wasn't like Connor to be so preoccupied, but Quinlan was certain he was thinking about Lady Brenna.
Alec didn't find his brother's inattention amusing at all. Connor redeemed himself in his older brother's eyes a few seconds later. 'Are you going to announce my brother or not, Crispin?'
'He was waiting for you to look at me,' Alec snapped. 'Turning your back on a man can get you killed.'
'Turning my back on a family member is rude, Alec, not dangerous.' He came forward, formally bowed to Alec, and said, 'You honor me with your presence, Laird.'
'Your manners still need improvement.'
'I learned everything I know from you. Someone's angered you, I see. You're wearing your sword.'
'I am angry,' Alec replied. 'My men are waiting in the lower bailey. We're going on a hunt for a man who dared to defy me, and I want you to ride with me.' •
'Of course.'
Alec nodded, pleased that Connor had agreed without knowing the name of the man they were going to drag out of hiding. The older brother arrogantly assumed Connor's unquestioning loyalty was due in large measure to the way he had raised him.
Striding into the hall, he slapped his brother on his shoulder on his way to the table and sat down in the only tall-backed chair available. He motioned for Connor to take the adjacent bench.
'Dawson doesn't seem to understand I mean what I say. Lass, fetch me a drink of water,' he called out to the servant hovering near the archway.
The servant frantically looked about her. Connor thought she was looking for a spot to place the items she was holding in her hands. Before he could tell her to put them on the steps, she came rushing across the chamber, bowed to him, and put them on the tabletop next to him.
He knew what they were before she explained. 'I've sent three servants from the kitchens to search mi'lady out, Laird, but all they've found thus far are the things she dropped behind her. They're still on her trail, Laird, and after I serve Laird Kincaid, will you please tell me what I'm to do with the mistress's belongings?'
Connor was clearly exasperated with his wife and shook his head in bewilderment. 'Leave them here, Netta,' he instructed.
She bowed again before serving his brother. Connor noticed her hands shook when she put the goblet and pitcher down in front of Alec and he wasn't at all surprised. Women were even more intimidated by his older brother.
'You've misplaced your wife?' Alec inquired blandly.
'Of course not,' he answered.
Alec wasn't through teasing his brother. He reached over and picked up a yellow ribbon. 'What have we got here?'
'You can see it's a pouch, a ribbon, and a dagger. Honest to God, Alec, I don't know how she does it. Brenna can't even seem to keep her feet in her shoes as she walks along. She's constantly discarding her things and picking up others. I don't know how I will convince her to pay more attention.'
Alec found Brenna's forgetfulness vastly amusing. He had a good laugh at his brother's expense before suggesting he simply put a chest in the hall for his followers to place the items that she left behind in.
'With your permission, I'll see to the task,' Crispin called out from the entrance.
'Would you like me to search for your wife?' Quinlan asked.
'I'd rather both of you join us,' Alec ordered. 'What I have to discuss will concern both of you as well.'
He waited until the two men were seated across from Connor before he began.
'We'll be away for a week or two. Dawson and his soldiers are hiding up in the mountains, and it's going to take time to drag him out.'
'You don't seem to be in any hurry to get started,' Connor remarked.
'Dawson isn't going anywhere. The fool thinks he's safe from me,' he added with a shake of his head. 'I cannot imagine where he got such an idea.'
'How many are with him?' Crispin asked.
'I'm not certain of the number. Quinlan, is it your duty to guard the fortress while your laird's away?'
'Yes, laird.'
'Post double the number of sentries along the perimeter and on the walls.'
'I've already given the order, Alec. You needn't concern yourself,' Connor said.
'Do you expect trouble?' Crispin asked.
Connor answered the question. 'Alec always expects trouble, and so do we.'
'Word has it MacNare went into a rage when he found out you had taken his bride away from him. He's been convinced by her escort that she willingly went with you, and now he blames your Brenna as much as he blames you.'
'She wasn't responsible,' Connor said.
Quinlan looked incredulous. 'Her soldiers went to MacNare instead of returning to their baron? I'm staggered by their stupidity.'
'They were assisted in making their decision to go to him,' Alec explained. 'You can imagine MacNare's predicament. There were at least a hundred relatives and guests waiting to celebrate the wedding with him. He had expected his bride the evening before, and when she didn't arrive on schedule, he dispatched additional troops to hurry her up. I was told he was humiliated in front of the gathering. Damn it, Quinlan, don't you dare find this amusing.'
'I find MacNare's humiliation humorous,' Quinlan admitted.
'So do I,' Connor said.
'And I,' Crispin said.
Their loyalty to one another was absolute. The three of them were brothers in the heart, and while Alec understood the bond between them, he knew he should sanction them for their attitude; yet to criticize them for enjoying MacNare's embarrassment would have made him a hypocrite. He'd had a good laugh at the laird's expense, but he wasn't about to admit that to his brother. He wanted to squelch a little of the antagonism between Connor and MacNare now, not encourage it.
'I understand how each of you feels about MacNare. I've little liking for the man, I'll admit, yet you've still to convince me that he and his father were involved in the death of your father, Connor.'
He raised his hand to prevent Crispin from interrupting him before continuing. 'I will remind you that until you give me adequate proof, Donald MacAlister's sword remains on my wall where I put it the day you entered my home, and none of you will kill MacNare. Have I made myself perfectly clear?'
'You have,' Connor answered. 'You are my laird and we will honor your wishes at all times.'
'Damned right you will.'
Connor was having difficulty keeping his anger under control. Although he could have given his opinion whenever he felt like it, to openly disagree with his brother in front of Quinlan and Crispin would have been wrong, as it would undermine Alec's position.
'Are you finished reminding us of our duty to you?' he asked.
Alec gave him a hard look. 'I promised you a long time ago that I wouldn't kill MacNare, because if and when you find what you need to prove him culpable, that right belongs to you. However, I haven't promised to let you live, Connor. Don't push me again.'
Alec waited for Connor's nod before continuing. 'God has given me the impossible duty of keeping the three of you alive, and I accepted the responsibility the minute I carried each one of you inside my home. You were all half dead at the time, and kept my wife up a full week fretting over you. I still haven't forgiven you the inconvenience you caused me.'
'I remember,' Connor said. 'You told me you wouldn't let me die.'
Alec laughed. 'And you ordered me to go and get the others.'
He let out a long, dramatic sigh. 'You've been trying to give me orders ever since. Do you remember making me promise you that Quinlan and Crispin wouldn't die either? No, of course you don't. I cannot undo the past for you, Connor, but I can do something about the present. I have some information you might find useful. One of the English soldiers told MacNare that Brenna planned your arrival. That isn't true, is it?'
'No, it isn't true.'
'And you have said you didn't force her.'
