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He nodded, for he'd heard the conviction in her voice and knew her mind was finally made up "Nay, lass, there isn't"

She walked ahead of hi "This had better be simple"

It would be simple, for he believed she had finally co to be reasonable

He should have known better

Chapter 4

Nothing was ever simple with the woman They were eventually et fro of the ceremony to the end His bride was entirely responsible, of course She beca-winded dissertation on the merits of the holy sacrament of matrimony, she simply couldn't stand still Connor forced hiry, or even disgruntled

He did get dizzy, though So did all the others Two of his men had to close their eyes so they could maintain their balance Sinclair was in much the sa to keep up with the bride

It all started out sih When the priest instructed the couple to stand side by side and face hier to cooperate, and Connor naturally assuet it done

He really should have known better

"Laird, if your folloould form a half-circle behind you, they may all be witnesses to this joyful event"

"There, now," he said once the ht they should be "Lady Brenna, are you ready to begin?"

"Yes, Father"

The priest smiled "You look radiant, lass," he whispered He si out a bit of praise, but he was quick to catch the hlanders were known to be prickly about their woiven any attention by other men, and he realized too late that the peculiarity must also extend to ht have done "Your bride realizes her good fortune, Laird, and that is why she looks radiant I ine why the priest had suddenly becoitated He nodded just to placate hi the union

Sinclair cleared his throat, an his sermon on the responsibilities each would accept once they were truly husband and wife

Brenna started out looking serene and somewhat relaxed with her hands down at her sides Connor quickly tired of listening to the priest She hung on to thefroht she was as bored as he was Then she started wringing her hands together, a telltale indication that trouble was co

"Lady Brenna, please turn to your laird while you proclai with the instruction, but Connor saw the panic in her eyes the second she looked up at him The color had left her face, and he hoped to God she wouldn't faint before the priest finished

He waited for her to speak, but after a long minute of silence, he decided he would He made quick work of the duty with a brisk prorunted their approval

It didn't take hi

"It's your turn now, lass," the priest coaxed when she remained silent "You must proclaiht be changing your mind Could that be true?"

She frantically shook her head "I ht words," she explained "It's iht"

Those were the last coherent words she spoke for a long, long while She started pacing while she worried over each and every word she would say She circled the priest several times, then widened her circle to include all of the about, because she spoke each confusing thought out loud as she paced Connor knew she wasn't aware of what she was doing, and as soon as he gave up watching her, he stopped being dizzy

Around and around she went, until Sinclair was visibly reeling fro so she would have his full attention She explained she, too, meant to protect and honor Connor, just as he had pro, she felt the need to expound at length upon those tith one qualification after another; yet she never quite finished any one thought

It was apparent she wasn't going to stop until she had it all worked out, and Connor didn't even try to intervene He relaxed his stance, folded his arht the laird looked bored, but every once in a while a quick smile would appear on his face, and Sinclair knew Connor had found so

She finally stopped Connor opened his eyes then, and honest to heaven, he al next to the priest looking quite pleased with herself

Sinclair seized the opportunity He latched on to her ar over, but even after the dizziness left hi another evening stroll

"Are you finished, lass?" he asked

"Yes, Father"

Sinclair cast the laird a bewildered look "Did she get her vows said, then?"

"Would you like me to repeat them, Father?" she asked

Everyone but Connor shouted no at the same time She was so startled by their enthusiastic reply, her eyes widened and she took a quick step back

The priest was the only one who felt the need to apologize "Do forgive ine what came over me I'm certain your laird will answer ive her tiaze steady while he summarized her promises

"She will honorreasonable—but I shouldn't hold out hope that that day will ever coet it straight in myto prove I' out, Brenna?"

"Nay, Connor," she answered "You made better sense out of my vows than I did"

The priest paused tothe coupleHe then tried to figure out how he could bless theood distance ahead of hiave up on the dile everyone

"You are nowcheer to end before suggesting to the laird that he ht wish to kiss his bride He then wondered which one would go to the other It was the bride's responsibility to go back to her husband's side, of course, but she was still looking quite dazed by it all, and Sinclair doubted she was capable of realizing her duty