Forgiving Hearts: Duncurra 1-3 by Ceci Giltenan Page A

until then, he knew what the women were gossiping about. No decent, married Highland woman would appear in public without covering her hair. For them, the linen brèid, or kertch, was similar to wearing a wedding band. He shook his head in disgust at their reaction. Rather than thinking Lady Katherine might be unaware of the custom, the women saw it as an insult to the laird. Sadly, he realized this would be the first of many “mistakes” the women of the clan would tally against their laird’s new wife.
    As he pondered this, he saw Edna reenter the hall. She appeared angry and strode toward the back door leading to the kitchens. Curious, Fingal followed her. He stopped outside the kitchen and was not surprised to find the women had gathered there to gossip, making no effort to keep their voices down. Although overseeing the preparation of the evening meal, Bridie led the charge, saying “A brazen thing she is, walking in here on the laird’s arm like that.”
    “Aye,” said another woman, “then it’s off to bed with her for a nap. Weak she is.”
    “Or plain lazy,” added another.
    Then to his surprise he heard banging on the table, and in a manner befitting the laird, Edna yelled, “Enough!”
    The women fell silent.
    “The ‘brazen thing’ about whom ye are speaking is our laird’s wife. Can any of ye holy women tell me how that lass was supposed to know our traditions? Do ye think the MacLennan women would have been more gracious than ye, or did ye expect our laird or the other big eejits who brought her here, worried about whether she covered her hair or not?”
    There was only guilty silence.
    “Bridie, who tied your kertch on ye and asked for God’s blessing the day after your wedding? Caolan, Seanna, who did yours?”
    The women didn’t answer.
    “My mother did and I suspect your mothers, or another woman who loved ye, did the same for each of ye. Who blessed this child? The uncle who beat her half to death? She has no mother, nor, it seems, any compassionate clanswoman to guide her.”
    Fingal smiled. The silence told him the women were sufficiently embarrassed, but Edna continued. “What other choice words did I hear? ‘Weak?’ Was it ‘lazy’ ye called her, Caolan? The laird ordered her to rest and he was right to do so. Alan said he didn’t think she was going to live through the night when they arrived at Brathanead less than a sennight ago. Do ye begrudge a lass who has been that ill a rest after a long day’s journey?”
    Again her indictment was met with ringing silence. “Perhaps none of ye have stopped to think about this, but it seems to me the king, the lass’s uncle, and our laird have all benefitted in one way or another by this marriage, but I am hard pressed to see any benefit to the lass herself. And don’t tell me being wed to him is benefit enough. If ye are honest, most of ye know as well as I do marriage to him will not be easy.”
    Well, trust Edna to be blunt , thought Fingal with a grin, but her last weapon was clearly meant to lay them low.
    “I suspect Lady Katherine will do many things over the next few months that all of ye might find odd or even insulting, but before ye decide to spew any more venom, remember Lady Katherine’s wealth saved this clan, and see if ye can find a bit of compassion in your hearts for her.”

Chapter 8
    Niall intended only to address the most urgent issues, but as usual they were all urgent and it took longer than he thought it would. Just before the evening meal, he finally joined Katherine in his chamber, expecting to find her asleep. Instead, she stood looking out the window and the bed hadn’t been disturbed. “I am fairly certain I told ye to rest,” he said, more than slightly irritated.
    “I did rest,” she answered. “You didn’t say sleep, but I couldn’t have anyway. I rested in the chair and now I’m resting looking out the window,” she said with a smile.
    He was not amused. “Katherine, ye knew what I