Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
“Are ye sure ye’re nae losin’ yer mind?” Cillian asked.
Liam glared at him, a bead of sweat sliding down his temple. “Are ye sure ye’re nae? I’m worried ye’re seein’ things that arenae there.”
Cillian scoffed before putting himself back in position, his practice sword held at the ready. “I’m nae seein’ anythin’ but yer constant grumblin’.”
Liam didn’t bother giving a response. He shot forward, delivering a series of blows to the dull wood in Cillian’s hands. With each swing of his own blade, he pushed out the nagging feeling that he would never get a minute free from Katherine so long as he was in the castle.
It wasn’t as if she were seeking him out, but it seemed as if she were everywhere that he went.
Even moving through his days with an alternative schedule did nothing.
This training session with Cillian had been called when he’d run into Katherine passing by his study.
She’d spoken to him about Agnes’s lessons, and he didn’t truly hear a single word of it.
He was too distracted by the way her mouth had moved.
Cillian laughed, pushing forward harder. Liam blocked each of his blows expertly, having trained with his right-hand man since they were boys. It was rare that either of them was able to outmaneuver the other.
“I’ve been busy,” Liam said, taking advantage of a slight hesitation in Cillian’s footing.
He pushed his way in, savagely knocking the wooden sword from Cillian’s grip.
As it landed in the dirt with a dull thud, Liam said, “Nae only have I been fieldin’ missives from our allies along the coast, I’ve been sortin’ through over seventy years of property. I apologize if I’m nae chipper.”
“Ach, ye daenae have to take yer frustration out on me,” Cillian said though his tone was light. He seemed more than happy to oblige in drills. “But have ye considered doin’ somethin’ that’s nae centered on yer duties?”
“Ye’re startin’ to sound like Katherine,” Liam scoffed as he took a step back, watching Cillian gather his weapon. “Nae everyone has the luxury of takin’ a break whenever they please.”
“I suppose ye’re correct,” Cillian mused, resting the blade against his shoulder. “But we daenae have to continue sparrin’. Ye could go out on a ride.”
“Or I could inspect the stables,” Liam countered. Then, more seriously, he added, “They’re overdue. And I’m nae sure how effective our groom is with his trainin’. I saw him in the fields a few days ago, and I daenae ken if the animal was truly learnin’ anythin’.”
“Then inspect the stables,” Cillian said, understanding that this wasn’t a battle that he would be able to win. “Better than yer incessant tasks around the castle. I’ve been havin’ trouble keepin’ track of where ye get to.”
“There’s always much to be done,” Liam countered. And while he had taken advantage of throwing himself into every project he could, it wasn’t anywhere close to a lie. “And with the ceilidh approachin’, it’s even more important that I’m keepin’ everythin’ runnin’.”
“I’m only jestin’,” Cillian said, already making his way back to the castle, taking Liam’s sword as he went. “Do whatever it is that ye must. Ye ken yerself best.”
Then, he turned his gaze forward, leaving Liam to his self-imposed inspection. His friend was saying more than his words conveyed. He was sure, though, that Cillian thought Liam was avoiding something entirely different.
He didn’t waste any time crossing the grounds to get to the stables. Katherine and Agnes were together, doing a lesson in the solar if he wasn’t mistaken. For a while, he wouldn’t have to worry about running into her.
So, when he stepped through the open door, he nearly did a double take.
Katherine was stroking Brimstone’s muzzle affectionately while she spoke in soft tones to him. Agnes stood by, watching the two of them as if she were trying to understand what was going through each of their minds. Before Liam was able to decide how he’d react, his daughter spotted him.
“Father, are ye goin’ to ride as well?”
Liam’s jaw tightened. He’d known that Katherine had an undeniable connection with the stubborn creature, but he didn’t know that she’d been bringing Agnes to visit him. She was much too young for riding.
“Nay,” he said, clearing his throat. Staying as detached as he could, he continued, “I am here to inspect the stables.”
“The buildin’?” she asked, bold just like the woman standing next to her.
“Nae exactly,” he replied, his eyes scanning the stalls in search of the groom. “I need to ken how the animals are doin’ and how their trainings are comin’ along. And I must also ken how much feed we have available.”
“I see,” Agnes said before giving her attention to Katherine once more.
Though he wanted to reprimand Katherine and stop the lesson, he went directly to the groom instead. Reprimanding her would mean getting close to her. The stableboy, whose performance he wanted to check on, was in the pasture. At least, he’d be able to call for help if necessary.
“Me Laird,” the groom said, standing up as straight as possible when he saw Liam approaching, “I wasnae expectin’ ye.”
“This visit wasnae planned in advance,” Liam said, gritting his teeth when the sound of Katherine’s laughter reached his ears, “but I do believe it’s been nearly a month since I’ve come to collect reports. I’d like ye to hear everythin’.”
“All of the animals are healthy,” the groom said, gesturing to the horse behind him. “And I do believe that she’s expectin’ a foal.”
“Who is the sire?” he demanded.
“Brimstone.” The groom gestured to the horse that was being led from the barn by the two girls. “We’d like his strength and speed with her temperament.”
“I can only hope that the poor foal doesnae inherit his temperament,” Liam said, “but he is a handsome beast. It would be nice if it took after him. Now, the trainin’. Spare me nae details.”
The groom nodded before dutifully reporting on the training schedules, including how the younger stableboy was handling the newest horse.
It was difficult to keep from turning around when he heard Katherine leading Brimstone out of the stables, and when he heard Agnes asking to ride, it took everything in him to keep from turning around.
Stoppin’ the two of them would put me too close to Katherine.
“When I leave, I’d like ye to keep an eye on me daughter and Lady Katherine,” he said, cutting off the groom’s report about the feed stores. “I daenae believe that Agnes is old enough to be taught to ride without proper oversight.”
“Aye, Me Laird,” the groom said, unfazed by the sudden request.
Liam gave a stiff nod before turning away and leaving the building. If Katherine was going to be occupied with Brimstone in the pasture, he figured he had time to move through the castle without worrying about running into her. Still, he wasn’t proud of avoiding the woman.
But I must stay away.
* * *
“Ye’ll let me ride on me own today, aye?” Agnes asked, seeming not to pick up on the tension that lingered in Katherine’s shoulders.
Liam had been ignoring her. She wasn’t foolish. She knew that when he walked into a room and saw her there, he’d turn around and claim that he had business in another part of the castle.
I am surprised he didnae leave the stables when he saw me. Perhaps it is because Agnes spoke to him directly. Fine. I daenae need him to acknowledge me.
“Nay,” Katherine said, clearing her throat and putting a smile she didn’t quite feel on her face. “I already told ye that ye’re still a wee bit too small to ride a horse as big as Brimstone. Perhaps when the stableboy finishes breakin’ the pony, ye’ll be able to ride it.”
Agnes sighed, but she didn’t argue any further. Instead, she waited patiently as Katherine helped her into the saddle. Then, Katherine climbed into the saddle behind her. Brimstone shifted, digging his hooves into the soft ground in anticipation.
As Katherine urged Brimstone forward, Agnes asked, “Can we go faster this time?”
“The pasture is much too small for us to go much faster,” Katherine said, pushing the horse to pick up his pace.
“Can we nae ride somewhere other than the pasture?” Agnes pressed, turning in the saddle to make eye contact. “We could ride through the hills.”
“I daenae think that yer father would be pleased with me if I took ye any further than here,” Katherine said, urging Agnes to face forward again. “Did ye nae see how he was lookin’ at the two of us? I am surprised he didnae stop us from goin’ out.”
“It’s because he’s been tryin’ nae to speak with ye,” Agnes said with a sigh. “He is stubborn, but it means that we get to go on rides with Brimstone.”
Katherine didn’t know how to respond to the observation. The girl shouldn’t concern herself with adult problems, yet she seemed to understand them better than the grown-ups around her. Katherine would not extrapolate it.
“Well, then I willnae give him a reason to come speak with me,” Katherine replied, sure that this was the only way to protect her heart and keep Agnes from feeling that she had to pay attention to adults’ issues. “I wouldnae want to force him to speak with me if he doesnae want to.”
“Ye may have to,” Agnes said, tilting her head back to let the wind run through her hair. “Or perhaps nae. There is somethin’ goin’ on with him.”
“There’s somethin’ goin’ on with all of us,” Katherine countered, earning herself a scoff from the child. “Especially now. But he’s doin’ his best for ye. He’s doin’ his best for all of us.”
He may have rejected me, but I ken he is nae a cruel man. He cares about Agnes most of all.
Agnes fell silent then contemplative. She put her small hands on Brimstone’s neck, scratching his hair as they went in slow, lazy circles around the fenced area. The stableboy was working with the young mare.
“Look,” Agnes said when they turned toward the castle. “Father is goin’ back to the castle.”
“He is,” Katherine confirmed. Then, she realized that Agnes wasn’t pointing it out to make conversation. “Ye still want me to take ye out so we can go faster, do ye nae?”
“It’s nae like he will ken,” Agnes countered. “And we daenae have to go far. I just want to feel what it’s like.”
Katherine considered the request. There was truth to what she’d said, and it wasn’t as if they were running the risk of him coming back outside.
Abruptly, she pulled up on Brimstone’s reins. Before she could think too hard about what she was about to do, she turned him, so they had the length of the pasture before them. Then, she dug her heel into his side, using her riding cane on the other side to urge him to go as fast as possible.
“Whoa!” Agnes giggled, holding on tighter as they darted toward the fence.
Just before they ran into the wooden posts, Brimstone jumped. Agnes giggled, more carefree than Katherine had ever heard her, and when Brimstone expertly landed on the other side of the fence, Katherine pushed him to keep going.
Another delighted peal of laughter left Agnes’s lips as they continued to pick up speed.
Katherine didn’t leave the grounds, mindful of the fact that they were doing something that Liam wouldn’t approve of, but this was the first time Agnes had ever asked for anything reckless.
Katherine couldn’t bring herself to deny the request.
Brimstone whinnied, clearly happy to have a chance to stretch his legs properly. He was thoughtful of the two on his back, skillfully slowing down around each turn they took. It was obvious he was showing off for them.
“Magnificent beast!” Katherine yelled over the wind whipping past them.
“I didnae ken that he could go this fast!” Agnes exclaimed, holding on tighter.
Taking the final turn around the edge of the grounds, Brimstone slowed down instinctively. They slowed from a gallop to a canter, and Katherine guided them back toward the stables. As they approached, the groom came running from inside the building, looking panicked.
“Where did the two of ye go?” he demanded, wringing his hands. “Laird MacDougal told me to keep an eye on ye, and ye just disappeared. Brimstone is nae a jumpin’ horse. Ye were both lucky that he was able to get over the fence.”
“Katherine is good at ridin’,” Agnes said, her tone coming back down to her normal, severe cadence. “We were never in danger. Ye and Father worry too much.”
“Me apologies,” Katherine said, dismounting before helping Agnes to the ground. She felt a spark of pride at the girl’s belief in her abilities. “I suppose all three of us needed a bit of fresh air. I promise that we were never goin’ to leave the grounds.”
“I would have appreciated ye givin’ me a wee bit of warnin’ before ye disappeared,” the groom grumbled, taking hold of Brimstone’s reins. “I nearly called a search party for ye.”
“It’s good that we came back when we did, aye?” Katherine said with a grin. “And since nothin’ happened while we were out, ye daenae need to inform Laird MacDougal about our ride.”
“I should,” he said, leading Brimstone back toward the stables, “but I will simply warn ye that if it happens again, I willnae hesitate to go directly to him.”
“Ye have me word that I willnae take Agnes out again without permission,” Katherine told him, smiling at his retreating back. When he was gone, she leaned back down to whisper in Agnes’s ear, “It seems that if we want to ride again, we will have to ensure that he is nae in the stables.”
Instead of responding with words, Agnes looked up at Katherine with a sly grin. It was a good look on her. She looked every bit the child she was, even if she was serious more often than not.