Page 10 of The Cursed Highland Bride

She walked back out into the corridor to find Agnes waiting for her. “The laird has requested that I do something about the wild nature o’ yer hair,” she said with a regretful tone. “It is lovely. I would nae wish tae change it, but he insists. He wishes ye tae look as a proper lady would. He was quite angry with me for nae having done so before now.”

Katarina wished to rebel, to refuse, but she did not want to get Agnes in trouble. The maidservant had been nothing but kind to her. “As ye wish,” she murmured, following Agnes back to the room where she had bathed previously. She sat down in the chair by the fireplace and allowed her to gather and twist her hair about as she pleased. Katarina felt sorry for the older woman, as her hair had always had a mind of its own. It was as wild and free as her Romani heart.

After much effort, including the strategic placing of ribbons, Agnes was able to get Katarina’s hair into some semblance of order. When she was nearly done, a guard entered the room. “His Lairdship has summoned ye tae the hall, my lady.” Morgan had commanded all of his people to address Katarina as if she were Lady Katherine even in private so that there would be no mistakes come the day of the wedding. Now that day was here.

“I am ready,” she answered, standing to face the guard. She squared her shoulders and followed him out of the room and down the stairs to the hall below.

Morgan awaited her at the bottom. “Could ye nae tame that wild mane o’ yers any better than that?”

“Agnes did her utmost. It is nae her fault.”

Morgan shook his head but said nothing more on the matter. “Only a fool would mistake ye for my daughter. Fortunately for us, yer future husband is just such a fool.”

“And the king, is he such a fool? Remember our agreement. In a month’s time, ye will send an invitation tae me and my husband tae visit ye. My sisters will be here, safe, healthy, and strong. If ye dinnae keep any part o’ our arrangement, I will tell the king everything.”

Morgan’s brows rose in surprise. “I did nae believe that ye had it within ye tae blackmail me. It is a dangerous move, ye ken?”

“I do,” Katarina nodded in affirmation.

Morgan chuckled. “Ye are o’ yer people, tae be certain.”

Katarina shot him a glaring look of disapproval. His tone had been one of derision, not admiration. “I come from a strong people.”

“Nae strong enough.”

Katarina fought the urge to stab him in the ribs with his own dagger. She considered stomping down hard on his foot or kicking him in the shins but thought better of it. Instead, as an act of rebellion, she grabbed the ribbon in her hair and yanked, undoing all of Agnes’ hard work. Her hair fell in unhindered abandon all around her shoulders. For a brief moment, she felt a tinge of guilt for doing so, but the fury in Morgan’s eyes made it all worth it—he could not do anything in front of the other people in the hall as he led her toward her future husband.

* * *

Dunn’s breath caught in his throat as he watched Lady Katherine’s hair fall in cascading raven curls all about her face. Her emerald eyes snapped in rebellious delight as Morgan looked at her with what could only be described as harsh disapproval. For a brief moment, he even thought that he saw him pull sharply on her arm. Uncertain, he let the moment pass without intervening.

Soon she will be mine tae protect, and Morgan will nae lay a hand on her again.

She was beautiful to behold. He could sense in her a wild spirit that longed to be free. What has the king forced me intae? In that moment of glistening black hair and sparkling green eyes, he no longer cared. In that moment, all he wanted to do was possess her body, mind, and soul. It was like his lust had a mind of its own.

When Morgan walked her to Dunn’s side, he reached out and took her by the waist, drawing her against his side. Mine. His soul claimed her, even as his logical mind tried to fight it. He barely knew her and was having difficulty processing what was happening to him.

“My lady,” he murmured in greeting, caressing her waist.

“Ye are nae wed yet,” Alistair barked, pulling his daughter away from Dunn’s embrace. “Keep yer hands tae yerself until she is yer wife.”

Dunn fought the urge to punch Morgan in the mouth. “If the lady wishes,” he acquiesced with a nod of respect to her, completely ignoring Morgan.

“I do,” she stammered uncertainly. Her cheeks were flushed. Dunn was not certain if it was from lust, fear, anger, or embarrassment. All were possible in the situation that they found themselves.

“So be it.” Dunn took a step back. “Until we are wed.” He made no effort to hide the promise in his voice. “Then, ye are mine tae hold.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Mine. A chill ran along the length of Katarina’s spine at Dunn’s words. She was not certain if it was from foreboding or the thrill of what was to come, possibly both. She chastised herself for even entertaining the thought of the latter. She was marrying him to save her sisters, nothing more.

The ceremony was brief, each doing only what was required of them. When it came time for Katarina to make her vow, she was so nervous and scared that she mistakenly used her own name. Alistair Morgan shifted beside her, stepping on her foot hard in warning. Dunn looked at her with confusion.

“I thought yer name was Katherine.”

“It is,” Morgan barked. “Get on with the ceremony.”

Katarina scrambled to cover her mistake. “The laird calls me Katherine, but my maither called me Katarina.”