Hiding Katherine by GG Shalton (reading women .txt) 📗

Deanna touched her sister’s arm consolingly. “We will think of something. He can’t barter us both. I will not marry someone of his choosing.”

Katherine looked away sharply not wanting to tell Deanna the rest of the story.

Deanna flinched noticing the look on her sister’s face. “What? Did he say who he wishes me to marry?”

Katherine shook her head not able to make eye contact with her. Instead, she sat on the bed again and silently fumbled with a pillow.

Deanna stomped her foot and demanded, “Katherine, tell me now!”

“He doesn’t wish to marry you off.”

“But you just said?”

Katherine’s face fell as soon as she asked the question. “Oh, Deanna.” She cried taking a deep breath. “It’s just awful what he said about you.”

“What did he say?”

Katherine took a quick breath trying to speak. “He said… you were being sold tomorrow to another clan as a serving wench and someone’s whore.”

Deanna’s face turned red and she clenched her hands into fists. “We must go at once. I will not become someone’s… whore.”

Claudia was sobbing and curled into a ball on the bed. Deanna yelled, “Claudia, stop this at once. We must think. Our escape must be tonight.”

Katherine shook her head. “We can’t leave Grandmother.”

“There is nothing more that we can do for our grandmother. She would understand if she was awake. I am sure she would even insist that we go.”

Katherine chewed on her thumbnail, deep in thought. “We will sleep tonight. Derrek said that he would speak to his father in the morning regarding his offer of marriage. According to him, you are to be sold the day after tomorrow. Our escape will have to be tomorrow night. I will ask him for an evening stroll and he will dismiss the guard. When he does that, you both must escape and hide in the stairwell. We will find a way to subdue him and then take the servant entrance to the kitchen, and then find a way outside of the keep. The kitchen staff should all be in bed by that time.”

“However, will we subdue him?”

Katherine shrugged her shoulders. “I can’t think of everything. We have a day to come up with a plan.”

Claudia sat up on the bed and wrapped her shawl around shoulders. “We could run something through him.”

Katherine inhaled sharply at her suggestion. “I don’t want to kill him—just give us some time to escape. When did you become so ruthless?”

Claudia shrugged. “Since being in Scotland.”

Deanna blew out the candle. “Let’s rest on it.”

A knock on the door woke the girls from their slumber. Claudia opened the door and a servant handed her a loaf of bread. “My laird said you can split this. It’s all you will have for breakfast.” She also handed her a glass of ale along with a pitcher of water. “He said to be dressed in one hour and he will send an escort.”

Claudia nodded and closed the door. She took the loaf of bread and broke it off for each of the women. Deanna took a cloth and used the water to clean her face. Katherine finished her piece of bread in one bite and went through her saddlebag to find a dress to wear. There was another knock at the door a few minutes later, and Claudia walked over to open it. The doorway was empty and there was no one in the corridors. Looking down, she picked up a bowl covered by a piece of cloth and brought it inside. Inside the bowl were berries and oatcakes for the women to share.

“Your admirer must have been thinking about you this morning,” Claudia said, smiling while eating her cake.

Kathleen scowled but didn’t say anything. She turned to look through her bag, finding her bone-toothed comb she used when her hair needed extra attention.

Deanna shoved some cakes into her mouth and took a big gulp of ale. “Let’s eat fast. I don’t want anyone to know someone left us extra food.”

Two guards came to get the women soon after they were done eating. They left Claudia in the room while they followed the men to the laird’s solar. It was dark through the corridors of the castle with only a few candles lit to guide their way. They walked to the west tower and up two flights of stairs. The men spoke a few words in their native tongue while the women remained silent.

The group entered the poorly lit room. Tapestries donned the windows allowing no light from the sun to enter. The laird sat at a table with two men flanked on each side. His stoic expression was unwelcoming, and no one gave a hint of what was to come. Katherine eyed Derrek in the corner as he looked away from her. A few other men stood beside him with their legs spread apart in a stance of power.

“Sit!” the laird commanded, motioning to two stools beside the table. Katherine held Deanna’s hand as they took their seats.

“Your grandmother passed away this morning.” The laird spoke matter-of-factly with no expression on his face.

Katherine dropped Deanna’s hand and covered her mouth as tears filled her eyes. Deanna looked down and closed her eyes.

“I will give you today to mourn and then tomorrow your fate awaits. She will be buried this afternoon beside her husband. Due to her status with the clan, she is banned. No one will attend the burial. The priest will provide the burial services privately.”

Deanna shook her head. “That is uncivilized! We would like to be there.”

The laird drew his hand into a fist and pounded the table. “Nay, you will not! You will be taught some manners. My patience has run out. You will be locked in the dungeon until tomorrow if you say one more word.”

He looked at Katherine and said, “You will leave in the morning to a banquet at Clan Donelson. Many lairds will be in attendance and you will be given in