Then, Braden had clapped Kieran on the back and the two of them had left the hall, all the while laughing at him.
Ewan had stood frozen, unable to breathe from the cruelty of their words.
“I know not what to do with that boy, Aislin, he will never be what his brothers are...”
“They didn’t mean that as it sounded,” Lochlan had said after Kieran and Braden had left. “I’m sure Isobail is fond of you. In your own way, you are?—”
“Shut-up, Lochlan,” he’d snarled. “I’m tired of all of you recounting my faults to me. I’m not as handsome as Braden, nor as charming as Kieran and I lack your intelligence. Believe me, I know well my shortcomings.”
Those comparisons had been branded into his heart from the hour of his birth.
Though he loved his brothers, he was well aware of where he fell in everyone’s esteem.
Even Sin had mocked him when he offered to help him and Braden rescue Lochlan from the clan.
There was nothing he could do that his brothers couldn’t do better.
Only Nora had never compared him to them.
Of course, she had yet to meet his brothers...
Would she care for him if they were around? Or would she be like Isobail and abandon him the first chance she got?
He didn’t know for sure. But in the back of his mind was the thought that if she did, it would be the blow that destroyed him. He could take anything other than her ridicule.
Viktor stopped the wagon on the outskirts of a small town. Catarina reined her horse to a stop as Lysander and Bavel dismounted.
Catarina joined Lysander as he pulled open the door to the wagon and they found Ewan and Nora sound asleep in the back.
Nora was lying against his chest and he had one brawny arm slung protectively over her.
“Ahhh,” Catarina said, happy to see them so entwined.
“Am I supposed to allow them to lay like that?” Lysander asked. “I’m thinking I might get a sword to my middle for it should her father ever learn of this.”
“I’ll take one to your backside if you don’t leave them be,” Cat said. “I think they make a beautiful couple.”
“I knew she was too quiet,” Viktor said. “I should have known she’d be fast asleep.”
“Well, rouse them,” Bavel added. “I’m hungry enough to eat my boots.”
“I’m awake,” Ewan said gruffly. “Who could sleep with the four of you yapping like a herd of puppies?”
Ewan gently shook Nora awake.
She blinked open her eyes, then smiled at him.
In spite of his best intentions, he smiled back.
“Where are we?” she asked as she realized the wagon was no longer moving.
“I’m not sure,” Viktor said. “We’ve come up to a small village. I thought we might buy ourselves a nice supper and mayhap find a comfortable bed for the night.”
Nora stifled a yawn as she scooted out of the wagon.
Ewan came out behind her and forgot that he was supposed to be injured. The minute he took a step, Nora clucked her tongue at him.
“For shame, my lord, feigning injuries and playing on my good nature. And to think I was worried over you.”
