Page 51 of His Forgotten Highland Bride

“All the better,” Ronan said as he patted her hand and welcomed Will to take his rightful spot at the laird’s right hand; the rest of the warriors filled in. Hugh was next to Will. Malcolm and Gabe were next to her.

“What has happened?” Gabe asked as Malcolm leaned across him to hear.

“I told Ronan the truth, and he believed me.”

“It’s about bloody time.”

“Aye,” Ronan said. “I will see you and Gabe rewarded for doing what I didn’t see to do myself. I’ll be forever in your debt for your protection of my wife.”

“It was an honor, my laird,” Malcolm said.

They continued with the meal, and Brenna relaxed, grateful to have the people she cared for at the table with her—even better because Ewan was gone.

The maids continued to bring food and drink to the table as the men quickly worked on the venison stew being served. But one of the maids Brenna didn’t know well came to the table to fill their glasses and stopped as if frozen in place. At first, Brenna thought the girl was just nervous about serving those at the high table, but as the girl finally came closer and picked up Ronan’s glass to refill it, her hands began to shake, and she broke into tears.

“Larrie?” Brenna said, thinking that was her name. She and her young sister Amie had come to them from the Gordon clan. Their aunt was a Grant, and Larrie and Amie had come to live with her after their parents died last winter. She was always shy, but not like this. “What is the matter?”

“I canna do it,” the girl gasped.

“I can help you.” Brenna found her husband intimidating, but not enough for this reaction. But when Brenna reached for the pitcher to help the lass fill the glass, Larrie held tight.

“Nay. It’s poisoned.” That last part was whispered.

Brenna pulled her hand back as if the earthenware pitcher contained a snake.

“Poisoned? Why would it be poisoned? Who poisoned it?” So many questions.

Tears ran down Larrie’s rosy cheeks.

“A note said Amie would be harmed if I didn’t poison the laird’s glass. I love my sister and would do anything for her, but I can’t kill the laird.”

Having heard her outburst, Ronan took the pitcher from the girl and set it far from him. “Where is the letter?”

She pulled it from her apron and held it out with trembling fingers. Ronan took it. Brenna watched his eyes move as he read the letter while Larrie explained.

“I canna read. I had to have one of the other maids read it to me. But they told me it says harm will come to my wee sister if I don’t pour the vial’s contents into the laird’s drink.”

“Who would do such a thing?” Brenna said, looking into Ronan’s startled face. Before she asked the question, she knew who had done it.

Ewan. He’d been outed for the traitor he was, and now he was retaliating in the worst way.

Ronan folded the missive and answered slowly. “According to the note, the order came from you, wife.”

Brenna wished she was the type to swoon because now would have been the perfect time to melt away.

***

Ronan watched his wife’s eyes go large in surprise. If he’d had any niggling doubt she had nothing to do with this attempt on his life, it would have vanished at seeing the shock across her face.

He’d learned recently that his wife was not a skilled liar. She preferred to blurt out the truth when asked whether he was prepared for it. With the threat coming only an hour after he’d sent his uncle away from the table, Ronan didn’t have to guess who might want to poison him.

“Ronan, I swear I didn’t do this to you.” His wife’s hand on his arm thrilled him despite the ill-timing.

It brought forth the memories from that morning of them kissing in the forest. How heated they’d become for each other. But that was ill-timed as well. As much as he would have enjoyed frolicking in the woods with his tree sprite, it wasn’t the honorable way to reunite with one’s wife.

“I know it wasn’t you. I didn’t think about it for a minute. And not only because you have sat next to me through the whole meal. When would you have had an opportunity to do such a thing? We’ll deal with Ewan soon enough. Right now, we must find Amie and make sure she is safe. Would he injure a child?” Ronan would like to think his uncle above such hideousness, but something had changed in Ewan over the years. Ronan had been away, and now…

“I’m not sure.”