“Aye,” he said after a beat. “It was the pirates.”
“But ye got rid of all of them?” she said softly. “Ye protected Katherine?”
“I did. And so did Brimstone,” he replied, smiling when her brow furrowed. “They’re gone. I am sure of it.”
“Good,” Agnes said, taking a step back. She crossed her arms over her chest. “Does that mean that Katherine can take me to the sea soon?”
“Nay,” Liam said, an instinctual response. He stopped himself, taking a deep breath before continuing, “Nay, I willnae allow the two of ye to go alone. But I will accompany ye. And I will teach ye to swim.”
Agnes wrapped her arms around him again and, muffled by his middle, she said, “Thank ye.”
* * *
“Ye’re lucky,” the healer said, dabbing at the cut on Katherine’s neck as Tilly dutifully put her into the gown she was married in. “These injuries could have been much worse. This one especially.” She tapped her finger against the skin she was tending to. “I havenae seen anyone survive a deeper gash in this area.”
“It was because of Liam,” Katherine said, unable to articulate just how grateful for him that she was. “And… I do suppose I did play a bit of a role in it as well. I bit the man holdin’ onto me.”
“Ye bit him?” Tilly asked, stepping around so she could look at Katherine’s face. “Are yer teeth okay?”
Katherine laughed, unable to hold herself back. The sound was contagious. Tilly and the healer joined in. Though when they recovered, the healer tapped Katherine’s jaw.
“She’s correct. Let me see yer teeth,” she instructed. “If ye’re goin’ to go to the great hall after this and partake in celebratin’, I need to make sure ye didnae crack any.”
“I didnae bite him that hard,” Katherine said, though she obeyed, opening her mouth and letting the healer poke around. Even Tilly leaned in to inspect.
“It looks as if yer teeth are still intact,” the healer hummed after a beat. “But if ye feel any pain, tell me, and I will get ye a bit of ginger to chew on to help with it.”
“I will,” Katherine promised, giving her a toothy smile.
“Are ye sure ye wish to go down and drink?” Tilly asked for the third time that evening. “I daenae think a soul would blame ye for stayin’ in yer chambers. Ye must be exhausted.”
“And I would recommend rest for ye,” the healer added.
“I ken,” Katherine said, shaking her head. “But I’m nae tired anymore. I think the bath energized me. Besides, it is still a time for celebration.”
“Aye.” Liam’s voice came from the doorway. Katherine hadn’t even realized that it was open. “Our people have lived in fear of the pirates for over a decade. Tonight, all of that came to an end. I just got word that me men have vanquished the last of the pirates.” He stepped inside, his eyes never leaving hers. It was as if they were the only two people on the planet. “And I would like to celebrate me wife’s safe return to Castle MacDougal.”
Her breath caught. She seemed to be drawn closer to his energy. It was so easy to forget they had an audience.
“I suppose it will be quite nice to celebrate me husband successfully defeatin’ his enemies,” she admitted. Then, softer, she added, “I would like to be there to give me thanks properly.”
The words were filled with heat. She blushed at her own boldness, especially when she sensed the healer step back. She didn’t look away from Liam’s intense gaze, though.
“I am lookin’ forward to it,” he said after a long moment. Offering her his arm, he said, “Come. Let me introduce ye to our guests. I ken they’ve been dyin’ to meet ye properly.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
“Cheers to Laird MacDougal!” Cillian announced, the drink seeming to make his tongue even looser. “If it werenae for his quick thinkin’ today, we wouldnae be havin’ this celebration!”
“Cheers!” the room shouted, all raising their glasses before taking long drinks.
“Ye’ve already done that four times this evenin’,” Liam said, walking across the room with Katherine in tow. “Ye’re beginnin’ to sound a bit possessed.”
“I wasnae aware that yer people’s appreciation grated on yer nerves so badly,” Cillian said, smirking the same way he did when they were both boys. It was the kind of expression that often preceded mischief.
“Watch yerself,” Liam said, unable to keep his cadence completely serious.
The hall’s energy was infectious. After everyone had been informed of the fight in the glens, they’d been keen on continuing their drinking and eating. It was as if a sigh of relief went through the entire castle. He hadn’t been the only one here who had been living with the constant worry that the pirates would arrive at any moment.
