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Netta didn't come inside "Father Sinclair has arrived, but you needn't hurry to greet hi confession in the lower bailey now and won't make his way up here for another hour or so"

"You're certain?" Brenna asked "I wouldn't want to keep hiive her confession, I'h sins to keep Father busy for the rest of the day"

"Talk like that will get you a long penance, Netta," she replied with a laugh

"I' the truth, so it can't be a sin Would you likedressed, mi'lady?"

"No, thank you"

Netta looked disappointed "I'll go on down to the hall then I' at the table, acting like a queen"

"Are you referring to Lady MacAlister?"

Netta nodded Brenna immediately scolded her "You must honor and respect her," she said "She's your laird's stepmother, if you'll remember"

"As you wish, mi'lady"

"I do wish Please try, Netta I know she can be difficult"

"Aye, it is difficult, especially since she took away all your nice improvements The cushions weren't lumpy, mi'lady They were perfect"

Brenna thanked her for her kind opinion and sent her away so she could get dressed While she washed, she s she must do today First and most important, she would take her husband aside and tell him about Raen Yes, that was the most imperative duty she had, but if there was ti to try to find out exactly how long Lady Euphe

As was her custo before she left her bedroo Euphe, today would be the day

Talking to Connor cah she would have died of eht, she sneaked out so that she wouldn't be delayed listening to Euphemia complain Luck was on her side; the elder woman faced the entrance and didn't see her

Brenna wasn't particularly worried she would run into Raen, however, because he went riding every day and stayed away froone… forever

Where was Connor? She searched high and low for her husband He had promised her he wouldn't leave, and she kneould never break his word to her He had gone either to the lake or the ruins, she decided, and she meant to find out which from Crispin Fortunately, she located him in the lower bailey

She waited by the side of the path for the commander to finish his conversation with two other soldiers, and then called out to him "May I interrupt for just a moment, Crispin?"

"Certainly, mi'lady," he answered He hurried over to her and bowed his head

"I've looked everywhere for one, mi'lady I'm not certain when he'll be back"

"Gone to the lake?"

"He went to Laird Hugh's holding He should be away at least three or four days, perhaps hly puzzled hi to faint dead away, and when she grabbed hold of his arripped him so fiercely, he realized she was actually afraid

"Where's Raen?" she asked She frantically looked around her

"He left early thisrode with hiher their number, the better their protection," he added in the event she didn't understand

She felt like weeping with relief "Raen won't be back then, will he?"

"No, mi'lady, he won't"

"Thank God I wanted to tell Connor, but he left, Crispin, before I could, and now I… Why did he leave? He told et her to let go of hiht It was important for your laird to pay his respects Laird Kincaid will surely do the saain Connor hadn't lied to her He simply hadn't anticipated his friend's death

"I'h's family I hope he died peacefully"

"We were told he died in his sleep Does this news please you, "

She felt like a fool "I'm pleased because my husband had to leave He didn't lie to o and find Father and ask hi confessions I'll send hio of the soldier "I don't knohat came over me I was…"

"Afraid"

She slowly nodded "Yes, I was I'm not now"

She bowed to Crispin and started back up the hill "Mi'lady? You were afraid of Raen, weren't you?"

She pretended not to hear hiain She turned around, smiled, and said, "I wasn't afraid"

He felt a stab of disappointh to tell him the truth

"I was terrified"

He blinked "Why, mi'lady?"

"I feel I should explain to Connor first when he returns, but I assure you, Crispin, if there was any possibility at all that Raen would be co Do you understand?"

"I do," he replied "Raen is Connor's stepbrother, and Connor should be the first to hear what you have to say I'm only sorry you didn't tell hi only to herself she wouldn't have changed anything that had happened last night

She tried to leave once again "Mi'lady, what are your plans for today?"

It wasn't the question that h It was the dread she heard in his voice "Don't worry I won't be riding the black today"

She stayed outsidewith several ladies who had taken their sewing outside, and she didn't return to the keep until midafternoon As she hurried inside, she rehearsed what she would say when she greeted Eupheain," she h, she admitted the woman could call her child as often as she wanted, and she wouldn't say a word to her Criticizing would never win her approval

Dear heavens, how long was she going to stay? Brenna tried to think of a way to ask Euphemia, but no er

She put the problereat hall "Good afternoon, Lady Euphe today?"

"Brenna, I know I've mentioned this to you before, but it see called Lady MacAlister I realize you don't know any better—you're just a child, after all—but I want you to try a little harder"