Hiding Katherine

at the door. Deanna wiped the tears from her face and took a deep breath before opening it. Their maid stood in the doorway with a large man.
She stepped into the room sobbing and shut the door behind her. Taking short breaths to be able to speak, she said, “Oh, ladies! The staff will not allow me to bring you any drink or food. They said the English could eat their own waste before they give you anything more to eat.”
Deanna rolled her eyes. “Hush Claudia, we will need to think of a plan to get out of here and soon.” She walked across the room and sat on a chair.
Katherine sat on the bed and asked, “Should we tell Grandmother?”
Deanna shook her head. “No, in fact, I am not sure if we will be able to see her again. The healer says she only has a few days left, and once she dies, we will have no protection at all.”
Tears welled up in Katherine’s eyes. “This is dreadful! We finally come all this way to see her only to be locked away.”
Deanna rubbed her lips together in deep thought. She stared at her sister forming a plan as Claudia whimpered in the corner of the room.
Katherine watched the worry cross her sister’s face. “What are we to do, Deanna?”
After a few seconds, Deanna stood up from the chair. Placing her hands on her hips, she glanced at Katherine on the bed. “Katherine, we are going to need to use any resource we can to get back to England. You could be the key to open our passage.”
Katherine shook her head not understanding. “Don’t speak in riddles, my sister. Tell me where to find this key.”
Deanna smiled and went to kneel in front of her. Taking her hand, she whispered, “That guard named Derrek who escorted us to our chamber is the laird’s son. He is quite smitten with you and has offered to deny his father’s orders to bring us food. A certain amount of encouragement from you could get us a way out of here.”
Katherine covered her mouth with her hand. “Eww. I couldn’t possibly. He smells and has dirty teeth.”
Deanna’s smile faded. “Katherine! Stop acting like a child. You say you no longer want to be coddled. This is your chance to help us! Women make sacrifices all the time, my little sister. A woman with no protection needs to use her charms and wit to keep herself safe. It’s time you used your beauty to benefit yourself instead of the men who would use you.”
Katherine widened her eyes, “I am not sure I know how.”
Deanna grinned. “Of course, you do. You tried to manipulate Father on several occasions. And don’t forget Sir William and our brothers.”
Katherine drew her head back defensively. “Our half-brothers never let me have my way. Always leaving me out of their fun. And Father was very stern.”
Deanna laughed. “Nonsense. Our brothers were too old to play with you and our father was immune to your charms. But Sir William was besotted and so is the guard Derrek. You have to use your womanly abilities to make him bend to your will.”
“Very well. I will try to do as you ask.” Katherine stood up and unplaited her hair. Golden curly locks fell to her waist and she pinned up her sides. Pinching her cheeks for some color, she also dotted some rose perfume on her wrists.
Deanna smiled at her with approval. “You will open the door when he comes.”

Chapter 4
A light knock thumped on the door. The women looked at each other not saying a word. Deanna whispered, “He will be more willing to speak to you if he thinks we are not listening.” She motioned to Claudia who took the pallet and lay next to the bed pretending to sleep. Deanna lay on the bed closing her eyes.
Katherine nodded knowingly at her sister. She slowly opened the door just a crack.
“I have some food for you.” Katherine opened the door a little more and let the huge man enter. He carried a basket and a jug of ale. Derrek had noticeably bathed and put his unruly hair back into a band. Not a handsome man, but quite a change from earlier in the day.
Katherine accepted the basket and walked with him to the table. Derrek glanced over at the women sleeping on the other side of the room. “I am glad you are awake.” His eyes fell on her as he nervously fumbled with the contents of the basket. He pulled out some cold mutton stew and two loaves of bread.
Trying to remember her task at hand, she smiled brightly and thanked him. Carefully batting her eyelashes to encourage his attention, she tried to remember how to flirt as Deanna had taught her. She never really understood why men fell for such trickeries.
He watched her closely, and she felt confident her ruse was working. He seemed almost in a trance for a few seconds with a bit of lust in his eyes. Breaking the silence, she tried to engage him in conversation. “We are in your debt.” She looked away shyly taking the stew and dividing it into three portions.
“You must dispose of the food quickly. There can be no evidence of my deception.”
She touched his arm softly. “I will do as you ask as soon as my sister and maid have eaten. I will not forget your kindness this day.”
He looked at her blushing. “I wish for you to walk with me. The guard will allow you to pass by and I will take you to the roof of the keep.”
Slightly panicked at being alone with him, she looked over at her sister who was still feigning a deep sleep. Not wanting to lose her chance, she agreed. “I would like that. Do you think we could see my grandmother?”
“I am not sure. Perhaps, on our way back down. The healer should be gone by then.”
Katherine