Braden: McClains, #3

By Kirsten Osbourne

All her life, Katerina has known she was destined to join a convent and give her life to God. When her home is invaded and her parents and brother are murdered while she listens, she flees to the only place she knows to go—the Lain castle. Upon her arrival, she is immediately welcomed into the family, but it is made clear they would like her to marry their son, Braden, but it must be her choice to do so.
Braden Lain knows he wants Lady Katerina in his life as soon as he sees her for the first time. Ignoring the political upheaval the country is experiencing, he asks her to be his bride, knowing they must immediately leave the country to stay safe. Going to the Highlands and changing their name may be the only way to survive. But will his bride forgive him for not telling her the whole truth? Or will they always have that between them?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Unlimited Dreams
• Release date: Feb 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393558545

Book preview

Chapter One

Katerina lay under a bed in one of the guest rooms with her hands covering her ears. Her mother had told her to hide, and she was ever the obedient daughter. The secret passageway out of the castle from her parents’ bedchamber was out of her reach at the moment, and she would not be able to get there until the invaders were sleeping.

There was no doubt in her mind that all of the people she loved—her mother and father, younger brother, and every servant who had ever been a part of her life— were now dead.

As she lay in the darkness, her mind worked hard to formulate a plan. If she had been a man, perhaps her plan would have been one of retribution. But she was not a man, and so her plan was something very different altogether. Her plan was survival.

Once all the noises of death and the screams of the maids who had been her playmates when they were children were over, Katerina rolled out from under the bed and crawled slowly into the hallway and across to her parents’ room. The secret passageway was behind a tapestry that hung all the way to the floor.

She could hear snores coming from her parents’ bed, but she knew the people sleeping in that bed were strangers to her. Strangers that she hated with every bit of her heart and soul. Though hating was a sin, she knew God would forgive this hatred. He knew how she had loved her family and all those around her. She had planned to leave for a convent in just a month, but...this. Now she would not have the dowry required to become a bride of Christ. Instead, she would have to find an earthly husband.

Katerina shook her head. She could not focus on her lost life. Instead, she must focus on what she needed to do to survive. It was what her parents would have wanted her to do. With a quick prayer that there was no one guarding the other side of the passage, she pushed the door open and crawled inside.

She had always been afraid of the secret passage because she knew spiders and other crawling creatures lived within it. Instead of thinking about her fears, she thought about being free and finding her way to the nearest castle for help. Marriage was now required of her. Marriage or becoming a servant.

She reached the end of the tunnel and carefully pushed it open. Looking both ways, she emerged and began running. Her parents had always spoken well of the Lain family, though she had never met them herself. She did know in which direction they lived, and that was where she must go.

By morning, she had run far enough from the home where she had been raised, she no longer worried she would be recognized. Her parents had always intended that she would become a nun, so there had been no need to introduce her to other people, and she had been kept mostly isolated.

When her parents had gone to visit neighbors, they had taken only her brother. Her face was unknown to anyone who had not lived on her parents’ land. The only times she had been out had been with her family. Her father once—with a sort of insight that was very rare for him—had pointed her in the direction of the Lains’ keep in case there was ever a need to go for help.

Now she could move more slowly, but she could not be seen as a noblewoman traveling alone. She did not know how far the journey was to the Lain holdings, but she knew she had to get there. Quickly.

She traveled all night, watching the sun rise as she continued to walk as quickly as she could. Stopping when she saw peasants working in a field, she spoke to a stranger for the first time in her life. Can you tell me how to get to the Lain castle? she asked in her soft, cultured voice.

The peasant had frowned at her but pointed to a large building off in the distance. There!

Katerina sucked in a breath as she realized how very close she was to her destination. She must get help from these people or she would perish. It was as simple as that. Thank you, she said, bowing her head as she headed in the direction he had pointed.

As she walked, she thought about all the ways she could explain what had happened. She knew this family was a good one, and they would help her, but how would she explain what had happened to her parents? Mayhap they would not believe her, and then what would she do?

Finally, hours later, she was close enough to the castle that she could see a group of men training. She needed to avoid those men, but she must get close. Her parents had always warned her to avoid soldiers. Thankfully, she spotted a man gardening, his peasant’s clothes marking him as someone who was safe for her to speak with.

I need help, she said softly.

The man turned to her, rising to his feet. What sort of help do you need, milady? His voice was not one of a peasant.

I have come far to meet the Lain family. My father always told me they would help me if I ever needed it. That was a slight stretch of the truth, but she was certain God would forgive her. She was speaking to a peasant after all, and she could not bare her soul to him.

I can help you there, Lady...? The man seemed to her to be very sure of himself. Most peasants were not so strong and capable looking. At least not the ones she had known her whole life.

Lady Katerina. Can you take me to the lord of the castle? She did everything she could not to look into the man’s eyes. It would not be right for her to do so. Her mother had never intended her to marry, so she had spent a lot of time teaching her how not to make a man think she was available for him.

Aye, of course, milady. The man seemed to be hiding amusement of some sort, but she had no idea why, nor did she care. She needed safety, and this man seemed willing to take her to safety. He could laugh every step of the way as far as she was concerned. Follow me.

With a nod and a modest look down, she followed the man. He did not take her far, standing at the edge of the training field she had noticed earlier and calling out. Father! There is a Lady Katerina here to see you!

Father? Was this man—despite his dress—one of the nobles who lived in the castle before her? Surely not!

Another man walked to her, stopping in front of her and bowing low. Lady Katerina. I do not believe I have had the pleasure of making your acquaintance.

Katerina kept her gaze firmly on the man’s chin as her mother had instructed. I am the daughter of Lord Arnold and Lady Thomasina.

I was unaware they had a daughter, the lord said, stroking his beard. I have met their son, Geoffrey. Why have I never seen you?

It was decided when I was a very small child that I would join the Sisters of St. Augustine as soon as I was eighteen. I have been hidden away from the people around us for that very reason. Katerina wondered if the man even cared about her story, but she must tell it. She had to get help, and he seemed the likeliest choice to go to. My family and all of our servants were massacred last night by invaders. My mother bade me to hide under a bed, and I was not found. I managed to sneak out through a hidden passage while the murderers slept. I need sanctuary, Lord Lain.

You have it. The man nodded to his son. Please take Lady Katerina into the castle and introduce her to your mother. Ask her to have a chamber prepared.

Aye, Father. The gardener looked over at her. If you will follow me, Lady Katerina.

She nodded, still not meeting anyone’s eyes, and she followed him toward the castle. Thank you, milord.

I am Braden, the seventh son of Lord Robert, the man you just met.

A seventh son? He would not inherit and would therefore have no need of a dowry. Mayhap she would not have to marry, but she could not imagine that even this family her father had spoken so well of would let her live with them indefinitely. Katerina remained quiet, believing that she should be seen and not heard, and it was better for all around if she was not seen either.

He led her into the castle and called out loudly and boisterously, Mother!

In Katerina’s house, no one had ever raised their voice. They had all been quiet most of the time, sometimes not even speaking to one another. This home obviously had very different rules than the ones she had observed growing up.

A regal looking woman with blond hair and a smile walked into the great hall where they stood, shaking her head. Braden Lain, with the way you dress and act, sometimes I think you must have been raised by peasants.

Braden’s laugh seemed much too hearty for such a simple comment to Katerina, but perhaps he knew something she did not. I shall try to do better, Mother, he told her, kissing his mother’s cheek