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While all the servants were busy searching for her, Brenna sat at the kitchen table with Ada, trying to communicate Determined to make the first meal she shared with her stepmother as perfect as any of the holiday feasts her mother had served, Brenna had already spent at least a half hour explaining, or rather, atteoal was to impress Euphemia so that the woman would have no doubts Connor had indeedthe h the elderly woness to be of assistance, it was apparent she didn't understand more than a word or two of her mistress's instructions, and if Netta hadn't come to her rescue, heaven only kneould have ended up on the table Netta translated Brenna's Gaelic into a twisted dialect only she and Ada and God could possibly understand

Netta was obviously a treasure Although the servant was only a few years older than Brenna and had served her laird's household only for one short year, she had lived on MacAlister land als-on More important, Netta kne to acquire necessary items for her mistress

Once Brenna had explained what she wanted to acco to coeneral, and her husband in particular, the servant begged to take over the tasks of organizing the household servants and volunteered to spend the afternoon braiding rushes She promised the floor would be cleaned and sprinkled with rushes here and there by the

"I would rather we keep the the cushions for the benches and collected a fewis finished, we'll es all at once"

Both Netta and Ada were soon caught up in their estions

"As for the chairs you're wanting, mistress, I know for a certainty there are two nice tall ones, close in size to the one our laird prefers when he sits for his ht,"

she added "Lothar's known for scavenging out this and that froes that have sat vacant for a decent interval so no one will think him a thief He doesn't have any use at all for the chairs—he told me so himself—and he threatened to burn them for firewood so he'll have rooive thes you'll be wanting I'll give you fair warning, though Lothar's a talker, and it won't do you any good at all to mention you're in a hurry He won't take your hints because he's lonely now that his wife passed on, and he likes having co as he wishes," Brenna said

Thrilled with the news that she could implement her plans for the hall sooner than she'd anticipated, she asked Netta to show her where Lothar's cottage was located, but the servant happened to re her mistress out then and hastily told her important news

"Lady Euphemia's son is here, mi'lady"

The announcement caused her iven Netta a good nudge in her side, she would have forgotten the question her friend had begged her to ask

"Mi'lady, could you spare one more minute to put Ada's mind to rest?"

Brenna paused at the door

"Ada's started fretting you'll want to replace her because she has soyou

She's prone to worry…" The servant stopped her explanation when Lady Brenna went hurrying over to the cook and took hold of her hand

"You'll be theas you wish, Ada," she pro until Netta had translated her promise, Brenna continued "I' myself understood, but if you'll have patience with me, I'm certain I'll improve"

Convinced her mistress meant to let her keep her important position, Ada squeezed Brenna's hand to let her kno appreciative she was and bobbed her head up and down in understanding She was dabbing at the corners of her eyes with the cloth Netta handed her when their mistress left the kitchen

Outside, the sky was overcast with dark gray shadows, an unwelco forced inside by her family whenever so much as a drip came down from the skies She was fortunate to reach the back door before the heavy rain began

She tried not to make any noise as she eased the door closed behind her She didn't want to disturb the reunion between ht only to wait by the door to the hall until there was a satisfactory lull in the conversation before she entered the room Her plan was to quickly introduce herself, make certain both Euphe they needed, and then leave again so they could catch up on each other's news

She heard Euphe to Raen

"I don't know if Connor , but she's barely grown and cannot possibly have acquired the skills necessary to run a household She seeer to please, and from what I've observed, I would say she's already loyal to Connor Pity she doesn't have an older woman to show her the way, but then, very soon now, that won't matter, will it? There can be only one mistress here"

"Pretty, you say? Describe her to me," Raen insisted

"For heaven's sake, you would ask about such inconsequential things," Euphemia scolded "Couple with caht for anotherin the past few years? You would jeopardize everything if you…"

"Calm yourself, Mother," Raen ordered, his voice sharp with irritation "I wasI would even consider bedding a married woman"

"You've done it before, Raen," she reminded hi to know any better," he said "Connor must be pleased with his wife Do they seem happy to you?"

"From what I've observed, I would have to conclude Connor is very unhappy I haven't spent sufficient time with her to ascertain how she feels about him"

"If she satisfies him in bed, what more could he want? I for one wouldn't care whatall you ever think about?"

"Most men think of little else I' at me with disapproval"

"I cannot know for certain, of course, but I would have to assume she doesn't satisfy him in bed either

He moved her out of his bedrooone to hiive him an heir unless he bedded her"