Page 70 of His Forgotten Highland Bride

“You’ve come at an opportune time,” Brenna went on. “I am to plan a wedding for one of my guards and his bride. You love planning such things. Perhaps you could assist me.”

Hannah chuckled. “I might be able to offer some ideas, but such a meager match hardly seems worthy of such a grand affair. Could a guard and his bride be handfasted?”

How had Ronan ever thought this viper to be superior? He frowned at her response.

“Gabe is a Grant and dear to me and my wife. He has done much to keep Brenna safe while I was away fighting. He has my gratitude, and he is doing an honorable thing. For those reasons alone, he deserves a grand wedding feast.”

“One could say he didn’t guard her well if her injury is as serious as it seems.”

“It was just an arrow,” Brenna said, causing Hannah to gape.

“You were shot with an arrow?”

“Aye. But Ronan saved me.”

“I had expected you to have challenges, but I’d not considered the Grants would dislike you so much as to shoot you.”

Ronan wanted to defend his clan and Gabe’s skills as a protector, but Ronan spotted the sticky web this woman had weaved around them. Any way he moved, he would be trapped.

“Well, to the hall to feed ye, sister,” Ronan emphasized the last word before smiling. “You’re looking rather thin.”

***

Hannah was here in Brenna’s home.

Brenna could hardly believe it as the woman chattered away about plans for a wedding far too elaborate for Gabe and Isabelle. But rather than say so, Brenna went along with it as if every wedding held at Strathspey was grand.

Hannah had not spared time to visit in all the years Ronan had been away, but here she was in all her glory while Brenna was…pale. It was an apt word that had described her since she was born. Brenna was always pale in comparison to Hannah’s bold countenance.

“Come, sister, it grows late, and you must be tired. Let me see you to a room and bring your maid for you.”

“We can have Jane see to it,” Ronan said with worry creasing his brow. “You were shot recently. You should still be resting.”

“Thank you for your concern, but it is nothing.” Brenna brushed his worry aside despite being nearly exhausted—not just physically but emotionally. Having to be ready for verbal spears aimed at her heart grew tiring.

Ronan nodded, but the crease remained as Brenna and Hannah left for the stairs. He could likely see how weary she was.

“This way.” She addressed Hannah and noticed the lustful look she spared for Ronan as they crossed the hall.

Hannah inspected every person and thing in the large room with her shrewd gaze. “A bit gloomy, but nothing some more colorful tapestries couldn’t remedy,” Hannah mentioned almost as if to herself.

“It is clean and filled with memories of previous lairds,” Brenna defended the room. “Besides, it is full of light in the mornings. All halls are gloomy when the sun has gone down.”

“And where is the lady’s solar?” Hannah asked as they took the stairs.

Brenna had wanted nothing more than to dispatch her sister to a guest room for the night. But despite the late hour, she seemed expected to give a castle tour. If she’d known, she should have taken her husband’s suggestion to have Jane see Hannah for the rest of the evening.

With a sigh, she showed Hannah to the solar. It was her favorite room in the castle. Or it had been until she and Ronan had made such good use of the laird’s chamber. One wall was a window that let in the daylight, which one could use to read or sew. Or sit and look out at the hills, wishing a particular soldier would crest the outcropping of stone on his quest for home.

Clearing her throat, she turned back to Hannah, who was testing the fabric of the heavy drapes between her fingers with a frown. “I see you’ve not kept up on the latest fashions for yourself or your home.”

“You know I’ve never been one for fashion sister. One gown is as good as any other. I feel the same about drapes.”

“Do you still go about in men’s clothing?” Hannah laughed, a perfect tinkling sound like she’d spent many hours practicing it.

“Shall we sit? I’ll have wine brought up.” She hurried to the door and asked a guard to fetch a maid to bring them the wine. If Brenna could keep Hannah’s mouth filled with drink, she wouldn’t have to answer her questions.

Hannah continued her inspection but sat across from Brenna when the wine arrived. Brenna fairly gulped her first glass while Hannah took delicate sips. It seemed the perfect example of their differences.