Page 57 of Highlander's Wild Lass
Celestia smiled. Maybe this entire charade of a marriage was going to work out.
12
Celestia and her siblings were back home just before sunup, the festival had gone on long and had grown in its celebrations after the announcement.
Her head felt light, her stomach a bit woozy from drink, but she was—even she had to admit—at ease that the clan was thrilled about the impending marriage.
The entire way home and still as they got ready for bed, trying not to be too loud to wake their father, Auralia and the twins wouldn’t stop talking about it.
“I cannae believe ye dinnae tell us first,” Chester said, looking stern but his smile fought to take over.
“That was my plan all along, even Anthony agreed—”
“Ah!” Auralia exclaimed, clasping her hands together looking whimsical. “How sweet that ye two are already makin’ plans together.”
Celestia grumbled. “His uncles and sister came upon us and found us together.”
“Together!” Hugo shouted. “Alone?”
All three shushed him.
Hugo scowled and lowered his voice, “What were ye two doin’ by yerselves?”
“Oh, shut it and go change into yer nightclothes,” Auralia told him. “They’re to be married, who cares if they’re alone.”
Hugo looked affronted as Auralia shoved him towards his bedroom. Chester was just coming out of it and fought for purchase as Hugo made his way through the doorway.
“Are we goin’ to move into the castle?” Chester asked.
Celestia nodded slowly. “I suppose we will.”
“When?” Hugo yelled from inside the bedroom.
Another round of harsh shushes came from Celestia, Auralia, and Chester. Just then, their father’s bedroom door swung open.
They froze, their heads snapping in that direction.
Their father stepped into the light of the hallway. “What is goin’ on? Ye should all be in bed at this hour.”
“Da, we just got back from the festival,” Hugo told him, sticking his head into the hallway.
“Sorry if we woke ye,” Celestia said as she slightly loosened her stays.
“Seein’ that it’s nearly mornin’, I cannae be very angry.”
“Ye’ll never believe what happened, Da!” Auralia exclaimed, skipping dreamily to her father.
Celestia watched Brannan stabilize himself with his cane each step further into the hallway. “What happened, lass?”
“Anthony and Celestia—”
“I accepted the chief’s proposal.”
Brannan’s face lit up. More than it had in years, really. She felt a sort of calmness overcome her, that everything was going to be all right for her family.
Anthony would provide for them, in all ways. She was sure of that.
“It was truly mad, Da,” Hugo explained. “Two of his uncles pulled them onto the platform and announced it to entire clan!”
