Read Clandara for Free Online Page A

that her husband had looked on with an indulgent, even an approving, eye while his wife brought comfort and grace into his home. But his indulgence did not permit the dispersal of his family’s collection of arms and armour or the hundred heads of stag which decorated the Great Hall. It was never known what the Countess planned to do with it, because the Frasers took part in the Rebellion of 1715 in favour of the Catholic claimant to the thrones of Scotland and England. James Stuart, the Old Pretender, as his English Protestant enemies described him, was no more fortunate than the other members of his race. He fled Scotland in defeat, and the Frasers of Clandara were among those ruined on his account. The little French Countess was widowed by the executioner in the public square at Edinburgh, where her husband prepared himself for the block by sending her a gallant message and a greeting to His Majesty King George I of England that was so obscenely insulting that he was hurriedly beheaded in the middle of it. Katharine’s father had bought back his lands and his title by the payment of a huge fine, and kept both by living for some years in exile on his estates.
    The Earl and his Countess were long dead, but the morning chocolate survived in their memory. But when Katharine went down, only the Countess was there, waiting.
    â€œWhere is my father, and Robert?” she asked Margaret.
    â€œI don’t know,” the Countess answered. “I have been here for some ten minutes or more.” She looked quickly at her step-daughter. She knew the significance of the beautiful dress; she even admitted, for her nature was not a grudging one, that if her cousin won her he would have the loveliest woman in Scotland as his wife. After a moment she coughed. “Katharine, I don’t wish to pry into your affairs, but … is my cousin James coming today?”
    â€œOh yes, he is!” Katharine turned to her. “He’s coming at noon to see Father. What do you think Father will do, madam?”
    â€œI have no way of knowing what your father thinks or feels,” the Countess said quietly. “He does not confide in me. I only know his feelings for my family have not changed.”
    â€œI know,” Katharine said. Remembering her father’s remarks about his own wedding, she felt suddenly sorry for her step-mother. “I hope you were not too hurt, madam, yesterday morning. I am sure my father values you; he is not a demonstrative man.”
    â€œHe fondles his dogs,” the Countess answered, her tone very calm. “He has never once even offered his hand to me.”
    â€œBut you did not expect love,” Katharine reminded her. She was embarrassed and uncomfortable at discussing her father with this woman to whom she hardly spoke at all.
    â€œNo, perhaps not.” The Countess looked up at her. “I don’t know quite what I did expect. I had long ceased to think of marriage when your father’s offer came. I was brought up to think it could be a sweet thing. As it will be for you, if you have really won my cousin James’s heart. It is a brave one, but from his childhood it was always empty. No woman filled it, and, believe me, many tried. I congratulate you. You will have love and children … your marriage will not be like mine. God go with you today.”
    As she finished speaking, Robert Fraser came into the room. The Countess curtsied and then hid herself in a chair in a corner by the fireplace.
    â€œHe won’t come down,” Robert said, speaking to Katharine. “He won’t see you or speak to you, and I’ve had the devil’s own trouble making him keep his promise to receive James Macdonald today. He’s in a bad mood, Katharine. I don’t know what the result may be.”
    â€œHe’s preparing himself to meet James with insults, that’s what he’s doing. I know Father! He couldn’t move me yesterday, and then