pleased. Are ye nae the one who told me that I had tae talk tae her and make this situation easier?”

“Aye, I am,” Magnus said, moving back to his chair by the fire. “I’m just wondering what’s changed. I mean, a few days ago, ye could hardly look at her. Now, ye cannae keep yer eyes off her.”

Domhnall sighed heavily. “Maybe I just took yer advice, and realized there was naething I could dae about it. Maybe I’m just trying tae mak’ the best o’ all o’ this.”

“And if I was any other man in the castle, I’d believe ye. But I’m yer brother, Domhnall. I ken ye nearly as well as ye ken yersel’. What’s changed?”

Domhnall sat there for a long moment thinking about that answer. In the end, he could only tell Magnus the truth.

“Honestly,” he said, shaking his head, “I dinnae ken.”

The two brothers looked at each other for a long moment, until eventually, Magnus sighed and nodded his head. “I just dinnae want tae see ye get hurt, braither.”

“How am I going tae get hurt? I have tae marry her whether I want tae or nae.”

“I ken that. But just because ye’re being forced tae marry, doesnae mean ye have tae get yer heart broken,” Magnus said quietly.

Domhnall was now more confused than ever.

“Have ye heard her thoughts? Is that it? Ye have heard something that I ought tae be worried about?”

His brother shook his head. “Nay. I havenae. In fact, when she was out this morning, she was worried about ye being angry that she was sparring with me.”

“Then where is all this coming from?” Domhnall gestured animatedly.

“I want tae give her the benefit o’ the doubt, Domhnall, but ye have tae admit, we hardly ken anything about this lass. Besides, dinnae ye think it’s a little coincidental that those men attacked ye yesterday, just a few days after her arrival?”

Domhnall now stood and moved from behind his desk. “Ye cannae honestly believe Katherine had anything tae dae with that attack. She was terrified, Magnus.”

Magnus shook his head. “I’m nae saying she did. I suppose I’m just playing devil’s advocate. I’m trying tae keep yer head straight.”

“If anything, ye’re only confusing me more,” Domhnall retorted. “First ye tell me tae spend time with this woman, now ye’re warning me tae stay away.”

“I said naething about staying away. I only want ye tae watch yer back.”

At supper that evening, Domhnall watched Katherine enter the great hall with Enya and Thora. The three were talking animatedly as they approached the table, and were still talking when they took their seats. But as Thora and Enya moved further down the table, Katherine caught Domhnall’s eye, and her cheeks bloomed. They hadn’t seen each other since the episode in his bedchamber, and now, having to face him was evidently making Katherine a little uncomfortable.

“Did ye enjoy yer walk?” Domhnall asked.

“I did, thank you,” she replied, seemingly relieved that he was talking of something less embarrassing.

But Domhnall wasn’t going to let her off that easily, and leaning closer to her ear, he said, “I suppose ye needed a little fresh air. It’s nae every day ye get tae spy on a gentlemen bathing.”

Again, her face flushed, but she surprised him with her reply. “Indeed, especially when I got far more than I bargained for. Now I know what a gentleman does while he bathes, and I will be certain to make sure the water is changed before I decide to bathe myself.”

Domhnall couldn’t help himself. He chuckled so deeply and loud that he caught the attention of all those sat on the table with him. While Thora and Enya grinned at their brother’s amusement, though they could not know the subject he and Katherine were discussing, Magnus only smiled. His smile did not reach his eyes, though.

After Magnus had left his study later that afternoon, Domhnall had been intrigued by his brother’s strange change of mind. If he had heard any untoward thoughts from Katherine, he would have told Domhnall the truth, but he hadn’t. So, what was the real reason for his change of heart?

Supper came and went uneventfully, and later, the women headed off together. Domhnall was about to make his way to his study, when Magnus stopped him in the corridor.

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