“Oh, Richard,” she sobbed, “I can’t believe you’re alive.” The feel of his mouth on hers after so many long and lonely months was like a small taste of heaven.
Shocked at the raw emotion that threatened to wreak havoc with his military discipline, Richard tightened his arms around her and buried his face in the dark cloud of her hair. “Did you see it?” he asked gruffly.
She nodded against his shoulder. “Everything.”
“I’m so sorry, Katrine,” he murmured, inhaling the fragrant scent that belonged to her alone. “If I could have done it differently, I would have. Please believe that.”
She looked up at him, her cheeks streaked with tears. “Have you seen my father? Is he still alive?”
His face was ravaged. “I don’t know.”
She swallowed and pulled out of his arms. He looked at her, seeing for the first time the purple shadows under her eyes and the full, almost shapeless gown concealed beneath her cloak. His eyes widened in shock. Katrine was no longer pregnant.
“Do you have something to tell me, my love?” he asked gently.
She smiled. “I’d almost forgotten. We’ve a son, Richard, a healthy son. I’d like to name him after my brother.”
“Whatever you like,” he replied. “When was he born?”
“The day before yesterday.”
Richard stared at her. “Good God, Katrine! You should be in bed. Whatever possessed you?”
“I couldn’t bear not to know what was happening.”
“Where are you staying?”
“At Culloden House.”
“I’ll take you back immediately. I want to see my son. When this is over, we’ll go home.”
She said nothing.
He frowned and stepped forward, drawing her back into his arms. “You do want to come home with me, don’t you, Katrine? We’ll go back to England and forget all of this.”
Her smile held no gladness. She lifted her hand to touch his cheek. “Oh, Richard,” she whispered as he led her to her mare. “Don’t you see? We’ll never forget any of it for as long as we live.”
They were mounted and on their way when Katrine remembered the soldier’s words. She urged her mount forward until she rode directly beside her husband. “Richard,” she began, wetting her lips. Anxious as she was to learn the truth, she knew the answer might prove distasteful. “The soldier who brought me to you said my father had issued an order of no quarter to the enemy.”
Richard’s lips tightened, and he cursed softly. “No, Katrine,” he said at last. “It was a forgery. Cumberland inserted the no quarter phrase himself to encourage his troops in their slaughter. George Murray never gave such an order.”
“Thank God,” she said fervently.
“Don’t thank Him yet,” warned her husband as a very large, very heavy man in the frocked coat of an officer approached them. Richard looked around quickly. “Take your horse and wait behind that rock. I don’t want Cumberland interrogating you.”
Katrine did not question his orders. Pulling on the reins of her mare, she dropped back into the shelter of an enormous boulder and waited.
“The enemy has been routed, Major Wolfe,” said the duke. “It is said that the prince has fled the field.” He could not keep the scorn from his voice. “We leave for Inverness in the morning. I’ve a mind to take up residence in the house my dear cousin has recently vacated. Are you agreeable?”
“Of course,” replied Richard. “I must decline for myself, however. My wife has just given birth and is recovering at Culloden House. I wish to spend tonight with her and our son. I’ll join you tomorrow.”
“Very well and please accept my congratulations, Major. It isn’t every day that an heir is born.”
A moan interrupted them. Cumberland’s eyes dropped to the badly wounded man lying only a few feet from his horse’s hooves. His lip curled. He raised his sword and then appeared to change his mind.
From her place behind the rock, Katrine released her breath, offering a silent prayer of relief. She had recognized the man immediately. It was Charles Fraser of Inverallochy, commander of the Fraser contingent.
Again Cumberland spoke. “He’s yours, Wolfe. Kill the insolent rebel.”
Katrine’s eyes widened in horror. Would Richard refuse such an order? Could he and still live? The distance between her hiding place and the open field where the two men faced each other was not great. She saw Richard straighten and face his commander. In the deep tan of his face, his eyes glittered an angry ice blue.
Pride and relief surged through her veins. This was her husband and despite the fact that they had known very little of