Scot to the Touch (The Hots for Scots #7) - Caroline Lee Page 0,10

love.”

That was so unexpected, Katlyn choked on her ale. “Really? Together, or separately?”

“Well,” he said with a wink, “falling in love together is much more satisfying, do ye no’ agree?”

And whoops, there went her arousal again.

“Have—have ye heard the drummer?” she managed to ask.

“Och, anyone who spends any time in the castle hears the drummer,” he said with a dismissive wave. “Ye and yer family will hear him soon enough, I dinnae doubt. Now, have ye heard about the Hero Pig of the Oliphants?”

When she shook her head, Kiergan launched into an improbable tale about a pig who apparently kept saving people. It made her laugh, and when she did, Kiergan grinned.

And that, even knowing he was only doing it to make Davina jealous, made Katlyn feel very powerful indeed.

Chapter 3

“The Oliphants are kind.”

It was enough of a conversational volley, as far as Katlyn was concerned. So when her sister merely grunted and rolled over, she was disappointed. “Vina, ye’re no’ still pouting, are ye?”

A muffled, “Bairns pout, no’ ladies,” came from the pillows, and Kat sighed.

After that incredible meal—where the most handsome man in the room had paid attention to her—she and her sister had retired to the guest chamber they’d been given. Unfortunately, Davina didn’t seem any more interested in talking now than she had at supper.

Sinking down beside her on the bed, Kat put her hand on her sister’s leg, where it rested under several blankets. “Will ye no’ be warm under there, Vina?”

“I’m fine,” came the undoubtably pouting return. Aye, Davina did get cold easily, and always had preferred multiple coverlets, despite Kat kicking most of them off.

“Sister,” Kat began gently, “will ye no’ tell me what is wrong?”

With a sigh, Davina flopped back over onto her back, glaring up at Kat. “I dinnae want to be married to Kiergan Oliphant! I hate that Grandda dragged us here and then spent more time flirting with that strange woman—did ye hear her laugh? Like a witch’s cackle!—than listening to my arguments.”

Flushing, Kat realized that her sisters’ reasoning for not wanting to marry Kiergan were sound. He had to know that the MacKinnon delegation had arrived in order to introduce Davina to him, and what did he do but spend the evening talking with Katlyn. Even if he was just doing it to make himself more desirable in Davina’s eyes, it still proved that he was just as much of a womanizer as Vina had feared.

And that meant Katlyn herself was guilty of coming between this possible marriage union.

But on the other hand, since her being there—and flirting with Kiergan—proved Davina’s fears were founded, maybe it was a good thing Kat had sat beside him and been so utterly and completely charmed.

Ye’re just looking for ways to justify what ye’re about to do.

Aye. She mentally sighed. Aye, she was hoping her scheme wasn’t about to cause her sister more pain.

“Vina,” she began hesitantly, “are ye certain ye dinnae want to marry him? He’s a fine-looking man, and an alliance with the Oliphants could be wonderful, even if they’re on the other side of the Highlands.”

Glaring at her, Davina sat up in bed. “Of course I’m certain! I dinnae want to marry him! I dinnae want to marry any—”

She snapped her mouth closed, which caused Katlyn’s eyes to open wide in surprise. Davina MacKinnon—the pride of the MacKinnons, groomed from birth to be the beauty who would be united in a marriage to secure the clan’s future—didn’t want to marry anyone?

“What are ye saying, Vina?” Kat prodded gently, her hand still on her younger sister’s knee. “Ye want to take holy vows? Ye dinnae want to ken a man’s touch, to suckle his children?” These were things Katlyn longed for, even though she knew they would never happen, and the two sisters had spoken of these things often, but Davina had never indicated she wanted something else. “Ye dinnae want to ever marry?”

“Nay,” grumbled Davina, reaching for Kat’s pillow. “I mean, aye. I want to marry, and I will, but I dinnae want my husband to be Grandda’s choice.”

Katlyn opened her mouth to respond to that bold declaration but stopped herself. She realized she didn’t know how to respond; she wanted Davina’s happiness as much as her own, but ‘twas hard to deny the future of the MacKinnons weighed on her sister’s pretty shoulders.

Luckily—or unluckily, according to the rumors—Katlyn’s need to respond was removed when a faint drumming sound began reverberating throughout the chamber. It was distant, and didn’t