Jamie glanced at Caitrin. She appeared stunned, but her hand remained relaxed within his. This MacGregor spoke truth. “Caitrin? What do ye say?” Suddenly Jamie’s confidence deserted him. Was she stunned by the good news, or thinking furiously of a way to bow out of it? “I ken we discussed it, but after all we’ve been through, have ye changed yer mind? Will ye marry me? Today?”
“I am ready,” she replied, her voice firm and sure.
Jamie went weak in the knees.
She smiled at the new MacGregor as she never had done for his predecessor then grinned at Jamie. “I…we accept yer kind offer and thank ye. Today is a perfect day to be married.”
“We can be ready in moments.”
At that, Jamie relaxed and smiled for the first time in weeks.
****
Caitrin didn’t mind the irony. In the end, she would marry at MacGregor, but the difference mattered. She would marry the man she loved. The man she had wanted since she had arrived at Lathan a lonely, young lass and met a young lad who treated her nicely.
Da would have to be satisfied with a stronger alliance with Lathan. She suspected he’d already accepted that advantage for Fletcher—though they’d nearly lost it due to his insistence on sacrificing her to Alasdair MacGregor. But nay, she would not think about that today, of all days. Her father had seen the error of his ways and, in the end, had done what was needed to ensure her safety and happiness. And Madeleine had cleared away any lingering…difficulties…with her letter to her son’s successor.
Though with a friendly MacGregor in charge and speaking of debts owed to Fletcher, her father would be pleased to learn relations there would improve, as well.
The priest was indeed standing by. At the MacGregor’s summons, he entered from the next room and blessed the chamber, the new laird, and both of them. He seemed quite cheerful, and Caitrin suspected the change in leadership made his job more to his liking.
“Would ye like some time to prepare?” Jamie asked her. “To dress or…”
“We could move to the great hall if ye would prefer,” the MacGregor added. “Or the kirk. A wedding would be a happy occasion for the clan to witness.”
Caitrin’s heart sank. She wanted to keep this small and private.
“We are pleased to remain here,” Jamie interjected, correctly reading her silence as reluctance. “If ye dinna mind.”
“I am pleased to remain here as well, but we can give ye time to prepare…”
“Nay, I said I am ready, and I am,” Caitrin interjected, as exultation suddenly made her tremble with eagerness. This was going to happen. After everything, she and Jamie would be married—today! The future she’d hoped for would become real in minutes. Jamie beamed at her, making her heart race. “Now, if ye please.”
Even the priest grinned at that.
The MacGregor sent a lad for his wife, saying, “Ye will want another woman here as witness, will ye no’?”
“Aye. Thank ye, that would be most welcome,” Caitrin agreed. “And Kyle?” she asked Jamie. At his nod, the new laird sent another lad to find him. Jamie needed a friend and clansman to stand with him.
Caitrin eagerly awaited the new lady MacGregor’s arrival, wondering if she’d met her the day Madeleine had introduced her to the ladies in her solar. She’d had little female company in this keep, save for the old healer, and Nan and Madeleine, who were now safely ensconced at Fletcher with her da. She spared a moment to wonder if a ghillie had been sent to Fletcher to apprise them of how the situation had changed here. They must know something, for Madeleine to send a letter. Unless she had left it behind to explain to her son where she’d gone and to convince him not to pursue her—or Caitrin.
No matter, those questions would wait. Jamie stood at her side, and they had something more happily urgent to take care of.
The new lady MacGregor arrived in moments, looking excited and a bit nervous. Her husband must have prepared her for this eventuality, given how quickly she joined them. Caitrin did not recognize her, but liked her on sight. She appeared to be of an age with her husband, slim, but in the early stage of breeding.
“How lovely to meet ye,” she greeted them and took Caitrin’s hand. “And how lovely that my husband’s first act as laird is a wedding. I think this bodes well for the years he will lead this clan. Do ye agree?”
“Of course,” Caitrin answered with a smile. “I’m grateful. Thank ye for helping us.”
“It is my very great pleasure. Our very great pleasure,” she added with a smile at her husband, who returned hers with a besotted one of his own.
Caitrin’s heart swelled to see the love between them. Their clan’s future would be much happier with these two in charge.
“Ahem.” The priest’s throat-clearing brought them back to their purpose as Kyle came in with a length of Lathan plaid and stood behind Jamie.
The priest called him forward to perform the handfasting, which brought tears to Caitrin’s eyes, and a glimmer, which made her heart swell, to Jamie’s. The connection between them was strong, but to see the symbol of clan Lathan binding them together only made it stronger. The priest kept the kirk ceremony mercifully brief. Before she knew it, Caitrin became a married woman, with the husband of her dreams standing by her side.
Jamie kissed her simply, but with great feeling brimming in his eyes.
