Page 48 of The Cursed Highland Bride

His grandmother put his thoughts into words of accusation. “Why do ye defend her still? She has done naught but bring ye pain. Do ye enjoy playing the fool?” Her tone was as hard as steel, unbending in its judgment.

“She is still my wife.” Dunn hated that his pain was evident in his voice.

His grandmother snorted. “She is nae yer wife. She is nae but a luchd siubhail whore.”

Dunn let out a growl of warning, his tone taking on a hardened edge. “I will nae have ye speaking o’ my wife and the lady o’ this clan that way. Ye will speak with respect or nae at all.”

Shock spread across his grandmother’s face. Never in his life had he ever once spoken to her in such a way. As far as he was aware, no one ever had. “She has bewitched ye, body and soul. I dinnae recognize the man before me. I wash my hands o’ ye.” Standing, she turned her back to him and left the room as silently as she had appeared.

Frustrated at his stream of visitors, Dunn attempted to leverage himself up out of the bed. When Adamina returned with the tea for his fever, he had managed to ease himself to the edge of the bed and was about to attempt to stand. “Lie back down!” she chastised, setting the tea down on the table. She pushed his shoulder in an effort to get him to listen to her. “Ye will break open yer wound again.”

Sighing, Dunn allowed her to put him back to bed, but he did so under protest. “I cannae remain abed. Morgan must answer for what he has done.”

Adamina clicked her tongue in disapproval. “There will be time enough for that.”

“Every moment that I am forced tae wait here in bed is another moment that he has the advantage. I will nae sit idly by while he reaps the rewards o’ his deception. Katarina is still out there with Ewan, Bran, and Andrew. They will need our help.”

“I am happy tae hear that ye wish tae help yer wife, but as much as I care for her and wish tae see her home safe, ye cannae save anyone in yer condition. Ewan will see that she is brought home.”

Dunn shook his head. “Ewan is an excellent warrior, but he is young. Tor should have made her come with him when he brought me home.”

“She did nae give Tor a choice. He would nae have left her if he had any other way. Ye ken that as well as I do. Ye nearly died. We were nae certain that ye would ever awaken.”

A sudden thought occurred to Dunn, causing his concern to deepen. He had no idea how long he had been unconscious. He had no way of knowing how long Katarina had spent out there on her own without him. “How long have I been asleep?” he asked, praying that it had not been very long. From the worried look on his sister’s face, he feared that was not going to like the answer.

“Well, nae so much as ye could have been.” Adamina was twisting her fingers and avoiding his eyes, which only frustrated Dunn further.

“Adamina!” Dunn shouted, growing impatient.

She jumped, startled. “Two days.”

Dunn’s head snapped up, his eyes piercing hers. “She has been out there for two days?”

Adamina nodded hesitantly. “She has, but as I said, she is nae alone.”

As angry as Dunn was at Katarina for lying, he still did not want anything bad to befall her. His fear for her was only dampened by his rage at Alistair Morgan. “I will be going after her as soon as Esmerelda lifts the curse.”

“Ye cannae sit on a horse in yer condition. Ye cannae row or sail either. Ye are nae good for anyone unless ye allow yerself tae heal. Let Tor go after her.”

Footsteps echoed down the hall, announcing visitors. Dunn recognized the footfall of his brother and squeezed Adamina’s hand gently to make up for his sharp tone. “Go, I will speak with ye later.”

Sighing, she stood and walked to the door. As she passed into the corridor, Tor entered the room with Esmerelda in tow. Adamina gave Dunn a censorious look before disappearing from sight.

“My laird,” Esmerelda greeted him, her expression unreadable.

“Tor, ye may leave us. Close the door behind ye,” Dunn instructed.

Tor opened his mouth to argue, but Dunn raised a hand to silence him.

“Do as I say, and let nae one enter.”

A flash of judgment passed over Tor’s face. It was clear that he believed the worst of what was about to happen. Dunn could not be certain what was going to happen himself. Tor left the room and shut the door, but not before giving Dunn a warning look of disapproval.

Once the door was closed, Dunn wasted no time with frivolous conversation. “Lift the curse, Esmerelda,” he commanded.

She studied his face. “Ye have learned the identity o’ yer wife?”

“I have.” His tone was angry, and he made no effort to tame it.