Veronica wished she’d paid closer attentionto those documentaries back then because doing so would havebenefitted her overall situation in the here and now. Instead, shewas riddled with doubt and harbored what would have otherwise beenunnecessary anxiety from the fear of making unladylikemissteps.
Not that anyone seemed to notice if she didmake missteps. Or at least they pretended nothing was erroneous ifshe had.
“I’m finished,” the cobbler, Hamish,announced. “Please be seated, milady.” He turned to face Lachlan.“Laird Gunn, how many pairs should I make?”
Lachlan shrugged. “Mayhap five. My wife candecide upon their colors.”
Her face flushed. What the hell did she knowabout choosing shoe colors? Luckily, Moira chimed in. “I’ll send amessenger into the village after my daughter-within-the-law choosesher bliaut colors on the morrow.”
Hamish nodded quickly. “Aye, milady.”
“Make six pairs,” Lachlan amended. Hisexpression was an odd mix of surliness and resignation. “My sisteris to be wed the soonest,” he said, causing gasps all around. “Soshe will like as naught desire a new pair.”
Veronica’s eyes widened in alarm. She hadn’thad a chance to speak with Lachlan privately yet. He’d been busyafter lunch training his men. “Umm…husband,” she ground out.“I really think that—”
He held up a palm, silencing her. “Aftergiving my sister’s marriage much thought, I have chosen a husbandfor her.”
Veronica gaped at him, not knowing what wasokay to say in such a public setting. She had promised to be thedutiful wife while around others, but the crestfallen expression onVictor’s face broke her heart. “Lachlan…”
Poor Catriona looked ready to faint.Clearly, she was faring no better than Victor. “Brother,” shebegged, “I—”
“You will wed with Victor, Catriona.”Lachlan inclined his head. “The soonest.”
Catriona and Victor’s faces went from dismalto beaming with delight. Victor quickly stood up. “I-I would behonored to marry Catriona. If you’ll have me?” he asked the genialbride-to-be.
“Aye, Victor, I will have you,” she breathedout, standing up too. She straightened her skirts and cleared herthroat before turning to Lachlan. “’Tis an excellent match, this.Your sister and your finest—and only!—sorcerer. Thank you for yourwisdom, brother.”
Sorcerer indeed. Veronica would have grinnedwere she not in total shock from Lachlan’s proclamation. Shesupposed being a wizard was as close to being a scientist asmedieval times allowed for. Whatever the case, her brother wasgetting his happiness in the form of Catriona’s hand in marriage.She couldn’t have been more ecstatic for the both of them.
“This is wondrous news!” Moira sang out, herhands clapping together. “My beloved daughter won’t be dragged fromthis keep to wed with one of the bedamned Campbells.” Lachlan’seyebrows rose when his mother used a curse word. “She shall remainhere where she belongs.”
Lachlan grunted. He jabbed a finger atVictor. “My sister will become the Lady Banks, yet will yourchildren be surnamed Gunn.”
“Sure,” Victor replied without hesitation.“That’s fine by me.”
Veronica, now bemused by the situation,could only stare dumbly at Lachlan. She had no words. Had he toopicked up on the growing attraction between Victor and Catriona?She assumed he hadn’t paid it any attention. So much forassumptions.
“Hopefully Catriona will be awake for herceremony,” Veronica teased, earning sniggers from the gatheredgroup of Gunns. Lachlan had the good grace to flush. “A bride onlyhas one wedding after all.”
Still giggling, Catriona chimed in. “’Tistrue, that. And I wish to give Father Archer mine own ‘aye’ whilststanding upright and awake.”
Veronica grinned. She looked at the lairdand her eyebrows rose in challenge.
“I take your point!” Lachlan snapped.
Everyone at the head table save Laird Gunnshared a laugh. “Speaking of your rather clandestine marriage,”Moira chimed in, “I think we should use Catriona and Victor’sreception as a way to formally introduce your lovely wife to all ofClan Gunn. The villagers needs must ken who their new lady is.”
Veronica blushed. The thought of all thatattention was a bit much. “Oh, I wouldn’t want to take away fromCatriona’s big day by bringing the focus on me.”
“’Tis but a formal introduction, my dear,”Moira assured her.
“I dinna mind sharing my day with you,sister.” This from Catriona. “In fact, I would be honored.”
Moira clapped her hands together. “Then it’ssettled!”
Now it was Lachlan looking smug whileVeronica came to terms with being thrust into the medievalspotlight. She shot him a look, wondering if he could see theproverbial daggers in her eyes. She hated being the center ofattention—always had. Still, she would just have to deal with it.But not before she wiped the smugness off the giant’s face.
“Will I be awake for the formalintroduction,husband?” she pointedly asked. Her tone wassyrupy sweet. “Or will the villagers be traipsing through ourbedroom to have a look at my sleeping form?”
