The older woman grinned. “She left them both standing at the altar and ran away with the priest!”
Caitlin snorted, almost spraying tea over her lap. “She did not! You’ve made that up!”
Rosa was full of tales from her home in Spain and this one had been about the local lord’s daughter who had been pursued by two rival suitors.
Rosa put an arm around Caitlin’s shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze. “But I’m sure you won’t be running off with the priest—not when you’ve got a man like our Kai waiting for you! And who knows? Years from now it might be you telling your own daughter stories on her wedding day.”
“I hope so,” Caitlin said, squeezing the older woman’s hand.
They had returned to Aberfeldy as soon as things were settled at Dun Cator. The Scottish king had sent men to take charge of the place until Lord Alasdair was well enough to resume his duties, although Caitlin wondered if he would ever recover from his daughter’s betrayal. King John of Denmark and Norway had recovered from his wounds and returned home, his alliance with Scotland renewed. Leif Snarlsson and Alice Brewer had not been captured and it was the only dark cloud that hung over the day.
Caitlin pushed it from her mind, determined not to dwell on it. With the combined might of Scotland and Norway hunting for them, they would not remain free for long.
Caitlin spent the next hour getting ready—Rosa helping her put on the lace-edged gown and veil while fussing with her hair, trying to get it just right. Finally, Rosa was satisfied, and stood back to admire her handiwork.
“You look beautiful, little dove,” she said, and Caitlin felt her cheeks grow warm with pleasure.
“Thank you,” she replied, then took a deep breath. “I’m nervous.”
Rosa chuckled. “Of course you are! But you have nothing to fear. Kai loves you more than anything in this world. You’ll be fine.”
Caitlin nodded, feeling her pulse quicken with excitement and nerves. She took Rosa’s hand and followed her out into the courtyard where the inhabitants of Aberfeldy had gathered to watch the wedding ceremony. Conall and Magnus were waiting outside the door.
All four members of Kai’s band had argued about who would get to give her away. In the end she had settled the argument by choosing Conall and Magnus. Who said you couldn’t have two people giving a bride away? She had chosen these two because they would both soon depart on missions for the Order—Conall to join the hunt for Snarlsson, Magnus to root out their spy network, and she wasn’t sure when she would see either of them again.
Magnus breathed out slowly. “My, my, Kai is a lucky man.”
“Aye,” said Conall with a grin. “It isnae too late to change yer mind ye know, lass? It’s not unheard of for the bride to run away with the groom’s better-looking friend.”
Caitlin laughed. “I’ll tell him you said that!”
Magnus and Conall took up positions on either side of her and Rosa fell in behind as her maid of honor. Arm in arm with the two men, Caitlin began walking across the courtyard towards the waiting crowd.
Kai was standing at the altar, flanked by his brother, Rory, as well as Emeric and Oskar—all of whom insisted on being his best man. Kai’s family had made the trip as well: his parents, Deryn and Maddy, and sister-in-law, Leah, were seated on the very front row, along with Rory and Leah’s twin daughters who were wriggling on their mother’s lap, already thoroughly bored with proceedings.
As she reached the altar, Magnus and Conall released her and Kai extended a hand to help her up the steps. She took it, feeling the warmth of his skin against hers, and stepped up to stand beside him. He squeezed her hand and gave her a reassuring smile.
The priest began the ceremony, the words rolling off his tongue in a steady rhythm. Caitlin could barely concentrate on what he was saying, her mind too full of Kai and the life they would soon share together.
Finally, the moment arrived when the priest asked if anyone objected to the union. Caitlin held her breath, half expecting Leif Snarlsson to burst into the courtyard with his sword drawn, but nothing happened. The priest continued with the ceremony, and soon it was time for Caitlin and Kai to exchange their vows.
“Kai, I love you more than anything in this world,” she said, her voice shaking slightly. “I promise to stand by your side through good times and bad, for all time.”
Kai’s eyes softened with emotion. “Caitlin, when I first met ye, I knew that my life would never be the same. Ye have brought light to the darkness that resided in my heart and have shown me what true love is. I promise to cherish ye and protect ye always, until my dying breath.”
The priest took their hands and placed them one on top of the other and wound a cloth around them, binding them. Then finally—the moment they had been waiting for—the priest declared them man and wife. The crowd cheered and applauded as Kai dipped Caitlin in a dramatic kiss, causing her veil to flutter around them.
As they pulled away, they were met with a round of wolf whistles and catcalls from the gathered townsfolk. Caitlin felt her face flush with embarrassment and playfully swatted Kai on the arm.
“You’re lucky I love you,” she teased.
Kai grinned down at her. “Aye. Ye are stuck with me now, love.”
Caitlin laughed and leaned into him as Kai took her hand and led her down the steps and into the waiting crowd of well-wishers.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of celebration and revelry. There was a feast, with an abundance of food and wine, and music played by local minstrels. Caitlin danced with Kai, with Magnus and Conall, Deryn and Rory—and even Emeric, who surprised her with his skill on the dance floor.
As the night wore on and the guests began to leave, Caitlin found herself alone with Kai, sitting on a bench under the stars. They were both a little tipsy from the wine, and Caitlin rested her head on Kai’s shoulder, feeling drowsy.
