Highland Troth (Highland Talents Book 3) (33 page)

He smiled and smoothed her hair away from her face. “I’ll never doubt ye again.”

“The healer said I’m free to travel.”

“Ye rode quite well today.” His smile widened into a mischievous grin.

She smacked his shoulder and giggled. “Aye, and I’ll get better at it the more I get to…ride.” Her lips quirked, then her expression turned quizzical. “But where shall we go?”

“I want to take ye back to Lathan, but if ye want to see yer da and arrange things at Fletcher first, I willna object.”

She nodded. “Shall we marry there or at Lathan?”

“I’m ready now,” he told her, and then wrapped his arms around her, telling her without words that he would never let her go, “but that will be yer choice.”

“Perhaps both.”

Jamie grinned. “I like the sound of that.” In truth, he did. He’d marry her over and over again, every day, if it would keep her by his side.

“Then it’s settled.”

“And it could no’ be better. But before we leave here, I must speak with the new MacGregor. I understand the clan elected him just last night.”

****

The speed at which the MacGregor keep changed amazed Jamie. While he recovered his wits and Caitrin healed, the clan had been doing the same. They stood in the Laird’s solar, yet Jamie had no concerns Caitrin would be haunted by memories of Alasdair’s assaults here. Except for the position of the windows, the chamber looked completely different. The furniture had been removed and replaced, the doubled tapestries were gone, and draperies in a rich, deep red now covered the window wall. A large Persian carpet graced the floor, and a fire danced merrily in the hearth.

But the biggest change, by far, was the person this chamber now belonged to. The new MacGregor, a young man just barely in his majority, came out from behind his desk as they entered hand in hand, and took their free hands in his. He spoke with authority beyond his years. “Ye have done this clan a great service, whether ye realize it or no’.”

Jamie couldn’t fathom why the clan had tolerated Alasdair for so long when it had this young man waiting to be laird. “I’m pleased to hear ye say that, but I dinna ken exactly what ye mean.”

Caitrin stood at his side, ready to squeeze his fingers if she detected any falsehood.

Her father may not have trusted her talent, but given the events leading up to this day, Jamie was prepared to accept any advantage he could find in this meeting. Too much bad blood had spilled already, and it would be too easy for things to get out of hand, resulting in more misery and more deaths. But the new MacGregor’s initial words made him seem indisposed to stir up more trouble.

“My cousin Alasdair’s demise, of course.”

Jamie raised an eyebrow, unsure of how he was meant to respond to that. But the new MacGregor didn’t give him time to compose something suitably noncommittal.

“I am sorry, both personally and as the MacGregor,” he said, flashing a quick smile before resuming his appropriately serious countenance, “for the difficulty ye encountered here. For milady Fletcher’s injuries. And for the crimes committed in the past which harmed many outside of our clan. What ye may no’ be aware of is Alasdair’s uncle, his sire and his older sons—all lost at Flodden, thank God—they and Alasdair exercised…proclivities upon their own people, most of whom were too afraid to speak out. Those who did…disappeared. I am only now hearing stories, like yers, that grieve me greatly. They had much to answer for, but they are long out of our reach. And ye have saved us more years of horror, and the potential for division in the clan, in bringing the son to justice.” He paused and shrugged, suddenly looking even younger until he spoke. “We are better off, now the bastard is dead.”

Jamie nodded to acknowledge the unfortunate truth of that. The lad showed unexpected wisdom for one so young to such weighty responsibility.

“I…
we
owe ye both a debt, and to Fletcher,” he said with a nod to Caitrin, “and to Lathan. We will be years in making recompense. But there is one thing I can do today to begin to repay ye, if ye will allow it.”

“Aye?”

Jamie felt Caitrin stiffen beside him, but he had a good feeling about this lad and reserved judgment until he heard all the new laird had to say.

“I understand ye never favored this betrothal to the MacGregor, Lady Fletcher. Fortunately, it is no longer an issue, since I already have a young wife of my own, one I am happy to keep.” He gave them a bashful grin then adopted a serious expression again. “I also understand ye both wish to wed…one another, that is. Am I correct?”

“Ye are,” Jamie answered. Caitrin’s silence suggested she wasn’t sure what the young MacGregor had in mind.

“There is a priest standing by. I hereby waive the banns. If ye wish, ye can be married now. Today. MacGregor will, of course, provide a dowry suitable to the occasion. I regret yer father is no’ at hand, but we can proceed without him. I have a letter from the former dowager Lady MacGregor, now Lady Fletcher, I believe, that gives their blessing to the union between ye two.”

Jamie glanced at Caitrin. She appeared stunned, but her hand remained relaxed within his. This MacGregor spoke truth. “Caitrin? What do ye say?” Suddenly Jamie’s confidence deserted him. Was she stunned by the good news, or thinking furiously of a way to bow out of it? “I ken we discussed it, but after all we’ve been through, have ye changed yer mind? Will ye marry me? Today?”

“I am ready,” she replied, her voice firm and sure.

Jamie went weak in the knees.

She smiled at the new MacGregor as she never had done for his predecessor then grinned at Jamie. “I…we accept yer kind offer and thank ye. Today is a perfect day to be married.”

“We can be ready in moments.”

At that, Jamie relaxed and smiled for the first time in weeks.

****

Caitrin didn’t mind the irony. In the end, she would marry at MacGregor, but the difference mattered. She would marry the man she loved. The man she had wanted since she had arrived at Lathan a lonely, young lass and met a young lad who treated her nicely.

Da would have to be satisfied with a stronger alliance with Lathan. She suspected he’d already accepted that advantage for Fletcher—though they’d nearly lost it due to his insistence on sacrificing her to Alasdair MacGregor. But nay, she would not think about that today, of all days. Her father had seen the error of his ways and, in the end, had done what was needed to ensure her safety and happiness. And Madeleine had cleared away any lingering…difficulties…with her letter to her son’s successor.

Though with a friendly MacGregor in charge and speaking of debts owed to Fletcher, her father would be pleased to learn relations there would improve, as well.

The priest was indeed standing by. At the MacGregor’s summons, he entered from the next room and blessed the chamber, the new laird, and both of them. He seemed quite cheerful, and Caitrin suspected the change in leadership made his job more to his liking.

“Would ye like some time to prepare?” Jamie asked her. “To dress or…”

“We could move to the great hall if ye would prefer,” the MacGregor added. “Or the kirk. A wedding would be a happy occasion for the clan to witness.”

Caitrin’s heart sank. She wanted to keep this small and private.

“We are pleased to remain here,” Jamie interjected, correctly reading her silence as reluctance. “If ye dinna mind.”

“I am pleased to remain here as well, but we can give ye time to prepare…”

“Nay, I said I am ready, and I am,” Caitrin interjected, as exultation suddenly made her tremble with eagerness. This was going to happen. After everything, she and Jamie would be married—today! The future she’d hoped for would become real in minutes. Jamie beamed at her, making her heart race. “
Now
, if ye please.”

Even the priest grinned at that.

The MacGregor sent a lad for his wife, saying, “Ye will want another woman here as witness, will ye no’?”

“Aye. Thank ye, that would be most welcome,” Caitrin agreed. “And Kyle?” she asked Jamie. At his nod, the new laird sent another lad to find him. Jamie needed a friend and clansman to stand with him.

Caitrin eagerly awaited the new lady MacGregor’s arrival, wondering if she’d met her the day Madeleine had introduced her to the ladies in her solar. She’d had little female company in this keep, save for the old healer, and Nan and Madeleine, who were now safely ensconced at Fletcher with her da. She spared a moment to wonder if a ghillie had been sent to Fletcher to apprise them of how the situation had changed here. They must know something, for Madeleine to send a letter. Unless she had left it behind to explain to her son where she’d gone and to convince him not to pursue her—or Caitrin.

No matter, those questions would wait. Jamie stood at her side, and they had something more happily urgent to take care of.

The new lady MacGregor arrived in moments, looking excited and a bit nervous. Her husband must have prepared her for this eventuality, given how quickly she joined them. Caitrin did not recognize her, but liked her on sight. She appeared to be of an age with her husband, slim, but in the early stage of breeding.

“How lovely to meet ye,” she greeted them and took Caitrin’s hand. “And how lovely that my husband’s first act as laird is a wedding. I think this bodes well for the years he will lead this clan. Do ye agree?”

“Of course,” Caitrin answered with a smile. “I’m grateful. Thank ye for helping us.”

“It is my very great pleasure. Our very great pleasure,” she added with a smile at her husband, who returned hers with a besotted one of his own.

Caitrin’s heart swelled to see the love between them. Their clan’s future would be much happier with these two in charge.

“Ahem.” The priest’s throat-clearing brought them back to their purpose as Kyle came in with a length of Lathan plaid and stood behind Jamie.

The priest called him forward to perform the handfasting, which brought tears to Caitrin’s eyes, and a glimmer, which made her heart swell, to Jamie’s. The connection between them was strong, but to see the symbol of clan Lathan binding them together only made it stronger. The priest kept the kirk ceremony mercifully brief. Before she knew it, Caitrin became a married woman, with the husband of her dreams standing by her side.

Jamie kissed her simply, but with great feeling brimming in his eyes.

Aye, he wanted this as much as she. She did not need her talent to discern that.

They signed the marriage declaration and the MacGregor record-book. Jamie hesitated a moment, but then signed with a great flourish. Men and their territory-marking, Caitrin thought with a grin she shared with her new husband as he handed her the ceremonial quill. Then it was her turn, and she took great pleasure in signing
Caitrin Olivia Fletcher Lathan
,
wife of Jamie Lathan
. Her fondest dream come true.

Epilogue

Jamie and Toran sat in front of the MacKyrie hearth, whisky in hand against the early autumn chill. Donal had run upstairs to be with Ellie as the first lusty cry of their son had echoed down the stairs into the great hall.

“It seems we’ve been here before,” Jamie remarked with a grin at Toran, who scowled in his direction. “Two years past, Aileana came to ye. Now ye have fifteen-month-old triplets and four-month-old twins. And Donal just got his son and heir to MacKyrie.”

“I dinna think I’ve ever seen him so nervous,” Toran replied, ignoring Jamie’s barb. Toran had done plenty of pacing of his own as Aileana delivered their bairns. Aileana remained upstairs with Ellie, and Caitrin kept a watchful eye on Toran and Aileana’s brood so their mother would not be distracted. “He’s as steady as they come in battle, but around Ellie, he’s a different man.”

“Aye, our women do have that effect on us,” Jamie agreed. Caitrin had given Jamie more to care about and to live for than he’d ever dreamed possible.

“Ah, here comes yer lady wife, now.”

Jamie glanced around at the stairs. Caitrin descended the last few steps and joined them at the hearth, perching on the arm of his chair. “Aileana’s with the bairns. I dinna ken how she does it,” she told Toran. “Five at a time are a lot of work, even with the servants’ help.”

“It will be different with yer own,” Toran replied with an absent smile, his gaze on the stairs Caitrin had just descended. “I think I’ll go check on them.”

“He wants to check on his wife,” Jamie told her quietly, but loudly enough Toran would be sure to hear as he started up the steps.

Toran ignored the comment and kept going.

Jamie turned back to her. “So they wore ye out, did they?”

“Aye, but I did get a peek at Ellie’s new bairn, though Donal chased me out quickly enough. They’re exhausted but blissful, at the moment. I’m just tired.”

“I can fix that,” Jamie said, rising and pulling her up with him. “Bliss is my specialty, if ye’ll recall. Will ye walk or are ye too worn out? I’ll gladly carry ye, but I ken ye are a stubborn lass.”

Caitrin stretched, wrapping her arms around her husband’s neck and taking a deep breath, she said, “I love the way ye smell. Whisky and yer own scent.” She rested her head his shoulder. “Aye, that sounds wonderful. Take me.”

With a grin, Jamie lifted her into his arms and carried her up to their chamber.

“So after today, are ye ready for a bairn of yer own?” he asked, his expression as innocent as he could make it.

“After I spent the day with five of them, and after listening to Ellie’s birthing cries, how can ye ask me that?”

“Because I intend to have ye,” he promised as he latched the door behind them and carried her to their bed. “I’m to give ye bliss, remember?”

“Aye. Ye did mention that. But one does no’ always lead to the other,” she told him as he wrapped strong arms around her.

“Nay, but eventually, it will.”

“After this day, there had better be a lot of bliss between now and then.”

Jamie gave her the grin she’d come to love, the one that told her he could not live without her. “Never fear, milady. Ye ken I speak the truth when I say it will be my pleasure—and yers.”

A word about the author...

Willa Blair is the award-winning author of Amazon and Barnes & Noble bestselling Scottish historical paranormal romance and a contributor to USAToday’s Happy Ever After romance blog.