believe it all the same, and I cannot help but wonder what would have happened if I had married MacNare instead of Connor. Would Grace be feeling well today? My, listen to me going on and on, and you still have business to discuss. I trust the matter of when I proposed and all other questions about my husband's reasons for marrying me have been answered to your satisfaction.'
She bowed to the laird and walked away. She couldn't resist adding one last comment, though she didn't bother to turn around. 'God does work in mysterious ways. I for one would never question Him.'
None of the men uttered a word for a full minute after Lady Brenna left. Each stared at the empty entrance while he pondered what she had just said.
Alec was the first to smile. 'Your wife just put me in an awkward position, and do you know what I think? She did it on purpose. How much of our conversation do you suppose she overheard?'
Connor answered without a second's hesitation. 'All of it.'
'She shouldn't have listened in.'
'No, she shouldn't have.'
'I should be angry with her.'
'Yes.'
'Then why am I wanting to laugh? There will be no more talk about defying me, Connor, because I have decided to accept what your wife told me. You were obviously meant for each other.'
'I didn't defy you, Alec. You ordered me to stop the raids, and that's what I did. You cannot hold me to my promise now that you know about Brenna's horse.'
'I can,' Alec argued. 'But I won't. Do what you will in repayment as long as it is equal to what was done to the mare.'
Alec gained his brother's agreement before leaving the hall. 'You're married to a very clever woman. You'd best keep that in mind.'
Connor didn't take his suggestion to heart, and it was only later, when it was too late, that he learned to regret it.
The mistake would cost him dearly.
Chapter 10
Lady Brenna didn't take the news that she had been moved into another bedroom at all well. Her husband hadn't bothered to inform her of his decision beforehand, and Quinlan fervently wished the unpleasant duty of explaining it all to her had fallen on someone else's shoulders instead of his. He had suspected she would be hurt and had tried to get her alone before explaining so that they would have privacy in the event she became embarrassed, but his mistress's worry about her missing clothes defeated his plan, and she, therefore, had to hear the news in front of Connor's stepmother.
Lady Brenna wasn't angered by Connor's command; she was clearly devastated. Quinlan felt sorry for the dear lady, of course, and it took a good deal of discipline to pretend he didn't notice her distress. His laird's callous behavior infuriated him to the point that he considered telling him that he would rather be tortured than ever give Lady Brenna such disappointing news again.
The pity she saw in his eyes made her humiliation all the more complete. Euphemia had thoughtfully turned away with the excuse that she wanted to get something from her bedroom. With effort, Brenna was able to gather herself together. 'May I fetch something for you, Lady MacAlister?'
She assumed Euphemia hadn't heard her when she didn't immediately answer, and so she turned back to Quinlan again. 'Thank you for explaining.'
Desperate to say something to make her feel better, he blurted out the first cheerful thought that came into his mind. 'So you see, mi'lady, your things weren't thrown away as you suspected. Surely you're relieved.'
'Yes, of course I'm relieved. Did Connor tell you why he wanted me to move?'
'Nay, mi'lady, he didn't.'
'Where is he now?'
'He went hunting with his brother.'
'How long ago did he leave?'
'Both lairds left the hall just a minute or so ago.'
'Then I might still catch him?'
'If you hurry.'
She ran to the door to open it, but the weight was too much for her to budge without Quinlan's assistance, so he hurried to give it.
Quinlan followed her down the staircase but not across the courtyard. He naturally assumed she was going to try to change her husband's mind.
His assumption was wrong, however, as Brenna didn't have any intention of begging her husband to reconsider. She was simply going to let him know what she thought about his decision. She ran all the way to the stables, calling, 'Good day to you, ladies,' as she raced past mothers giving their babies a bit of fresh air.
Her pace had made her breathless, and when she noticed Alec mounted on his horse at the bottom of the hill, she waved to him instead of waiting to catch her breath so she could call a greeting.
The inside of the stables was cast in shadows. She forced a smile on her face the second she spotted her husband. Connor was standing next to the horse he'd chosen to ride, adjusting the bridle to his satisfaction, while the stablemaster tried to calm the stallion his laird usually favored. That horse was making quite a ruckus, kicking his hooves up against the back of the stall, and would soon destroy it if he wasn't stopped, but her husband didn't seem inclined to do anything about it.
Deliberately staying in the path of the doorway so he couldn't leave without walking over her, she slowly moved forward. 'May I please have a moment of your time, Laird?' she asked in a voice as sweet as honeyed syrup and with a smile to match.
He didn't even bother to look at her when he answered. 'Can it wait until I get back?'
'I'm not certain, Laird. Will you be back before nightfall?'
'No.'
It almost did her in to keep smiling, but the stablemaster was watching her closely, and she was determined not to let him know what she was really thinking. She didn't want Connor to know either, of course, until he was ready to give her his undivided attention. She didn't want him to miss a word.
'Davis, what's wrong with my stallion?' he asked.
'I don't know what's wrong with him, Laird. He was fine until you came inside.'
'I think he's upset,' she called out.
'We know he's upset, Brenna.'
She stiffened in response to his condescending attitude. 'Yes, of course you do,' she agreed. 'He's upset because you aren't paying any attention to him.' A reaction, she silently added, she was also experiencing at the moment. 'Your stallion doesn't wish to be left behind. If you'll go to his stall and pick up his bridle, I'm sure he'll settle down.'
'I would be curious to see if that works, Laird,' Davis confessed as he flashed a grin toward his mistress. 'Mi'lady could be right.'
'I do hope I am,' she replied in such a disgustingly pleasant tone she was sure she was going to be sick.
'Brenna, are you coming down with something?' Connor asked. 'Your voice sounds strained.'
'I'm feeling fine, Connor, though I appreciate your concern.'
Her face was beginning to ache from holding on to her smile, and her only consolation was in knowing that in a few minutes, it was all going to be worth it.
'I don't have time for this nonsense,' her husband muttered, which turned out to be bluster on his part because he did do what she had suggested, and just as she had predicted, the stallion immediately stopped fussing
