Page 107 of Highlander Lord Of Vengeance

Ryland saw it then, the sadness on her face and he caught Brack’s hand brushing over hers as if he was shooing her away, yet his fingers lingered a bit there. How had he been blind to this?

“A husband will do you good,” Ryland said firmly. “Besides, the clan needs to grow. You’ll need a virile man for that. One who will seed you with many bairns.” He got another jab in the side for that one and he almost laughed.

Esme joined in. “Shouldn’t Brenna be allowed to choose her own husband?”

Ryland rubbed his chin, then shook his head. “Nay, it is my duty to see she gets the perfect man for her. A strong, potent man.”

Brenna’s shoulders sagged again, and Esme feared she was about to cry. Feeling terrible for the uncalled-for misery, she kicked Ryland under the table.

“Ouch!” Ryland cried out.

“Forgive me, my lord,” Esme said, looking repentant. “I didn’t mean to kick you, a cramp got my leg, but it’s fading now, and I am certain it will be gone soon.”

Ryland got her clear warning and turned to Brack. “I know this is a lot to ask of you, but you are loyal to Clan Glencairn, and I am sure you will make the sacrifice. I want you to wed Brenna.”

Brack stared at him speechless.

Esme jumped in. “Would Brack be acceptable to you, Brenna?”

The joy in her eyes was hard not to notice. “Brack is a good man. I would not mind having him as a husband, if he will have me.”

Brack suddenly found his voice. “I will sacrifice for the clan, though it will not be a difficult one since the healer is a good woman.”

“Good. See it done, Brack. Send to the abbey for a cleric to wed you both before winter sets in hard.”

Brack stood. “I will get one here right away, my lord.”

“Walk with Brack, Brenna, so you both can talk and come to know each other better,” Ryland ordered.

Brack turned to Ryland and stared at him, looking as if he was about to say something but didn’t. He bobbed his head and he and Brenna turned to walk away.

“Wait, Brack,” Ryland called out.

Brack and Brenna both turned, fear in both their eyes.

Esme understood. Torrance loved to play games, fill people with hope then snatch it away from them with a laugh. That’s what they both thought was about to happen.

“By any chance, Brack or Brenna, do either of you know of a woman in the clan known as Verna? The name is not familiar to me.”

Ryland saw it in Brack’s eyes as soon as he said it. The thing that Brack had been waiting for… the proof to his suspicion. Ryland quickly turned a scowl on him, then shifted his eyes briefly to Brenna then back to Brack, a silent warning.

Brack nodded. “I am not surprised you don’t remember her, my lord. They’d be no reason to. Verna was my uncle’s second wife. They wed in their later years, not long after your mum’s passing. Is there something in particular you would like to know about her?”

“We will discuss it later, Brack. Go see to getting that cleric,” Ryland said.

When the door closed behind the pair, Ryland turned to Esme, his voice low. “He knows who I am.”

Esme almost sighed with relief, and whispered, “Good, someone you can confide in.”

“But can I trust him? Will he believe I didn’t kill Torrance, or will he want revenge against me?”

“I believe that keeping his love for Brenna a secret is proof that he knew how evil Torrance could be and that you can trust him. You just allowed him to wed the woman he loves and hearing who you are and knowing Torrance won’t be around to snatch Brenna away from him at a whim will no doubt be a huge relief to him.”

“I do see the wisdom in that,” Ryland admitted. “But with Verna dead where do we go next to prove that I am Torrance’s twin brother?”

Esme slipped her hand around his, hugging it tight. “You may never get the proof you seek, and I don’t know if it would matter to the clan. I believe that when you announce that you are Ryland, Torrance’s twin brother, and will rule Clan Glencairn that the clan will be overjoyed with relief, believing they will finally have hope of a better life under your rule. And maybe it will stop attempts on our lives.” She leaned closer. “You can’t continue to do this alone. It is time to send for those you trust and bring this to an end.”

He rested his brow against hers. “I know you’re right, but once I announce who I am that leaves you—” He paused briefly,lifting his head, his eyes sparking with excitement. “Marry me. When the cleric arrives to wed Brack and Brenna, he can wed us. Do not refuse me. Do not tell me it is too soon. Do not tell me we must wait. You will wed me and there is nothing more to be said about it.”

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