Hiding Katherine

took her shawl and covered her head. Derrek opened the door and spoke a few words of Gaelic to their guard who turned around ignoring the couple as he pulled her into the corridor. They walked toward the back and Derrek opened a door that led to three flights of stairs. They finally reached the roof and he assisted her over some structures to a clearing that had a blanket on top.
“Have a seat. No one will disturb us. I come up here often to look at the stars.” He smiled as he sat down extending his hand for her assistance. Katherine hesitated but placed her small fingers into his large callused hand.
“Your accent is different than your father’s.” Katherine noticed he was easier to understand.
“I was fostered with a different clan while I trained when I was younger.” His eyes fell on her hair. “I like your hair like that,” Derrek said looking at her with more and more longing. Katherine’s heart beat hard in her chest as she contemplated how to react to his compliment. Not knowing how to encourage a man, she tried to smile as her sister had instructed her to.
“Thank you, it’s a bit of a mess.” She tried to force herself to concentrate on his face studying his reaction.
“I noticed you when you first arrived wearing that veil. Who knew so much beauty hid beneath it?” He met her eyes, raising his eyebrows suggestively. He wetted his lips slightly, his eyes roaming over her body.
She lost her breath and looked away. There was no way she could encourage his pursuit. This was madness and there had to be another way. She stood up frightened as he reached for her and said, “Please don’t leave.”
She looked down at him pausing before sitting back down. “Forgive me if I have given you the wrong impression of me. I am still a maiden, Sir.” She wrung her hands trying not to make eye contact. “I am not versed in the conversations between men and women without a proper chaperone, and even then, my father would never have allowed it.”
A look of concern swept across his face. “Is your Da a harsh man?”
Katherine looked down and admitted, “Very harsh.”
He reached for her hand. “You are such a wee lass. I can’t imagine anyone hurting you.”
She looked at him and responded imploringly, “I miss my grandmother. She was my protector as well as my mother.”
“She is in a bad way, lass. My Da owed his uncle a debt and promised to bring you and your sister before your grandmother passed. He made my Da promise before he died. He saved my Da’s life.”
“I am grateful.”
He smiled at her kindly. “I shouldn’t tell you, but the clan was not welcoming to her, even though she was kin. They were still mad she went to marry that Englishman years ago. She broke her betrothal to the man her parents chose for her and tainted herself with the English including her offspring. That punishment is complete abandonment by the clan. But my uncle wanted her back his whole life and never took a wife. The clan shunned her when she returned. But he treated her good and the clan respected him. Especially my Da, as my great uncle was a legendary warrior. He defended her actions as being young and naïve and then forgave her. Before my great uncle died, he made my Da promise to watch out for her.”
“I never knew my grandfather. He died before I was born. My grandmother spoke of her clan often. I didn’t know about the resentment because we had never met the clan. I had no idea the trouble it would cause. My father had warned us not to come, and now after everything, I wish we could go back to England.”
He studied her face intently. “I wish for you to stay.”
She rubbed her hands together, pleading with him, “Sir, if you could favor me with your assistance, I would be indebted. I am but a woman and can’t make it back to England without an escort. My father would reward you handsomely and I too have some gold saved that I would give to you. Would you consider?”
“My Da would never allow it. Your best option is to let me protect you. I can ask my Da for your hand. Miss Tolland, there is more I have not told ye and I need you to listen carefully.”
Katherine furrowed her brow as he took both of her hands in his. Placing a warm kiss on them, he said, “My Da met with the council today after seeing your beauty.” His voice broke and lowered slightly. “He is planning to make an alliance with some other clans. Claiming you are under his protection, he has told the others you are his kin by marriage. Since he is your closest male relative in Scotland, he thinks he can sell you to a rich noble for quite a bride prize.”
She felt her breath catch in her throat in surprise. “I should have kept my veil on as my sister warned me. She said we would be bartered in marriage if we stayed in England and now we will be bartered off in Scotland.”
He looked down, hesitating, seeming to want to say more.
She looked at him wiping away tears. “What? Is there more you want to say?”
He nodded his head fumbling with his kilt. “I could be sent away if I told you.”
“Sir, please tell me.”
“The council feels your sister is a threat. They said she is unruly and cannot stay in the keep past tomorrow. They are selling her to the McGregor’s the day after tomorrow.”
“Selling? I don’t understand.”
“I am sorry Katherine, but the decision has been made. It’s out of my hands. They are making her a serving wench, and probably some warrior’s whore. Forgive me, but they said she is a widow. Her bride prize would not fetch a high enough amount and they think she