The way he was staring at her made her horribly uncomfortable. His gaze had been centered on her mouth for surely what must have been a full minute, and then dropped to her breasts, where it lingered even now.
It wasn't appropriate behavior at all. But he was from the far north, she reminded herself, and therefore didn't know any better.
'You're a very beautiful woman, Brenna,' he whispered, as he clasped her hand in his. 'I hope Connor realizes your value.'
'Surely you realize a woman's value isn't determined by her appearance, but what is inside her heart, and I assure you, Raen, my husband does recognize my worth. I do thank you for your compliment,' she hastily added, lest he take offense because she'd just instructed him.
'Yes, of course,' he agreed. He bowed low to her then, and while he was telling her how very eager he'd been to meet her, he was slowly rubbing his thumb back and forth along the palm of her hand. She couldn't understand why he would want to do such a thing. She certainly didn't enjoy it, but when she tried to pull away from him, he tightened his hold. She made up her mind then and there that she would be polite to the man, but never, ever like him.
'Come and sit with me at the table. I'm getting an ache in my back craning around to look at you,' Euphemia called out.
Seizing the opportunity, Brenna jerked her hand away before turning to his mother. 'Madam, wouldn't you be more comfortable sitting in the tall chair?'
'You want me to sit at the head of the table while Connor is away?',
Euphemia apparently didn't need an answer to her question, for quicker than a goblet can be tossed from the table to the floor, she took possession of the position of power. 'You are very thoughtful, child.'
Raen pressed against Brenna's back, and when she tried to move away, he put his hands down on her shoulders to keep her there. 'Mother, Brenna isn't a child. One look at her and anyone can see she's a woman.'
'Now, Raen, don't criticize me,' Euphemia pleaded.
The son ignored his mother and leaned down close to Brenna's ear. 'Sit by me at the table and tell me all about your wedding.'
If she turned around to answer him, she knew she wouldn't be able to hide her repulsion, and so she directed her remarks to his mother instead. 'I mustn't intrude upon your joyful reunion with your mother.'
'Nonsense, I only left her side a week ago.'
'I don't know why I assumed it had been a much longer separation,' she lied, for she remembered quite well that Euphemia had insisted she hadn't seen her son in a long, long while. 'But a week is still a long time to a mother, isn't that so, Lady MacAlister?'
'Not really,' Euphemia answered. 'Raen, you're standing entirely too close to Brenna. I'm not about to be ignored any longer. Come over here and sit with me.'
'I hadn't realized I was standing close,' he said with such a tone of surprise that his mother obviously thought he was sincere. Brenna wasn't so easily fooled, however. She resisted an urge to sigh with relief as soon as he let go of her and strolled over to the table.
'Brenna, you have my permission to go about your duties. Raen, I have some interesting news to tell you.'
Brenna hurried toward the entrance before Euphemia could change her mind.
Raen stopped her. 'We heard thunder. Wasn't it raining when you came inside?'
'Yes, it was.'
'Then why aren't your clothes wet?'
She wasn't about to admit the truth, that she had been inside several minutes before the downpour started, for then she would have to explain what she'd been doing, and they'd know she had deliberately listened to their private conversation.
'Two very thoughtful servants held cloaks over my head.'
His nod indicated he accepted her lie. 'I hope to God the rain lets up soon. I hate being cooped up inside.'
She thought that it was rather peculiar that the rain would keep him in. Connor's soldiers went about their duties regardless of the weather. Raen wasn't at all like the other men, however. He had been overindulged and pampered by his mother and probably didn't realize what a weakling he appeared to be.
How in heaven's name was she ever going to get through supper tonight? She hoped to God she didn't have to sit next to Connor's stepbrother. The mere possibility made her lose her appetite.
She avoided the hall for the rest of the day until it was time to join her relatives for the evening meal. To her surprise, the evening turned out to be quite pleasant. Not only was Euphemia less abrasive, Raen was also somewhat charming. He sat across from her at the table, entertaining both his mother and her with amusing stories from his past. By the time she went upstairs, she was actually looking forward to sharing her next meal with him.
After spending another lovely evening with him the following night, she began to feel guilty for initially judging him so harshly. She had thought the worst of him and now realized how wrong she'd been. Granted, Raen had been overly enthusiastic at their first encounter, but not because he had lecherous intentions she decided. Perhaps he just didn't know any better. And maybe he was trying to counter his mother's uncertain attitude toward her son's wife by showing Brenna she had his complete approval.
She went to bed that night feeling she had simply overreacted and vowed to never let that happen again. Everyone deserved a second chance.
On the third morning of Connor's absence, Brenna awakened to sunshine and laughter. She threw off her covers and went to the window to look out at the glorious day. Servants were hurrying about below, and from the joy in their faces she knew they loved being outside as much as she did.
There were at least a hundred things she wanted to accomplish today, and while she knew she shouldn't put her duties aside, she meant to do just that in favor of exploring the hills.
Smiling in anticipation, she hurried to get dressed and go downstairs. The hall was deserted, and though she tried, she couldn't get the heavy door open so she could go down to the courtyard. She wasn't defeated, however, and turned to go out the back door instead.
'Good morning, mi'lady. Did you sleep well?' Netta called out from the hall.
'Yes, thank you,' she answered. 'Has Lady MacAlister come down yet?'
'No, mi'lady, she hasn't. Raen has already left the holding to go riding for the day. He told me he wouldn't be back until supper.'
'He went outside the walls with some of Connor's soldiers?'
'No, he rode alone. He's taking a risk, isn't he?'
'He must not think so,' Brenna replied with a shrug. 'I wonder where he plans to go,' she added.
'It wouldn't have been proper for me to ask,' Netta said.
Brenna wasn't paying attention to the servant now, for she'd only just noticed the pile of items stacked on the top of the low chest in the entrance. As soon as Netta convinced her they looked familiar to her because they belonged to her, Netta helped carry everything back up to Brenna's room.
That evening, Raen returned to the holding just in time to share his evening meal with his mother and Brenna. He looked tired from his ride, but was still quite pleasant, and once again, he did nothing that was in the least inappropriate.
He was ready to go upstairs at the very same time she was. He clasped hold of her elbow and walked by her side, which was really quite gallant, and told her a humorous story that made both of them laugh. His hand brushed across her breasts as he reached for the door latch, but it was apparent from the innocent look on his face that he hadn't even realized what he had done, leaving her to wonder why she was so quick to become suspicious again.
What was wrong with her, she wondered while she prepared for bed, and finally concluded that the strain of trying to win Euphemia's approval was making her a nervous twit. 'Twas the truth, the woman could make a saint lose her temper. No wonder Brenna had her guard up all the time. Connor's stepmother was an extremely difficult woman to please, and winning her over was proving to be far more difficult than Brenna had anticipated. While Euphemia never openly criticized her, she still managed to find fault with everything she did, and in a backhanded,
