LITMIR.BIZ

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Catherine continued, leveling a shriveling gaze at her sister. “You disgraced our family with your dress and your appalling blunder.”

      The painful memory of mistaking Lord Rogan for the duke caught Lily off guard, though not for the sake of Catherine’s censure. What had Rogan thought of the mistake? Did he think her a fool?

      Catherine said, “You made an utter idiot of yourself.”

      Lily felt a deep flush of shame, hating herself for letting Catherine best her. She knew her hateful ploys, but that didn’t make her immune.

      “Sister,” Elspeth said, her voice almost a whisper. “I am sorry to hear of your terrible news.”

      With no overt movement of a single muscle, Catherine’s face transformed feature by feature into a mask of rage. Elspeth cringed, mewling a small noise that reached Lily’s ear and erased her self-preoccupation with a swell of protective anger. Lily stood and went to Elspeth’s side.

      “Yes, little one,” Catherine said, her tone clipped and cool, betraying nothing. “It seems as though I will not be wed as planned.” Again, a shift so subtle it was more felt than seen. When she spoke, her eyes shone like twin blades, fierce and sharp. “But all is not lost. There are ways to turn misfortune to advantage.”

      Lily stepped in front of her little sister, seeing one of Catherine’s moods brewing and knowing how Elspeth dreaded them. “Do not sow your mischief, Catherine. Lord Rogan is an honorable man. He has come to make amends.”

      Catherine gave her a withering glare. “And he will.”

      In a moment, she changed again, shifting her posture and giving Lily an assessing glance. By her expression, she apparently found her subject wanting. “While they are here, Lily, I do not want you embarrassing us any further. You do not seem to be able to conduct yourself properly. I think it would be wise if you kept busy in your chamber, or in the solar with the other ladies, studying your needlework.”

      Lily narrowed her eyes and jammed her fist on one hip. “You are not Mother, Catherine. She would never have spoken to us so. She was kind and gentle and would not have liked in the least the way you rule this castle with an iron fist. I will not have you mistreating Elspeth. And I will certainly not hide myself away simply because you dislike me.”

      “We shall see,” she said in a brittle voice.

      As Catherine turned to leave, Lily crossed her eyes and curled her top lip in an exaggerated sneer, causing Elspeth to clamp a hand over her mouth in order to stifle a gasp.

      “And don’t think I do not know you are making faces at me,” Catherine called as she disappeared down the hall.

      Collapsing onto her bed, Lily flung her head back. “Lord, she is a trial!”

      Elspeth looked warily at the door, as if fearful Catherine would reappear. When she did not, she came to Lily’s side and took her sister’s hand.

      “She frightens me.”

      Lily turned her head and looked lovingly at the child. “You must not let her, Elspeth.”

      Elspeth was still doubtful. “She has such a terrible temper. I fear what she will do now. Catherine hates to be thwarted.” Her gaze darted to the door and she swallowed convulsively. “Remember our rabbits?”

      Lily covered her sister’s hand, not able to stifle a shudder herself. When they were children, they had each been given a rabbit for a pet for the feast of Christ’s Mass. Catherine’s had fallen ill and died within days. She had been furious, claiming it was unfair. The next day, the other two rabbits were found dead in their pens.

      “Do not think on that,” Lily soothed. “It was never proved that she killed those poor creatures. It could have been anyone. And even if she did do such a thing, she must certainly regret it. She has done nothing else to threaten a soul.”

      “Except the servants,” Elspeth shivered. “Dory told me she came upon her talking to Kenneth in the kitchens, and went into a terrible fit of temper.”

      Lily cut her off with a calm, steady voice. “Catherine can be harsh, it is true, but there is a difference between anger and harm.”

      The denial sounded hollow in her own ears and Elspeth seemed less than convinced. Lily added, “Father will insure all is well.”

      “With the aid of our Lord,” Elspeth murmured.

      Lily stretched the tension from her muscles. “Of course. I am going for a walk. The night is cool, and I need some air.”

      “You cannot! Catherine would be furious.”

      “She will not know,” Lily said as she scampered off the bed and flew to the door. “And besides, I refuse to be intimidated by her silly commands. Good night, sweet sister.”

      “Lily!” Elspeth whispered urgently, but she was already gone.

      

      “I wish we were camping outside with the rest of the men instead of in this wretched place,” Andrew complained. “I keep expecting Marshand to appear at any moment, screeching his pent-up fury and wielding an ax aimed for our heads!”

      Rogan shrugged in studied nonchalance. “No sense sleeping out in the heat when we can enjoy the cool solace of the castle.”

      “‘Cool solace’ my arse, you have got your eye on the girl! The little flower, Lily. I saw you staring during supper.”

      Rogan looked back blankly. “The girl? Could you mean the very one you tried so hard to charm?”

      “I was not trying to seduce her, damn it all. I was trying to be congenial.”

      “Admit it, you were enjoying it.”

      “Naturally. She is a lovely girl. Enchanting, actually. Are you going to deny that you would have traded places with me?”

      A dark look came over Rogan’s handsome features. “I had duty to think of.”

      “Is it always duty with you, Rogan?”

      Rogan didn’t answer. A pensive silence fell.

      “You were successful, I take it,” Andrew said after a space.

      “Hmm?”

      “I was referring to Catherine. You won her over. I thought by the end of the evening she was going to positively devour you.”

      “Aye,” Rogan said with a hint of disgust, “she does have the look of a predator.”

      “She terrifies me, I am not ashamed to say. Her beauty is cold. And her eyes…they burn cold. Had you not noticed? Positively chilling. The sooner we are away, the better.”

      Rogan rubbed the back of his neck. “There are things to be settled here first.”

      “You mean the girl.”

      “What girl?”

      “Lily, of course. Don’t be so dense.”

      Rogan lifted a casual brow. “She seemed pleasant enough. I admit that she did not escape my notice. But you can hardly think that I would be so foolish as to allow a distraction such as her.”

      “Why not? Do you never think of what you want? Family obligation can be taken too seriously, you know.”

      “Calm yourself, Andrew. You will age before your time,” Rogan said lightly. “It is hardly my habit to sniff around after virgins.”

      “You could not keep from staring at her all during dinner.”

      “Good God, brother, I am a man, and not a blind one at that. And I am not constrained to chastity as you are. I was merely appreciating the lass, for as I told you, she impressed me favorably.” Rogan sighed. “Yes, it is true. She is tempting.”

      “And tempted. You were all she wanted to talk about.” Andrew was not

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