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"It see time I need to talk to him"

He heard the desperation in her voice and decided then that Connor's stepined the tole and was somewhat surprised that Lady Brenna could become upset so easily Perhaps her loneliness for her husband was h he had abandoned her Connor had all but snatched her out of one life and put her down in the center of his

Time was all his mistress needed to find her way At least that hat Quinlan hoped would happen

Later that day, however, he began to think the probleht him on his way up to the soldiers' quarters to tell hi peculiar

"She didn't hear me knock on her bedroom door, and when I entered, she let out a screaer She looked terrified, Quinlan"

The cook's friend, Brocca, happened to overhear the conversation and quickly joined in "Ada toldanything at all It's too soon for her to be carrying a bairn," she added

Quinlan knew there was a chance both wo and decided to wait and see for hi his mistress push her food around on her trencher and barely eat a ht to be concerned He decided he would take histhat she would surely find out rong, and if his mistress was really ill, then Lady Kincaid would kno to cure her

Brenna had no idea Quinlan was so concerned about her For the first time in several days, she felt much more relaxed The two soldiers he had chosen to share the honor of dining at the table were olderstories about the early days Lady Euphemia was blissfully quiet She seeh She looked as if she was hanging on every word, and every once in a while she would actually chuckle or nod when one of the guests related a humorous incident she apparently reetting enough attention He pouted all through the aze directed on the table He ate quickly, and when he was finished, he gave Brenna a hard scowl, sla out of the hall

None of the soldiers seemed at all bothered by Raen's insolence Quinlan noticed hoeary his ood night's rest et her appetite back

One of the older soldiers offered her his ar until she entered her room When she turned to call out her farewell at her door, she saw Raen lurking in the shadows behind the soldier's shoulder, but before she could de for, he turned around and hurried into his cha for her inside the bedroo before her ain Before Brenna could ask her why she aiting for her, the servant explained Eupheht the candles in the woht and assist her in her preparation for bed, and if Netta was going to serve her laird's step to serve her laird's wife

"Doesn't your husbandfor you to come home?"

"It's an honor that I've been chosen to work in our laird's quarters My Deverick is strutting around like a king, he is, telling everyone ill stop and listen how iive such a position in his laird's hohtful woood heart, Netta"

"You'll turn my head with such praise, et ready for bed?"

"No, I' care of myself I do have a quick question to ask before you leave I ondering ould be able to make a wooden medallion for me"

"Alan's clever with his hands, and I think he'sI'll be happy to take you to hiain, and as soon as Netta left, Brenna bolted the door She worked on her sewing for another hour before she went to bed She had just blown the candles out and pulled up her covers when she heard so on her door

She didn't answer it

Chapter 13

Connor finally returned to his holding He felt as though he had been away e, and the tension in his neck and shoulders began to ease, that he finally acknowledged the reason he had been so anxious to get back hoain Needless to say, he wasn't at all happy hat he considered his own lack of discipline Adhts about her only increased his agitation What in God's name was the matter with him? Whenever he closed his eyes to rest for a few e of his wife cah it wasn't much of a consolation, Alec was in much the same condition; but unlike Connor, he didn't just think about his wife, he talked about her as well

Alec had noticed Connor's restlessness on the last evening they were together He watched Connor pace around the ca himself from the others near the break in the forest Alec joined hiainst tree trunks so they could eventually sleep, with one hand resting on the hilt of their swords

Alec didn't ease into the topic he wanted to address "I look at you and I see myself when I firstto tell me whether I want to hear it or not, aren't you?"

"Of course," he replied "Learn froravation"

"You sound likeabout your mother?"

"Yes," he answered "He called her his oeet Isabelle"

Alec nodded "You've fought a good battle, but the ti painful to watch"

"Alec? What the hell are you talking about?"

His brother laughed "You know good and hat I' not to love your wife, aren't you? I understand why, of course You're afraid"

"God help you, you've turned into an old h he hadn't heard the insult "I don't think your father's parting words about Isabelle made you more cautious than any other man Do you remember what you told ested I learn from his mistakes He loved his oeet Isabelle and felt she betrayed hiave her It was all bluster, Alec My father was a hard man who found it difficult to speak of such e to console me, and even as a boy, I understood I don't understand the need for this ridiculous conversation, however"

Alec didn't say another word for a long while He knew Connor was considering his re to convince himself he didn't already love his wife Ah, the foolishness ofwould weaken the Jae I love her? Hopefully, I would, because I'm older and perhaps a little wiser now I didn't know any better back then, Connor; but you do because I have just explained it all to you Do as I suggest and quit resisting

You'll find it's less tor"

"I have only been afraid of one man, Alec, and God help me the day I realize I' my wife has such power over me"

"Who was the man you feared?" Alec asked, curious about his earlier remark

"You I was afraid you wouldn't help me and my friends"

"Your father kneould take you in You weren't as certain, were you? Even then, you were quite cynical Your wife isn't, however She surprised me the way she put herself in front of you If I hadn't known better, I would have thought she was protecting you"

"She was trying to protect me The woman doesn't have many fears If she lives a full year, I'll be surprised"

"She's strong, Connor, and as intelligent as my wife There are tient than we are I can see fro Answer a question for ht?"

"In our beds"

"Where are we sleeping?"

Connor laughed "In the da me with foolish talk"

His brother was in the ," Alec whispered after he closed his eyes and let out a loud yawn "If you ever tell anyone about this conversation, I'll kill you"