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He draped his arm around her shoulders and led her back to the ht?"

"We won't sleep," he replied "But if you want to stay outside tonight, ill"

"Yes You look tired"

"So do you Brenna, don't ever put ain Promise me you won't leave me, no matter what happens"

"I promise you Co? She's entirely too close to the end of the path None of the MacAlisters would…"

"Quinlan would"

"What are you saying?"

"If she steps off the path, he's got her That's what I'"

"Make hi at her"

"Your sister doesn't see closer to him too"

"Faith, conored her "Connor, make Quinlan and Crispin come here"

"I can ask, but neither one of them will come As far as they're concerned, their duty has already been deter us, sweetheart You should be proud of their restraint"

"Why should I be proud of thelish, of course"

Dear heavens, she'd forgotten about Gillian "You must come and meet my brother"

"No"

"If he coave her his conditions "If he's armed, I'll have to take him aside and discuss the insult with him"

She knehat that et him"

"No"

The force behind the denial told her she wasn't going to get hie his mind Father Sinclair came to her aid A moment later, Gillian joined them at the center of the path Like Connor, he was also unarmed

Her husband didn't particularly want her to embrace her brother, but he didn'tto get Faith, Father Sinclair went to fetch their sister He got to her in the nick of tirabbed her before she stepped off the path

"You ood-bye to the MacAlisters in a few aining Gillian's cooperation"

"Is Brenna's husband cooperating?"

"No, no, of course not, but both Brenna and I knoill never cooperate with an Englishh, and wefor his wife's benefit"

Faith shook her head but quickened her step until she was running

"I', Gillian"

Her brother's response was to push her behind him She took immediate exception and pushed him back Then she ran to her sister and sat down on the wall next to her

The two men continued to face each other as adversaries

Brenna became impatient in no time at all "Gillian, aren't you happy to see h to look at her "Yes, of course I a home with my husband We are married, Gillian, and I assure you, I' me to MacNare"

"He didn't knohat the bastard was capable of, Brenna He also doesn't know you're married"

Faith explained before Brenna could ask any questions "He thinks you're living in sin," she whispered so her sister's husband wouldn't overhear

Father Sinclair stepped forward "It was a proper cere"

"Did you marry them?" Gillian asked

"I did"

His blue eyes bore into the priest It was obvious he was trying to decide if he should believe him or not

"Gillian, please tell Mother I'"

Her brother once again turned to her "Were you married in a church?"

"We were married in one of God's most beautiful chapels No expense was spared There were flowers everywhere, and in every color ireen branches that were so fresh and ne still clung to thehts above

The scent of heather surrounded us while we pledged ourselves to one another Both Connor and I were finely adorned in the nificent of robes, and when the cere feast"

Her eyes were misty with her recollection, and the joy her brother saw as she gave the details only a woman would remember convinced him that she had indeed been properly wed It was also apparent that she was happy

"The wedding was ical, wasn't it, Father?" The priest was overcome by her recitation He dabbed at the corners of his eyes with the edge of his sleeve, nodded several tiical, and meant to be Do you realize, Baron, that if it weren't for Laird MacAlister, your sister probably wouldn't be alive today"

"Yes, I realize it"

It was all he illing to give Brenna found his acknowledg Connor couldn't have cared less His wife'shad overwhelet her alone and tell her how proud he was of her

"Brenna, it's tio home"