Page 17 of His Forgotten Highland Bride

He let his gaze set on her, allowing no recognition to show on his face. She was beautiful. His scattered memories hadn’t done her justice. Her low-cut gown did more than hint at the soft curves lurking under her bodice. Her hair had shots of fire he didn’t remember; her bottom lip was trapped anxiously by her teeth. She was as bonny as any lass he’d ever seen. He felt as if he was under a spell as he took a stiff step toward her.

Pain flared in his leg, reminding him of his uncle’s dire warning not to fall into her trap. He had nearly done just that. She came to stand in front of him, offering a low curtsy and a nervous look. She was right to be worried. The smile he’d attempted to remember all these years did not appear on her lips.

“Welcome home, husband,” she said. The tilt of her head spoke of defiance. She wasn’t happy to see him. Or perhaps it was Ewan who had her uneasy.

“You welcome me home, yet ye banished my uncle?”

She stood her ground though he towered over her. Her green-gold eyes flashed. “I had no choice.”

“This is the home of the Grants. You are not a Grant by blood. Ye have no right to order anyone from our lands. Do you understand?”

The only sign she was shaken was a quick swallow and a slight nod. “That is true. Now that you’ve returned.” He didn’t miss the slight rise of her chin as she twisted her words of defiance to sound agreeable. Ewan was right. Brenna was a crafty one.

The crowd that had been cheering a few moments before fell silent except for a few murmurs Ronan couldn’t make out.

“Did ye do this?” Ronan reached for Ewan, pointing to the cut on his face.

“Aye,” she said, her gaze not moving from his.

“Did ye put him out of the castle without a weapon, with no way to feed himself?”

“Aye.” Her chin notched up.

She stood there, claiming every accusation as truth. She didn’t even attempt to hide it, which only infuriated him more.

“Did ye keep him from attending the funeral of his father?”

Another swallow, but she didn’t falter. He expected her to break into tears, maybe even lie to save herself. His wife’s strength intrigued him as she continued to stand before him and said with that same defiance he’d noticed earlier, “Aye.”

“Ronan, if I can say something,” Will said as he stepped up behind her with two young warriors at her flanks. Will hadn’t changed, but his usual smile was now replaced by worry.

Brenna put her hand up and shook her head to silence him. “Don’t, Will.”

To Ronan’s surprise, he obeyed her. Had all his men fallen into her web? It was better that Will remained quiet. Ronan couldn’t stand to hear his betrayal.

“There’s no defense for putting a member of my family out of the castle without so much as a way to hunt.” Despite his words, he paused, hoping she might offer a plausible excuse. His journey home had been spent thinking of her, wanting her. Now that he was here, he was ashamed to say he still wanted her, even though it appeared she was a conniving witch. When she said nothing, he moved on to his other needs. “I’m hungry. I assume the hall has refreshment for its new laird?”

“Aye. I’ve planned a feast for your arrival,” Brenna said quietly. “This way.”

He grit his teeth and followed her inside, careful not to show his pain. He managed to display only the slightest limp. Since she walked in front of him, she wouldn’t have noticed. The sway of her hips enticed him, but his anger forced him to look away before he fell victim to her wiles.

He was reminded of the way his stepfather chased after Deirdre to the detriment of his duties to his people. He would not fall into the same trap.

At the head table, she stood by the chair next to the laird’s and waited.

“You are dismissed to eat elsewhere.”

If he’d expected her to argue, he would have been wrong. He noticed a tremor in her bottom lip as she nodded and stepped down from the dais. She didn’t deserve to sit at the family table when she’d treated his family so hideously.

The two young warriors followed after her, but the sour looks Will and Hugh gave him surprised him. They had all been friends once, but it seemed they, too, had fallen victim to his wife’s charms.

“Your grandsire put her in charge of the clan over his own son. Mayhap you should consider why he did so,” Will said while glaring at Ewan.

Ewan shook his head. “I told Ronan how she’d manipulated the old man to do her bidding.”

“And did you tell Ronan why she gave you that mark across your face?” Hugh asked.

“Careful, friend. Your loyalties seem to be skewed,” Ewan said.