Page 33 of His Forgotten Highland Bride

Chapter Thirteen

Ronan hadn’t meant to share so much with Brenna, but after he’d half-strangled her, he felt responsible for seeing her cared for and explained that his actions hadn’t been about her.

But that hadn’t been the only reason. When she’d touched him, he’d felt grounded in a way he hadn’t in so long. After she set down her empty glass of mead, he helped her up to their chamber and tucked her back into bed. He fought the urge to join her when she snuggled under the covers and fell asleep. He was exhausted but couldn’t risk putting her in danger. Instead, he frowned at the woman and turned to go.

The sun was hinting at the horizon, so he went out for a ride to clear his head. He didn’t trust himself to give in to sleep again. He’d done enough damage already. His wife seemed pleasant enough, and he’d not seen any evidence that she’d betrayed him in any way other than banishing his uncle. Even the soft smiles and kind words didn’t seem engineered to manipulate him. But he would stay his distance until he was sure she wasn’t up to something. He’d not risk his heart with a feckless woman. And he’d not be led about by his cock in the way his stepfather was.

Brenna may have grown into a lovely woman, but she was still a stranger. He was guilty of leaving her, hurting her. But he’d learned over the years that everyone was guilty of something. What was his wife guilty of?

According to Ewan, the list was long. He needed to know for sure.

When he returned to the castle after his ride, he went to the hall to break his fast. Ewan wasn’t there, but his men were filling their plates while casting glances in his direction. It was time to set things right with them. He was their leader, and it was time for him to start leading.

“Is this all ye do, stuff your gobs?” Ronan asked with a smile as he sat with them at one of the low tables. A serving girl brought him his meal, and he dug in.

“We have already done two sets of drills this morning while you were off taking in the sights,” Will said, baiting him.

“Fair enough. I’ll let you put me through my paces when we finish eating.”

Hugh smiled with a touch of mischief. “I look forward to it.”

As Ronan laughed at the implied threat, Malcolm gasped. Will’s smile was replaced by anger, his hands fisting on the table. Gabe also looked up and sat back in shock, his mouth gaping open. Ronan turned to see Brenna approaching. She wasn’t wearing anything that warranted this ill response. Then he saw what his men had responded to. The dark bruises on her neck were in the shape of his hand, and each finger was distinctly outlined.

Malcolm turned to him, his face tight with accusation. “Did ye not protect her from Ewan?”

To the others, the young warrior defended his lack of protection for their mistress. “I thought she’d be safe with him.”

Ronan shook his head, feeling the familiar wash of shame heat his blood. “’Twas not Ewan who caused that damage.”

Hugh slammed his fist on the table. “What the bloody hell did you do to her?”

Gabe stood and hurried over to Brenna as Ronan explained to the three men, glaring at him and snapping angrily.

“I had a nightmare, and the lass was unfortunate to be too close,” Ronan quickly explained, though as laird he wasn’t obliged to justify his actions. He did so because he didn’t want anyone to think he was capable of abusing his woman. Or any woman, for that matter.

“How did she end up too close?” Will pushed. “She’s stayed clear of ye because you treated her worse than a beggar when ye arrived. Is this how you plan to rule, laird? Strangling innocent women because they don’t suit ye? Your grandfather would turn over in his grave to see you’ve touched the lass harshly.”

“The facts are true as I’ve told them to you. She is my wife. It’s not uncommon to share a bed with one’s wife.”

Hugh’s anger seethed into disgust. “She’s not good enough to be treated kindly, but you’ll rut upon her to get a bloody heir.” He shook his head with a sneer.

Gabe returned and sat down. “Lady Brenna says the laird choked her while he was having a bad dream. She insists it’s not his fault.”

“Just as I said.” Ronan glared at his men.

Will let out a breath and relaxed slightly. “Fine. If the lass says that’s what happened, I believe ye.”

“But only because the lass said it was so?” He didn’t like being challenged by his men or for his word to be doubted.

“Aye.” Hugh met his gaze unflinchingly. “You’ve been gone a long time, laird. I don’t know your heart. And hearts have a way of turning dark with some people. I’ve seen it happen. Know this. I swear my fealty to you as my laird, but if you hurt the lass, I will defend her with my life.”

“Aye, and I, as well,” Will chimed in.

Malcolm and Gabe nodded in agreement from the other side of the table. Ronan didn’t think his men would ever side with a power-hungry tyrant. Unless Ewan was right and Brenna had bewitched his men to do her bidding. Still, no woman deserved to be mistreated, no matter how devious she may be.

A memory stole over him. A crisp spring day. He was a lad, no more than eight summers, living here at Strathspey with his father. But he’d gone to the village with his mother. She’d said she needed to visit with a friend and told him to sit outside and wait for her. But he hadn’t, not when he’d heard sounds and thought his mother was in distress.

He’d looked in the window and saw what he’d thought at that young age was a man struggling with his mother. He’d run as fast as his scrawny legs could carry him to fetch his father so he might help her.