Page 73 of It’s in his Highland Kiss

It was one more day of riding before they finally made it to the castle, and Marion had never been happier to see a place in her life before. She had missed it, her home, and knowing that no one could take her away from that place now that she was married to Eiric filled her with joy.

Perhaps she would have to notify her parents, she thought. She felt no obligation towards them, but something told her that if she didn’t write them a letter explaining everything that had happened and telling them, once and for all, that she wouldn’t be returning, they would simply keep sending people like Commander Forbes after her, with a demand to bring her back to England.

The moment they arrived at the castle, Marion saw Adaria run down the front stairs, rushing towards them. She watched her and Eiric as they embraced, and it wasn’t long before Adaria pulled her into a hug, as well, with Adaria telling her over and over how worried she had been and how happy she was that they were back, safe and sound.

“Maither . . . I have somethin’ to tell ye,” Eiric said then, and the look that Adaria gave him was one of fear, but he was quick to reassure her. “Marion and I are married.”

Marion could have sworn that Adaria was about to faint, though she didn’t know whether that was out of happiness or frustration at the two of them.

“Married?” she shrieked, clasping a hand over her lips. “How? When? Och, Eiric, ye were always so impulsive! Ye should have waited to get married here!”

“We will, Maither,” Eiric said with a roll of his eyes, but Marion could see the small smile on his lips at his mother’s antics. “Dinna worry. In fact, I think we should get married again the morrow.”

His Mother scoffed at that, shaking her head. “Ye must be insane. I canna prepare anythin’ in a day!”

“Adaria, we don’t need anything,” Marion assured her. “We . . . we have each other, and the clan, and that’s enough. There’s no need for celebrations.”

“Ach, of course ye’d say that! Ye’re in love!” Adaria said, as she placed her hands on her hips, looking at both of them sternly. “Bairns . . . verra weel, I’ll take care of it.”

Before Marion could say anything, Adaria grabbed her and dragged her into the castle, talking about dresses, food, wine, and all those things that Marion had yet to master. In fact, they were things that she couldn’t quite bring herself to care about. She liked her swords and the ravens, but she couldn’t care less about what dress she would be wearing to marry Eiric—for the second time, at that.

It was important to Adaria though, and so Marion went along with it. She allowed the servants to scrub her clean, washing the filth of the road off her skin, and then to dress her in dozens of dresses that Adaria had somehow managed to procure in the short time that she had been gone.

The day was spent in a flurry of activity, with Marion at the centre of it all, even though it was Adaria who was making all the decisions. She insisted, though, that Marion had to be consulted, and so she spent her entire day accepting or rejecting what Adaria showed her.

By the end of the day, she was exhausted, and she hadn’t managed to spend a single moment with Eiric. She was certain that Adaria had forbidden him from visiting her, and she wouldn’t be surprised if she found out that she had posted guards outside his room to keep him in check.

It didn’t matter; the moment Marion’s head hit the pillow, she was asleep.

The next time she opened her eyes, it was morning, and the sun was filtering through her curtains, while her room was full of women who had all come to help her dress and prepare for the wedding.

Suddenly, Marion had butterflies in her stomach, even though she knew it was silly. She was already married to Eiric, after all. She had no reason to be nervous, she told herself.

And yet, she was. Her heart was racing in her chest, her hands were trembling, and she was unsteady on her feet when she stood from the bed. She had never thought that such a day would ever come, at least not in the way that it had. She loved her husband. She loved Eiric more than anything in the world, and she hadn’t married him because her parents had forced her to do so.

She tried to swallow the knot in her throat and crush the butterflies in her stomach.

There is nothing to fear. He is mine, and I am his.

“Are ye excited?” Adaria asked her, as three servants were stuffing her into her wedding dress, pulling and pushing at her as they tightened her corset more than she thought would ever be possible.

“I am,” she said. “I’m very happy . . . but also scared.”

“What are ye scared of?” Adaria asked with a frown. “Everythin’ will be fine!”

Marion nodded, a smile on her lips. She trusted Adaria knew best, as always, and she let her words soothe her racing heart.

Soon, she was taken to the chapel, and the ceremony passed in a blur, faster than she had expected. Perhaps it was the nerves, she thought, but she didn’t manage to savour a single second of it.

It doesn’t matter. I’ll have plenty of time with Eiric from now on.

On the other hand, it was the ceremony that seemed to have no end. Marion couldn’t deny that she was having fun, drinking and talking with the clansmen and women, but she wanted to have some time alone with Eiric, just the two of them, enjoying their wedding night.

Edan and the rest of his friends, of course, seemed to have different plans, as they were pouring cup after cup of wine for Eiric, all of them drinking and laughing as they exchanged stories. They weren’t celebrating only their wedding, she knew, but also their victory against the English. For all she knew, they would be at it for days.

It wasn’t long until Eiric joined her though, leaning closer to her and surprising her with his question.

“Would ye like to go up to our chambers?”