Page 72 of The Cursed Highland Bride

“I sent a messenger straight away tae Edinburgh with instructions tae return with the king’s response with all haste. Until then, we have things tae do tae prepare.”

“What do ye wish for me tae do?” Adamina asked, ready to be of help.

“I need ye tae set Tor’s shoulder while I go in search o’ a priest,” Dunn answered, grinning from ear to ear.

“A priest?” Adamina questioned.

“Aye, I am getting married this day.”

Adamina’s brows shot up in surprise. “But ye are already married! Who do ye think ye are tae wed now?”

Dunn laughed and stepped forward to wrap his arm around Katarina’s waist. “I plan tae wed my wife, this time with full knowledge o’ who she is and by our choice.”

Adamina cried out with joy and flung her arms around both of them at once. “I am glad o’ it!”

Dunn kissed the top of Katarina’s head and laughed in joy with his sister. Tor stood smiling through the pain of his arm, and Dunn felt sympathy for him. “Now, go and help our brother. He is tae stand as witness for me. The king will need proof o’ our marriage. I will nae allow it tae be annulled for the dishonesty o’ our first wedding. This one will be true in every way and witnessed by as many people as we can summon in a short time. Spread the word for all tae meet us in the great hall. There is much that our people need tae ken.”

A worried expression fell over Katarina’s face. “What if they cannae forgive me?”

Dunn shook his head. “Ye did nae do this. Alistair Morgan did this. They will understand and forgive ye. They may even love ye all the more for nae being a Morgan.”

“And what o’ me being Romani?”

“They will come tae love ye for it as I have.” Bending down, he kissed her reassuringly, then took a horse from one of his waiting men. “Meet me in the hall. I will return with the priest.”

Smiling, Katarina waved him off and turned to help her sisters and the wounded up to the castle.

* * *

Katarina awaited Dunn’s return, sitting in front of the fire in the hall. Tor’s shoulder had been set, the wounded cared for, and the women had bathed and changed their dresses. Katarina prayed that Dunn had taken the time to tend to his own wounds when he found the priest. Tor had spread the word among the castle servants to prepare for a wedding but had not told them for who.

Dunn’s grandmother sat across from Katarina, her face unreadable. Katarina knew that she had never approved of her and had not been happy about the lies that had been told, but in that moment, she had no idea what the older woman was thinking. Her usual scowl of disapproval had been replaced by something else akin to thoughtfulness. Katarina was not certain which expression was more unnerving.

“I was wrong about ye,” she spoke at long last.

Katarina’s eyebrows soared at such a confession. “My lady?”

“Fira,” she corrected. “My name is Fira.”

“Lady Fira.” Katarina nodded her head in respect.

“I was wrong about yer character. I believed ye tae be a Morgan spy bent on our destruction, but ye have proved me wrong. Ye were willing tae give yer very life for my grandsons, our people, and yer sisters. Now, Alistair Morgan lies prisoner in our storeroom, and that is in large part because o’ ye and yer brave devotion tae our family. I am a hard woman, lass, I readily admit it, but I can also admit when I am wrong. I offer ye my humble apologies.”

Katarina sat with her mouth hanging open for a brief moment. “I thank ye, my lady.” She bowed her head in respect to the older woman, then offered a smile of reconciliation. “I am honored tae hear such praise from yer lips.” As many among the clan were still unaware of the truth of her origins, Katarina had slipped back into the pretense of a Scottish accent.

Lady Fira snorted in amusement. “I only speak the truth. Any woman who can bring my grandson’s heart such joy deserves that and more.”

“I only pray that our actions have nae brought about the end for us all.”

Lady Fira nodded. “I pray the same, but we have the advantage with Alistair Morgan in our control. The crown will do much tae see him returned. The king and his regent will nae be pleased tae hear o’ Morgan’s duplicity.” A satisfied gleam entered the old woman’s eyes at the thought of Alistair Morgan being punished. “It is the only reason that I have nae gone intae the storeroom and killed him myself.”

Katarina nodded. She understood the sentiment, and she wanted to see him dead for what he had done to her own family. “It takes strength nae tae exact vengeance upon such a foe.”

“Indeed,” the older woman nodded. She looked over Katarina’s shoulder and smiled.

Katarina turned around to see what she was smiling at and found Dunn standing behind her, looking handsome and strong. He had taken the time to bathe and put on clean clothes. The priest stood beside him, ready to perform the ceremony. “Dunn,” she smiled, standing to greet him. “I grew concerned when ye did nae return.”

“I thought it best nae tae wed ye covered in blood.” He chuckled, taking her into his arms. “The priest saw tae my wounds and allowed the courtesy o’ his bath. I had some clean clothes sent tae me.”