Page 29 of Sins of a Scot (Bound by a Highland Curse: The Morgan’s Clan Stories #7)

Three months later…

Iseabail walked arm in arm with Owen, while all those from the chapel followed behind and headed to the castle. She wore her mother’s wedding dress, which had brought a tear to her father’s eye when he had first seen her. Apart from some slight alterations, it fitted her perfectly.

Owen too, upon seeing her, had gazed at her in amazement, for the green brocade bodice truly was a work of art. Her father had bought it for their mother as a gift when he had returned from a trip to France.

Iseabail had been taken aback upon seeing Owen in his wedding attire, for it made him look even more dashing – a thing she had not thought possible. Once at the chapel, the pastor had performed the ceremony, and then they had joined all their guests inside to break bread with them.

Now, they were all heading back to the great hall for a huge celebratory feast.

“I have something fer ye,” Iseabail said as they continued to walk. And putting her hand in the pocket of her skirts, she produced his crystal necklace.

Owen’s eyes flew wide. “Where did ye find that? I thought I had lost it forever,” he gasped.

“Before we left Sutherland’s castle, I searched his body. He had stuffed it into a pocket. I took it and have kept it ever since. I wanted tae give it tae ye as a wedding present.”

She was surprised when Owen did not take it from her, and even more surprised when he shook his head and said, “I dinnae need it anymore.”

“What? But why?”

He smiled down at her as they reached the courtyard. “Dae ye nae ken that I trust ye more than life itself, me love?”

Iseabail felt a deep warmth flower out from her heart, but then, she frowned again. “But what about others who want tae bring ye harm?”

“I have discovered, in me travels, that those with gifts who wish me harm are few and far between. Fer the most part, people with gifts such as yers are simply trying tae live their lives, or, in the case of Ada, use their gifts tae help people.”

“Still,” Iseabail pressed, “there might come a time—”

“And if there does, I will keep it safe until that time comes. But for now, I am happy to lock it in a chest, fer I never want tae feel that there is anything that will come between us.”

The great hall was decorated with wreaths and flowers, and the once quiet room soon grew loud with the excited chatter of all who entered. Owen and Iseabail positioned themselves at the entrance and accepted the congratulations of every person who passed them.

Eventually, Madigan and Eden, who had been caught up in the throng, entered through the door, and Eden, with a beaming smile, threw her arms around Iseabail. The two had grown very close over the last few weeks Iseabail had been staying at the castle, possibly due to their similar age, but also because the women had much in common.

In fact, Iseabail would go so far as to say that Eden felt like the sister she never had, rather than her mother-in-law. Beside them, Owen and Madigan embraced, and the four swapped congratulations and gratitude.

Soon after that, her father and Keane entered, and with yet another tear in Hamilton’s eye, he hugged Iseabail tightly. “I am so very proud o’ ye, me daughter. Ye are more than I could ever have expected ye tae be, and I ken yer maither,” he raised his eyes upward, “is looking down and smiling upon ye on this great day.”

“Thank ye, Faither. I love ye.”

“And I love ye too,” he croaked.

Keane then grabbed Iseabail and lifted her off the ground in a huge bear hug, causing Iseabail to let out a shriek of laughter.

“I’m going tae miss having ye around,” he said with a smile.

“I’m sure we’ll come tae visit often,” Iseabail said, looking up at Owen for confirmation.

“O’ course,” Owen nodded, “so much so, ye might get sick o’ the sight o’ us,” he joked.

A little later on, when everyone had arrived, Owen and Iseabail found themselves seated at the top table with the rest of the Sinclair family, for she now was Lady Iseabail Sinclair. As their guests, and family of the bride, Hamilton and Keane, were also seated with them.

There were speeches given from both the fathers with much cheering from the great crowd present, for many had travelled from Clan Mackay to celebrate, and only then, did the festivities really begin.

Music danced in the air as people tucked into the huge amount of food served, while those at the top table ate and talked amongst themselves.

Lilidh and Daire amused Iseabail greatly, for their friendly rivalry and light banter kept them all entertained.

“I have enough on me plate already, Daire,” Lilidh complained when Daire tried to give her more bread.

“Och, dinnae talk nonsense. I’ve seen a sparrow eat more.”

“Then the sparrows ye see must be the size o’ pheasants,” Lilidh came back.

When Iseabail had first arrived, she had thought the two of them were a couple, but Owen had put her right. He did add that Daire was madly in love with Lilidh, though no one mentioned that for fear of getting a thump. Owen suspected that Lilidh was very well aware of Daire’s feelings, but she had only ever seen him as a friend.

“That is so sad,” Iseabail had said.

Owen had shrugged. “Maybe one day, me aunt will realize what is right under her nose and make an honest man out o’ him.”

A few other things had come to light since she had arrived at Sinclair castle. She had discovered that Owen was no longer a wanted man, thanks be to the gods. At dinner one evening, Madigan declared that Owen no longer needed to be looking over his shoulder.

“What dae ye mean, Faither?” Owen had frowned.

“Yer faither kens everything,” Daire had said.

“Aye, when I received Iseabail’s letter, Daire told me the whole story.”

Iseabail had felt suddenly guilty, and Owen had looked dismayed.

“Owen,” Madigan said, “ye have naething tae be ashamed o’. What ye did fer that poor girl was above and beyond, and I can tell ye, one of these days, she is going tae realize how truly fortunate she was that ye came tae her rescue.”

“I think she kent that well enough at the time,” Owen said sadly.

“Well, the men have been paid, nae that they’ll be able tae spend it,” his father said firmly.

“Why?” Iseabail had asked.

Madigan had gazed down the table at her. “Because, Iseabail, I made certain that the authorities and a few men who would nae be pleased at what they were up to, were informed. By now, those men are either in a dungeon somewhere, or on a ship, probably heading tae France.”

“Thank ye, Faither,” Owen said.

“Well, it wasnae all me. Yer fights in the taverns raised quite a bit o’ coin.” His father gave him a disapproving look. “And Daire also helped.”

Owen had gawked across the table at Daire. “Really?”

Daire had shrugged. “I told ye that ye had tae quit fighting, but at the same time, I also kent yer life was in danger. So unbeknownst tae ye, I had been putting me own money aside.”

Owen had gasped and then had thanked Daire profusely.

“Yer other debt was also settled,” Madigan said.

“What other debt?” Iseabail had asked.

Owen had spun his head to look at Iseabail, his face a picture of terror.

“The man with the crystal,” Madigan said matter-of-factly. “Sure, were ye nae there when Owen promised tae pay him forty merks?”

“Forty merks!” Iseabail gasped.

A silence fell over the table then, and clearly seeing the amusing side, for it was obvious to everyone that Iseabail had no clue what they were talking about, Daire had chuckled. “It appears we’ve put Owen in hot water.”

“Ye paid forty merks?” she had cried. “Are ye mad? Besides, ye told me ye had taken it from him.”

Owen had shrugged bashfully. “Ye already had enough worry, Iseabail. I just wanted tae get the crystal so ye could free yer family.”

She had been speechless. The meal had continued, as had the conversation. Later, she had kissed him and thanked him for making such a sacrifice.

The music in the great hall had then gotten a little louder as the dancing began, and leading Iseabail to the dance floor, Owen gazed down at her.

“Ye cannae ken how happy I am, Iseabail. After all we’ve been through, I hardly thought we’d survive, never mind get tae our wedding day.”

“We were always going tae survive, me love,” she said tenderly. “We are fighters, and will always find a way.”

“Let us hope our children grow up tae be as resilient,” Owen replied, slipping his arms around her waist.

“Our children?” Iseabail said, pretending to look shocked. “And when was that decision made?”

His lips grew into a broad grin. “Och, I dinnae ken. Probably a minute after I realized I was in love with ye. I think I want at least eight,” he teased.

“Och, is that all? I think we should go for a nice round number o’ ten. Ten would be better,” Iseabail bantered back.

“Or we could double it and go fer twenty,” he said, swinging her around.

Iseabail fell into a fit of giggles, and wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled herself into him. His lips lowered to hers, and losing herself in his embrace, she let the world around her disappear.

The End.