The Highland Laird's Virgin Bride (Auctioned to Highland Lairds #1)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

“Ye must stand tall and proud,” Katherine’s father growled, his grip tight upon her bicep.

“I ken,” she said, only keeping her patience because of years of practice and the promise that she would no longer have to endure the former Laird Morrison’s infamous temper. She kept pace with him, her chin held high. “Ye can let go of me. I can walk on me own.”

To her surprise, her father let go of her. They continued walking, both keeping their pace. She took a deep breath, savoring her first moment of freedom since morning. Then, fear overtook her again.

Aye, there’s a chance I’ll be sold to a perfectly suitable husband, but it’s just as likely I’m chained to someone even worse than the man I’m walkin’ beside.

The devil she knew led her through the gates of the courtyard where the auction was about to take place.

Her emotions had fluctuated like a pendulum since she found out about his plans.

Many women happily married because of moments like this, enjoying lives of luxury that Katherine hadn’t experienced in a long time.

It could save her from the misery she had been living.

But it could just as easily damn her.

“Stay at me side,” her father ordered as he approached the man that Katherine assumed was in charge.

As her father spoke with him, she took a moment to take in the surroundings. It seemed as though she were standing in the middle of a sea of men. Their ages ranged from young to old, all of them watching the women with great interest.

She moved closer to her father, clutching her last remnants of anonymity.

Though she wasn’t shy, it seemed foolish to walk into the chaos without knowing what she might face.

Before being told she’d be placed in one, she’d only heard of auctions like this, and no one ever mentioned how she was supposed to behave.

Following the men’s line of sight, Katherine easily found the other women. They were all standing together near a guard whose eyes swept through the crowd of men. She heard quiet laughter, a joke shared among them.

They’re nae scared. Or… if they are, they’re nae showin’ it.

“Ach, ye heard the man, Katherine,” her father said, reaching for her arm again. She was quick enough to avoid being grabbed. “Go stand with the other women until it starts.”

“Aye, Father,” she said.

Before she could walk away, he stopped her. This time, instead of her arm, he grasped her hand. If anyone had been watching them, the touch might have been mistaken for affection.

“Ye ken how badly I need this money,” he hissed, squeezing her tightly, so she couldn’t escape. “And ye daenae want to keep livin’ in hovel, do ye?”

“Nay, Father,” she said, glancing at the Laird behind them. “I willnae do anythin’ to ruin me chances.”

“Perhaps ye can tone yerself down,” he said, finally releasing her. “Men prefer their ladies quiet.”

“Aye,” she said though she had no intention of doing so.

I willnae pretend to be someone I am nae simply to escape him.

Forcing herself to move with as much refined dignity as she could, Katherine approached the other women.

Their gowns were so much nicer than hers with elaborate stitching and vibrant colors.

It was quite clear that these were all ladies.

Not former ladies but women whose fathers were still in good social standing.

They daenae look as if they’re wantin’ for gold just yet. They’re just lookin’ for husbands.

“Another new face,” one of the women said politely, stopping the conversation. She seemed almost as if she were the de facto leader. “Daenae be shy. We’re just passin’ the time before the auction begins. I’m Annabeth.”

“I’m Katherine,” she said, stepping into the throng of girls. “I’m pleased to make yer acquaintance.”

“As am I,” Annabeth said with a genuine smile. “Did ye have to travel far to get here?”

“The journey wasnae too long. Just a few days,” Katherine said. “And ye?”

“It took us a wee bit,” Annabeth admitted. Then, her smile turned conspiratorial. “But just between us, I’m hopin’ I get to live near here. The sea isnae too far away.”

Another girl laughed and said, “Perhaps there’s a pirate lookin’ to take a wife here. Then ye could live on the sea.”

A wave of giggles worked its way through the women. Katherine felt herself relaxing more into the moment. It was difficult to feel uncertain when everyone around her seemed to be excited.

“Perhaps we’ll all be lucky enough to stay in touch after we’ve married our husbands,” Annabeth said when the laughter faded.

“That would be nice,” Katherine murmured, her eyes sweeping the men who were watching them as though they were performers at a fair. “Ye think any of these men would allow somethin’ so indulgent?”

“I daenae think any of these men look cruel,” another girl said, not bothering to introduce herself.

She looked at one of the men, a particularly self-important-looking fellow, before returning her attention to Katherine.

“Some of them would tell ye nay but wouldnae pay enough attention to ye to ken that ye’re goin’ against their wishes.

Ye can always find an ally with his staff to be the courier of yer messages. ”

Katherine chucked, her guard still carefully up.

“Bein’ a lady does come with certain luxuries,” she murmured, her hand coming to rest on her chin as she unabashedly stared back at the lairds.

When her father announced that she’d be auctioned off, she was sure that she’d be entrusted to someone just as unkind.

Instead, most of the men were smiling and chatting freely.

There was a lightness to them that was unfamiliar to her.

“I cannae say for sure, but none of these men look like they would restrict our privacy.”

“Aye. They look like the kind of men that would blanch if ye hinted at bleedin’ and avoid ye for a week,” Annabeth whispered.

“They wouldnae even want to hear about ye. That would give ye plenty of time to write to whoever ye please.” She caught Katherine’s eye.

“Provided ye’ve made friends with yer maid. ”

“I daenae think ye’d even have to be friends with yer maid,” a girl who had been quiet added. “Just tell any man in the castle that sendin’ a letter will cure ye, and they willnae ask ye a single question.”

Despite herself, a genuine laugh bubbled forth from Katherine’s lips. Covering her mouth, she admitted to herself that there was an unexpected levity to the situation.

At least we are all facing this together.

As the others continued to chatter about the lairds, pointing out which was most handsome and which was most likely to chew with his mouth open, Katherine allowed herself to observe the rest of the crowd.

It wasn’t just men attending this event.

Several maids stuck by their employers, mostly fading into the background.

A few young women were there, accompanying men that she could only assume were their brothers.

One woman caught her eye, though, and by the time Katherine noticed her, the woman was already watching her.

Soft, sharp eyes scrutinized each move she made.

Katherine was sure that her gown had been examined minutely, every stray hair on her head noted.

When she slipped into her plain, worn gown, she knew she would stand out in the worst way.

However, the woman’s gaze didn’t seem judgmental.

Instead, the woman, who looked old enough to be her grandmother, was trying to piece together who she was.

The way her gray tresses were elegantly tucked away spoke of a quiet kind of strength. Her energy was so similar to what Katherine imagined her mother’s would be if she were still alive. When the woman took a step back, Katherine couldn’t stop herself from taking one forward.

She looks… important.

As Katherine took another mindless step forward, there was a loud crashing noise—a table of refreshments falling over. Before she could react, a horse standing nearby whinnied loudly. The second she spotted the horse’s hooves leave the ground, Katherine’s body was moving.

She was nearly there when the woman stepped back.

Her heel caught on an uneven cobblestone, and she fell backward.

Katherine hoisted her gown up, running faster to try to prevent the woman from hitting the hard ground.

Even as she jumped over the scattered broken ceramic across the area, she knew it was useless.

Somehow, Katherine managed to grab hold of the woman’s wrists just before she hit the ground. The impact was unavoidable, a solid sound followed by a sharp intake of breath. Katherine’s own balance was thrown by the way she’d instinctively lunged. Tucking her knees, she rolled to the side.

All of the air left her lungs as her shoulder connected with the hard rock covering the courtyard.

She kept one hand on the older woman, angling her body between her and the horse that was still making an unhappy fuss.

A man with a whip came rushing forward, and Katherine got onto her hands and knees, holding herself above the older woman.

The whip cracked loudly, and the horse whinnied loudly. Hooves clacked against the stones violently before the animal reared again. The handler cursed, and several girls gasped in horror.

Her eyes closed, Katherine braced herself for a blow. When it didn’t come, and the air didn’t split with a crack, she opened her eyes.

The old woman stared back up at her, a look of amusement underlying the obvious discomfort.

A large shadow fell over both of them, and she was looking at something behind Katherine.

The crowd around them had burst into a cacophony of sound, and when Katherine finally turned around to investigate whatever was blocking the sun, she understood why.

Her eyes were level with strong, muscular thighs clad in a fine green kilt. It felt as if they went on forever before she finally made it to a strong, broad chest. There was so much muscle and flesh that she couldn’t see past the solid wall of man. The only place for her gaze to go was up.

Saints…

Katherine only caught a glimpse of his face before he turned away to soothe the horse, but half a second was enough to know she’d be seeing his face in her dreams. Behind that long, neatly styled red hair was a strong jaw and a prominent nose.

He was more handsome than any other man she’d ever seen.

“Careful,” he said, his voice low and authoritative. Palms outstretched, he walked toward the animal. “There’s nae danger. Just someone else trippin’ over these uneven stones.”

The horse responded to the steady, whiskey-smooth rumble of the man’s tone.

Just as quickly as the creature had spooked, rearing onto its hind legs, it steadied.

Less than a minute after the refreshments had toppled onto the ground, the horse was calm, only showing its displeasure through several exaggerated snorts and a final, single stomp.

He gave the animal a firm pat before turning his attention away.

“Why would ye whip a horse for spookin’ when the area’s so crowded? Ye could have gotten someone seriously injured with yer recklessness,” the man, surely a laird, snapped.

The horse’s handler, someone who Katherine thought looked much too young, shuffled backward, raising his hands. “Me apologies,” he said. “This is how I’ve gotten the animal under control previously.”

“Ach, that makes it even worse. I will have to have a word with whoever’s in charge of ye,” the laird said, dismissing the conversation with a wave.

All of a sudden, Katherine was given a view of his face again. Dark, intense eyes bored into her for a beat. Her breath caught, and her palms began to sweat. Then, he surged forward, his gaze shifting to the older woman who was trying and failing to push herself upright.

“Me Lady,” he said, bending down to grab hold of her. When he had a firm grasp on her hip and elbow, he gently helped her to her feet. “I’m takin’ ye to the healer.”

“Nay, ye just need to help me to me feet,” the woman said, wincing as she steadied herself. “I’m quite all right. That could have been much worse if it werenae for this kind woman.”

“Aye?” he asked, letting go of her slowly before offering his hand to Katherine. “I suppose ye’re owed thanks.”

“Ye daenae have to thank me,” she said, surprised at just how strong he was, pulling her upright as though she weighed nothing. His strength was nearly as imposing as his stature. “Me attempts only worked until they didnae. I didnae get here in time. It’s for the best that ye arrived when ye did.”

“It’s only because of ye that I am still able to stand,” the older woman insisted, so patient despite the fact that she was likely in pain. “Ye deserve all the thanks we can give ye.”

Katherine was unsure of how to behave around them. The man whose presence made her stomach turn in a completely new way simply stared down at her, his expression entirely unreadable. And the woman who radiated matriarchal energy smiled on.

It was a rare occurrence for Katherine to be at a loss for words. She supposed today was different from others, though.

“Katherine!” Annabeth called, waving at her from across the courtyard. “The auction will be startin’ shortly!”

Katherine lingered for just a moment longer, her eyes locked on the man’s.

Then, unsettled despite the fact that she knew she should feel grateful that he stepped in, she rejoined the circle of women.

She tried to shift her attention to her impending sale, the massive change she was on the cusp of, but she couldn’t think about anything but him.

He was frowning deeply, his eyes scanning the crowd as though he were waiting for someone to cause a problem. Or perhaps, she thought as a shiver ran through her, he was looking for a problem to cause.

He seems so cold… I daenae want to go from one cruel man to another.