Hiding Katherine by GG Shalton (most difficult books to read txt) 📕

the other women goodbye. He walked her outside to the gardens.

She came in a little closer and whispered to him, “Today was a surprise. I was not aware that you were acquainted with Dorian, my lord.”

He smiled down at her. “This is the first time I have met him. He seems like a good man.”

She noticed his white teeth and dimple near his mouth. Looking away, she bit her bottom lip. “Was your army moving near the castle? Is that why you stopped?”

“Hmm. Are you trying to find out why I came to Castle Moore?”

She laughed. “I admit that I am just curious. If it’s a private matter, please forgive me for asking.”

He squeezed her hand. “If we could sit for a minute, I will explain it to you.”

Katherine sat on a bench and the earl sat beside her. “Miss Tolland, when we last spoke you told me that you were in Scotland on your own free will and had wished to marry.”

She looked into his eyes as tears threatened to come down at the mere mention of her previous wedding plans. Taking a sniff, she breathed in deeply trying to control her emotions. “My lord, the memory is fresh. I guess our lives don’t always turn out the way we want them to.”

He lost his smile. “There are times to mourn and times to be happy. It seems you can’t have one without the other.”

“My lord, that is profound like a poem. I guess in my seventeen years, I have had plenty of both.”

He took her hands in his and rubbed them with his thumbs. “Please call me Alexander when we are alone. I would like to think of us as friends.”

“I would like that. Please call me Katherine.”

“I must admit I was concerned that your father would send his men to come get you. You remained unmarried and he could use that to his advantage.”

“I have thought about it too. There are limited choices for me, I am afraid.”

“Ian’s brother Jakub told me that he had offered for your hand.”

“He did offer, and I was grateful. It’s just that…” she rubbed her stomach unconsciously. Her body shivered, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

Worried lines creased on his forehead. “What is it? You can tell me.”

“I can’t tell anyone,” she said, losing control as the sobs she tried to control escaped.

“Katherine, please talk to me.”

“It’s a secret… I have said too much. Please, I wish to leave.”

“Oh, sweeting. Trust me. I only wish to help you. You have to tell someone, or it will consume you.”

She wiped her face trying to stop her crying. “Pardon my outburst. Please, may we speak of something else?”

“We could. But I am afraid we need to finish this conversation as your safety is at risk. If you don’t wish to marry the laird because of a secret, then is there someone else you would marry?”

She rubbed her arms trying to warm herself. “Perhaps a widow or a farmer. I was going to ask Dorian if he knew of any man that needed a wife.”

“A widow or a farmer? What about an earl?”

She looked at him in confusion with her red-rimmed eyes. “I don’t understand?”

He reached out and lightly touched his thumb over her jaw. “I wish to marry you, Katherine. I would treat you well and you would want for nothing.”

She took a moment staring into his brown eyes. He was a very handsome man with chiseled cheekbones and smooth skin. His light brown hair was short in the back and longer on the sides. He was tall and broad, with well-tailored clothes that hung on his muscular build. She knew many women must be attracted to him.

Coming out of her woolgathering, she realized he was waiting for an answer. “My lord, you honor me with your offer. It pains me to have to decline.”

He looked a bit wounded as his shoulders sagged. “Why would you decline? Is there another man you wish to marry?”

“No, it’s not that.” Tears threatened again. “There are things about me that you do not know. If you did, you would not want to marry me.”

He cupped her face. “Look at me, Katherine.” She raised her eyes to meet his. He bent down brushing a soft kiss across her lips.

She stiffened and pulled away. “I can’t. I apologize, but this is wrong.”

“Is it Ian?”

Shaking her head. “It’s not what you think. I have a secret that could destroy me and any who would marry me. I decline your offer to protect you.”

“Lass, I don’t need your protection. But I have a feeling that you need mine. I want to help you. Please trust me.”

Her heart fluttered with nervousness, but she decided it was time to tell someone. “You must promise me your discretion.”

“I promise.”

She looked down at her lap. “Before I was taken to England, Ian and I spent an evening riding in the woods. We were in love and knew that our circumstances would be difficult to overcome with my English and his Scottish background. I knew my father would be coming for me soon. Ian thought we should say our marriage vows in the woods and then slowly let our family get used to the idea of our relationship before announcing our wedding. He said in Scotland, it would be binding. So, we tied our hands together and said our vows.”

He stayed silent, masking any emotion. She looked away afraid of his reaction and judgment. Shifting in her seat, she continued, “That same night, there was a battle and he left to fight. The next day, I was taken by my brothers and didn’t tell anyone that I was married to Ian. When he rescued me, we decided to keep it a secret and marry in front of his family when we got back to Scotland, so there could be no question that our union was legal. We consummated our marriage on the way back to Scotland, and no one knew. When Ian left a few