Highland Heather - Highland Heather Part 70
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Highland Heather Part 70

"Nay. I insist. I will be fine."

Morgan watched as Windham climbed the stairs behind the cluster of servants.

When he joined the others at table, Morgan allowed the conversation to swirl around him while he sat lost in thought. He had been convinced that Cordell had been the one who had attacked Brenna last night. Now, he was no longer certain. Could Windham have pretended to fall from his mount in order to mask the injuries suffered at Brenna's hand?

His thoughts were interrupted when the door was opened and Richard entered the refectory from the garden. Behind him was Adrianna, pushing his chair. Both of them had smiles on their flushed faces.

And both seemed oblivious to the fact that their hair curled damply from the rain and that their clothes were plastered to their bodies.

"Mon Dieu." Madeline got to her feet.

"You will catch your death in those wet clothes."

"Oui." Adrianna smiled at her.

"Look." She held out the rose that Richard had given her.

"Richard has grown a new strain of rose. This is the first bloom."

Madeline stared at her shy little sister. Never before had she seen her look so radiant. Or so animated.

"It is beautiful."

"You will excuse our appearance," Richard said, bowing slightly to the queen.

"It is raining outside."

"Really? I had not noticed." Elizabeth swallowed the smile that touched her lips.

"Not hard, I hope."

"Just a fine mist. A lovely fine mist. The kind of rain one might enjoy walking in." He smiled at Adrianna, then seemed to catch himself.

"We must change clothes."

"Of course." Elizabeth lifted her hand in a regal gesture.

"I would not want you to stay in those uncomfortable garments."

When the two had left, everyone burst into gales of laughter.

Elizabeth turned to Morgan.

"It is as you said earlier, my friend.

Everyone has gone mad. "

Morgan stared after his brother and the French lass.

"So it would seem."

"Come," Elizabeth called to her ladies.

"We will retire to the sitting chamber until the rain stops. Brenna, join us."

Reluctantly Brenna joined the cluster of laughing, talking women. She would have rather stayed with Morgan. But the queen's request was a royal command. To refuse was unthinkable.

When they were gone, Morgan sat alone, staring into the flames of the fire, deep in thought.

Dinner with the queen was always a formal affair. Elizabeth and her companions had brought their most elegant gowns and spent hours preparing themselves for the evening.

In their chambers, Morgan and Brenna were grateful for some time alone, away from the prying eyes of the others.

While Brenna allowed Rosamunde to help her into her gown, she was achingly aware of the man who awaited her, just beyond the door in the sitting chamber.

"Your hair, my lady."

"It is fine, Rosamunde. Do not fuss so."

"Aye, my lady."

As the servant turned away, Brenna caught her hand.

"I did not mean to be short with you." Her eyes danced with unconcealed ardor.

"It is just that I..."

"I understand, my lady. My Lord Grey awaits you just as impatiently."

With a conspiratorial smile, the servant was gone.

Without even taking time to study her reflection in the looking glass, Brenna opened the door. Morgan turned from the fireplace.

Her gown was deep purple velvet, with a low neckline. The skirt fell in soft folds from the narrow waist to the tips of her pale kid slippers. The sleeves were inset with jewel- encrusted bands.

As she walked closer Morgan reached inside his tunic and removed a velvet pouch. When he handed it to her, she lifted wide questioning eyes to him.

"I noticed that you are the only lady here with no jewelry. I want you to have these, my lady."

Brenna loosened the piece of velvet and caught her breath at the glittering jewels wrapped inside. There was a necklace of diamonds surrounding an amethyst as large as a hen's egg. The matching earrings were clusters of diamonds and amethyst that caught the light of the fire and seemed to glow with their own heat.

"I cannot possibly accept these, Morgan."

"But why?"

She tried to hand the jewelry to him, but he refused to take it.

"I am not yet your wife. It would not be right to accept such a splendid gift."

"But it would make me happy."