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"I won't jest, but you still won't believe me Your wife took over the duty"

"I don't believe you"

Quinlan nudged Crispin "He did forget her," he whispered

As soon as they reached the stables, Connor pulled the doors wide before either one of his soldiers could get ahead of hi He bowed to his laird and was about to welcome him back to the keep when Connor interrupted him

"Davis, is my stallion in his stall?"

"He is, Laird, and as content as I've ever seen"

"Then you didn't have your usual difficulty getting him to settle down?"

"I was saved from the task by your lady She certainly has a ith animals, Laird, but I'er out of the beast in no time at all Your stallion was happy to let her lead hi him the truth, as difficult as it was to believe

"Where is Lady MacAlister now?"

"She spotted Ewan's wife giving their bairn the afternoon air I' that here she was headed"

Connor nodded and walked away He paused once when Davis called out, "You've chosen well, Laird"

Brenna had already left Ewan's cottage, however While the blushing mother explained she'd been thrilled to have her mistress's undivided attention, she see Connor where she'd gone

"She insisted on holding the baby and didn't mind at all that he hadn't had his bath yet She has a special ith children, Laird My little one is usually suspicious of strangers, but he took to her right away

Your wife's a dear lass, and frohtful as can be She hurried over to h the "

His patience was nearly gone by the tiht up with Brenna She had already left Brocca's cottage and was just about to knock on another door when he stopped her

She didn't look especially pleased to see him He couldn't believe she dared to trown at hiot me, didn't you?" She folded her arms and continued to frown at him

Connor wasn't at all impressed with the way she tried to intimidate him He moved closer so that she was forced to tilt her head back in order to look up at him, and then said, "You will not take that tone with me"

She didn't back away as he expected her to do, but she did soften her voice when she next spoke to him

"May I speak plainly, Connor?"

"No, you may not You may follow me back to the keep noever"

He turned to leave She stood her ground

"Are you defying "

"Waiting for what?"

"For you to ad"

"Then you do not plan to apologize?"

She saw the incredulous look that caht had never entered hisConnor fro to take every ounce of her patience But, she had pushed hih today, and she didn't dare add another word of criticism until he'd recovered In her esti his wife over his shoulder and carrying her to the keep when she suddenly smiled at him and took hold of his hand He didn't understand what had caused the transformation, but he didn't question her He had pushed her far enough for one day, and now that he'd e him or contradict hi to take hi time to help her learn to be more disciplined

As soon as he ain the soldier standing next to Quinlan

"Brenna, in future, don't reement because her husband seeet about me, didn't he?"

Connor squeezed her hand to let her knohat he thought about her question

"It would see hi to his left "Crispin did"

She smiled at the soldier "Thank you, Crispin" She would have officially introduced herself to the soldier, but he looked rather dazed, and she decided he was busy thinking about sohed at the expression on Crispin's face His friend was looking quite stunned "She takes your breath away, doesn't she, Crispin?"

The soldier nodded He motioned to Quinlan to wait so that they could have a moment alone and follow at a more discreet distance

"I've never seen Connor act this way He doesn't usually allow any woman to make him lose his patience"

"She isn't just any wo her around"

Crispin s her around too, if I were married to her She's very beautiful, isn't she? I don't think I've ever seen a woman so bonny"

"Connor doesn't notice"

The two lanced back over her shoulder to smile at them

"Our mistress isn't easily intimidated" There was admiration in Crispin's voice when he made the remark

"If she were the least bit timid, Connor would walk all over her Do you remember what he told us about Isabelle?"

"He told us very little He doesn't remember his mother"

"That is so, but he remembers every word his father said to him before he died"

Crispin nodded "Donald called his wife his oeet Isabelle He loved her"

"Exactly so"

"But Donald cautioned his son not tohim to be careful If you had seen the way the Lady Brenna and he looked at one another when they first met, you would conclude what I have"

"And what is that?"

Quinlan stared at Brenna as he gave his answer "She's going to be Connor's oeet love"

Crispin clasped his hands behind his back while he considered what Quinlan had just told him Like his friend, he also wanted his laird to find peace and contentment But love? He didn't know if Connor would ever let himself feel such an emotion