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I wouldn't h He would be furious if you spoke any harsh word against my son Have faith in… Why, that's the woaze slid over to Brenna and her eyes narrowed "I believe the girl is one of Baron Haynesworth's daughters"

"MacNare plans to marry Faith? Mi'lady, are you certain it was Baron Haynesworth's daughter? For he is my father too"

"I am," she answered

Brenna vehemently shook her head "My father would have learned froest to such a deain's struck, it cannot be undone MacNare won't be denied It's rather clever of him, isn't it? He must hate you as well as Connor by now, and what better way to get even than to take so that's so precious to you? He'll take Faith by force if he must,"

she added with a nod "At least that's what I would expect him to do"

"No," Brenna cried out

Euphemia patted her hand "It's a pity, but there really isn't anything you can do about it, is there?"

"She cannot marry him Someone has to…"

"Lower your voice, Brenna Ladies don't shout," she said, yet with the very next breath she did that very thing to get Netta to come into the hall

"I believe she's in the kitchens," Brenna whispered

"No, she isn't I sent her upstairs to clean my chamber Ah, there she is Netta, how many times must I tell you? When I'm in the hall, you must stay near the door in the event I need you Do you understand?"

"Yes, mi'lady," Netta answered Her attention was riveted on her laird's wife now "Is so, Lady Brenna?"

"You can see there is Fetch your mistress a cloth to wipe away her tears Really, Brenna, you shouldn't cry in front of the servants It's most unsee can be done about it"

"Connor will put a stop to this madness," Brenna whispered

"I doubt that, child How can he? He's fully occupied protecting Hugh's followers at the moment He cannot be in two places at the same time, and you cannot expect hiland Use your head"

"He went to pay his respects, not fight," Brenna argued She was desperately trying to concentrate on what Euphe her, but was in such a panic inside for her little sister's safety, she could barely think about anything else

"It seeet Hugh's land before Connor does

The holding sits between the two and would give one a certain advantage over the other"

"How could you know all this?" Brenna asked

"I heard so about the conflict All of the MacAlisters knohat's happening, even the servants, but you haven't been accepted yet, have you? Perhaps that is why you were left in the dark Where is Netta? It's taking her entirely too long to fetch a cloth for you If I were not preparing to leave here, I would have her replaced"

"Netta?" Brenna asked, trying to understand what she was talking about

"Try to pay attention, Brenna As for your sister, I think you should si to be done about her"

"But Connor could talk to o to your father? Surely you realize one would have to kill the other

After all, your husband did start this when he took you away from MacNare Your sister's fate has been sealed, and neither you nor Connor can stop the et about her," she added "Or offer a prayer for her if that will make you feel better"

"Yes, I'll offer a prayer," Brenna answered

She stood up, bowed to her steph the back hall with the cloth Euphemia had ordered

"I hope by the tiain," Eupheht everyone enjoyed the food served Will you ade the cooks?"

Brenna stared at the woman in disbelief Why in God's naht Brenna didn't ree hershe shouldn't

"You had Ada replaced, mi'lady Remember?"

"Yes, I re now," Euphemia ordered "It distresses me to see you in such a pitiful condition"

Brenna ran outside before she realized she should have gone up to her bedroom so that she would have coo back inside, because she knew if Euphemia said one more word to her before her panic was under control, she would start screa and never stop

She reached the seclusion of the trees, fell to her knees, and broke into heart-wrenching sobs

Connor… Dear God, how she needed Connor He would knohat to do, and he was strong enough and powerful enough to take on the devil hi of him? Others depended upon hierated the threat to Hugh's followers Brenna remembered what had happened to her father's soldiers and her oeet Gilly and kneithout a doubt that MacNare would slaughter the peace-loving clan without a o, would she be sending him to his death? Or would he be forced to kill her father?

No, she couldn't send her husband Who else could she send to stop this reed Her father had struck this bargain to gain an alliance, just as MacNare had, and neither man had considered what the rareed controlled theirthe innocents to be preyed upon

But not Faith Brenna would die before she would let MacNare touch her sister Please, God, help , she bowed her head and clasped her hands to her heart, and in that dark moment of desolation, her prayer was answered

There was another she could send, theshe asked of hier than Connor He wouldn't deny her

The war had begun

Connor stood on the rise above Hugh's keep, his gaze directed on the hills beyond, his thoughts centered on the past as he once again searched for the answer that had eluded him for many years

Quinlan joined hiame with us, Connor What's his real purpose?"

"He wants to keep us busy defending the border between his land and Hugh's until his allies join hi"

"He knows He's deliberately sacrificing the s full well they'll all die, but this land isn't his ioal He can easily claim it after he attacksthe truth about your wife's sister, or was that just another ploy to divide our forces?"

"Dying h I must still make certain Faith is protected fro ti you'll be able to claim your father's sword from Kincaid and end this once and for all"