Page 51 of The Cursed Highland Bride

Katarina frowned at him but said no more on the subject. “Where is Dunn? How is he?”

“He survived the journey and is recovering.”

“I need tae speak with him.”

Tor paled and moved to block her path. “He is in a council meeting.”

Katarina looked out over the hall and saw all of the elders there but not Dunn. She raised a brow in question. “Why are ye lying tae me? Who is he with?”

Tor shook his head. “I cannae tell ye that.”

Katarina moved to go around Tor, but he blocked her again. “I need tae speak with him,” she demanded, growing impatient with his behavior.

“I cannae let ye. All matters concerning the clan are tae be dealt with by me until Dunn is able tae do so again. He has asked nae tae be disturbed by anyone, and that includes ye. I will get ye the men that ye need.”

“There is something that ye are nae telling me.” The irony of her statement was not lost on either of them, but Tor had the grace not to say anything about it. “I am sorry,” she whispered. “It is that he does nae wish tae see me, is it nae?” Honestly, she could not blame him. Had he lied to her about something as big as she had, she would have had a hard time forgiving him as well.

Tor looked at her apologetically. “I dinnae ken how he feels about ye at the moment. He has nae confided in me.”

Katarina nodded her head in understanding. “I need men tae save my sisters, but ye also need men tae protect yer people. Once Morgan ascertains what has happened, he will come. He has the backing o’ the crown. He does nae need tae wait tae attack. He will nae want tae wait. He will be enraged that we were able tae escape him.”

“I have the men keeping watch for anything suspicious. If Morgan’s men are tae come here, they will be met with the sword.”

“He is a vile, violent man capable o’ anything, and his men are nae better. The things that I have seen, the things that my mother endured…” Katarina shook her head, tears making the words choke in her throat.

“Go and rest. It has been a long journey. I will inform Dunn that ye have arrived and wish tae speak with him when he is ready. Until then, ye should rest.” Tor attempted to steer her away from the stairs and toward the fireplace where Adamina and their grandmother were sitting, but Katarina shook her head.

“If I am going to rest, I would rather do so in the privacy o’ my own bedchamber, unless that too is being denied tae me.”

A look of hurt passed over Tor’s face. “I would never deny ye that. Ye are still the lady o’ the clan. Yer place is here with our people. Dinnae doubt that.”

“Dunn could contest the marriage.”

Tor looked at her with sympathy. He could not deny her words, as they both knew that she was right. “I will look at the marriage contract. The wording matters in these things.”

“I would nae wish tae force him tae honor our vows. It has tae be his choice.”

Tor nodded in understanding. “He loves ye.”

“Let us pray that ye are right, but whether he does or nae, I cannae save my sisters without the aid o’ his men.”

“Whether he does or nae, ye will have it.”

Tears sprang to Katarina’s eyes once more, this time in gratitude. “I thank ye for yer kindness.”

“Ye are my sister,” he reassured her. “Nothing will change that. Ye did what ye had tae do tae save yer family. Nae one will blame ye for that.”

“Does the rest o’ the clan ken the truth?”

Tor shook his head. “Nae, only the men who were with us, Adamina, and our grandmother. The men have been ordered tae secrecy until Dunn decides what he wishes tae do with the information o’ yer true identity.”

“The clan will nae take kindly tae my deception.”

“Nae, they will nae, but they will see reason. Ye have proved yerself tae be one o’ us, a loyal member o’ the clan. Ye put us before yer own family. That will mean something tae them. It will mean everything.”

Katarina nodded in acceptance of his words and moved toward the stairs once more. She could see that he wanted to stop her, but she outmaneuvered him and began the climb anyway. Behind her, she could hear Adamina’s voice asking, “Are ye nae supposed tae keep her away from Dunn’s bedchamber?”

Before she moved out of hearing distance, Tor replied, “She has a right tae ken the truth. She is his wife.”