Highlander's Faerie (Highlander Heat #5)

“It’s at times like these, I miss cell phones.” Marie glanced at Katherine. “Do you still have yours on you? You took a snap of us that day I traveled. Did you keep it in your pocket?”


“I did. I fell through the veil with it, but John took it away from me the other day when I showed him. He buried it somewhere in the forest. Said he didn’t wish for anyone to find it and question me.” Arms crossed, she huffed and pressed her bottom against the windowsill. “Can you believe he did that? I was still paying my iphone off on a twenty-four month plan. An iphone. No one in their right mind buries an iphone.”

“What’s an iphone, Katherine?” Mary’s eyes lit with interest as she asked her. Whenever they mentioned something from the future, she always asked about it, and she adored Mary’s excitement.

“It’s a device that fits in the palm of your hand. You hold it, either to your ear, or press the speaker button, and it picks up your voice. You can use it to talk to anyone in the world, provided they’ve got the same kind of device at their end.”

“Anyone in the world?” Her mouth dropped open. “Surely you jest?”

“Nope. They’re a relatively new device. Cell phones have only been around for twenty-five years or so.”

“How incredible.” Mary tilted her head toward Marie as she sewed. “And that bra you’re making looks so intriguing. When did that item of underwear first become available?”

“I’m not sure, but the French first called this a brassiere. The corsest the ladies of this time wear, lift the breasts quite well and taper the waist in, but the bra molds only the breasts and allows a greater freedom of movement around the midsection. I can’t be without one.”

“The fabric is so soft.” She reached across and fingered the satin. “And so pretty.”

“If you’d like, I’ll make you one next. Perhaps a nursing bra first.” Marie picked up a swathe of padded white linen from Mary’s fabric basket. “I’ll include this padding in front of the satin so it captures any leakage.”

“Oh, wonderful.” Mary beamed.

Katherine let out a long breath, pushed off the windowsill and paced the solar, from tapestry covered wall to wall. “I hate the way John and I parted.”

“You can’t change what’s happened.” Marie’s gaze softened. “He’s worried about you, and I’m not surprised considering the fae’s request. Even I know it’s only a matter of time before you find a way to escape George.”

“You sound like you agree with the fact John’s all but made me housebound.”

“No, but”—she scratched her head—“I still don’t understand why the fae asked you to bring about peace, not when peace doesn’t come for some years.”

“You think I should ignore their request?”

“Honestly, no. It’s best you don’t, although you’ll need to take great care when you travel to Mull. I feel as if there’s more to this mission than what you’ve been told.”

“Same, but I can’t do a thing about it while I’m stuck here on Islay. Somehow I have to escape my guard, then figure out the rest when I get to Duart.” She scrubbed her face. “I miss him, badly. I never thought my feelings for him would grow so strong, or so quickly.”

“Then use this time to give yourself some breathing space.”

“He’s done that with his leaving.” Didn’t her sister understand? “He holds a piece of my soul, Marie. Our bond goes far deeper than I ever thought possible. Being with him is so soothing, like I’ve come home.” She stopped at the window and rubbed her achy chest. The forest beckoned, because somewhere out there, John roamed. “It hurts to know he’s meant for another.” The pain worsened as it sliced through her.

“Do you mean Madison MacDonald?” Mary cleared her throat.

“Pardon?” She spun about. “Who’s Madison MacDonald?”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I presumed you knew. You said it hurts to know he’s meant for another.”

“Yes, but I didn’t actually know there was already another? Who on earth is Madison?”

“Allow me to tell you about her. Three years past, Angus spoke to John and Archie about his desire to have one of his captains wed his second cousin from Skye and strengthen the bonds between the two MacDonald clans. Madison is Evan MacDonald’s eldest daughter and she lives at Dunscaith, although the lass was only three and ten at the time. Archie gave Angus an adamant no and said he would never take a wife, so John stepped forward and agreed to the match.”

“Why didn’t he say anything?” He’d never mentioned a word to her.

“Mayhap he’s forgotten.” Mary set her mending down. “With the feud and Angus’s capture, all talks were laid aside.”

“Are such talks binding?”

“Naught has been formally contracted, but aye, John’s verbal agreement to a marriage could be considered binding in itself.”

Goodness, and now three years had passed. The girl would be sixteen, old enough to wed in this day and age.