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"Did you show it to her?"

Netta nodded "Oh, mi'lady, she looked so disappointed in your efforts She clucked her tongue like a chicken would and shook her head"

Brenna could feel her face burning with embarrassment "And what did she say to you?"

"She said the stitches were all lopsided, but she assured me she understood you didn't know any better"

"Where is my tapestry now"

"Lady Euphemia didn't want you to be humiliated in front of your husband and his followers" Tears of syathered in Netta's eyes, which only made Brenna's embarrassment all the more horrible

She felt like such a failure, and yet, at the sa that she didn't know any better each and every tih herto properly educate her daughter

"It's gone, isn't it?" she whispered, her voice flat with defeat

"Yes,the stitches out at noon, and by the tiht, only threads were left on the floor"

Connor called her name as he strode into the hall and looked around hio to hi looked lovely,Brenna needed noas pity She ss wouldn't be injured, and then said, "I'll do much better with my next attempt"

The servant bowed to her mistress and then left to tell the servants that the food should be readied to be carried to the table

"Have you finished your discussion with your soldiers?"

His wife's question made him smile Every one of his s returned

Connor hadn't understood what they were talking about until one of them pointed to the stack of iteers looked very like the one his wife often used They didn't dare accuse theirfroetful when she was in a hurry or having a fine time Each soldier had actually defended Brenna to hihed

Emmett had explained it to his laird "When she's carefree, she forgets to pay attention," he explained

"She makes our wives feel as important as you do, Laird They've all taken a fancy to her, of course, and would be very upset if they heard you were to sanction her because of this wee probles back She leaves as ht to add in Brenna's defense

Connor proested that in future, whenever so, they or their wives were sih the stack on the chest They needn't ask his per ell," Brenna remarked

"It did," he assured her "I solved the probleh," she replied

His laughter echoed around the chamber "I doubt that, but now I find I really don't want to anyway"

"Why don't you want to?"

"Because I like the cause Don't ask me to explain Show h"

"I can't"

"You can't wait?"

"Show you your surprise"

"Why can't you? Have you changed your ed my mind"

"Why?"

"Why?" Her mind raced for an excuse so he wouldn't know all her efforts had been found lacking He was bound to think she was incompetent then, and she wasn't incompetent at all She'd just been in too much of a hurry

Fortunately, she remembered the medallion she'd had ive it importance

"It's up in the bedrooo…"

"What would you like to do?"

"Wait," she decided

"Then I'll wait"

"Thank you," she answered before asking him if he'd seen his step downstairs any minute now Have you spoken to Raen yet?"

"No, but he should be back in another hour or two according to Quinlan, and then he'll stay only one ood," Connor said

"He's leaving?"

She didn't mean to sound so blissfully happy about Raen's departure, but she couldn't help it

He raised an eyebrow to her reaction "He returns to his laird toht that be?" she casually asked, hoping theway froain for another five or ten years, Brenna, is so?"

"No, no, of course not"

"Then why are you holding on to me?"

She seemed surprised, which made him shake his head in confusion Her arms rapped around his waist, but she quickly moved away from him The mere mention of his stepbrother had made her instinctively move closer to her husband She didn't explain, of course, and ended up re him how much she'd missed him

"You ain Will you excuse me nohile I run to the kitchens and speak to the cook?"

After he granted her perood-bye

"What happened here, Connor?" Quinlan called out his question fro into the hall

Crispin followed him "What happened where?" he asked