Highland Master by Hannah Howell

are running high, I believe.”
    “Och, aye, they certainly are.”
    Triona turned to see a lot of her people plus Brett’s men and six new warriors all crowded around. “They may nay have the sense to keep their voices down, but this is a private matter between husband and wife. It would be nice if we left them to it, dinnae ye think so?”
    Callum grinned. “Nay, but for ye we will do so.”
    She watched everyone move away and then looked at Brett. “Is Callum your cousin?”
    “Nay by blood. The connection comes through my father, who was fostered, and Callum was found and taken in by my cousin when he was but a boy. A long, sordid tale, but it turned out verra weel for the boy.”
    “He is verra good to children. It has been a long time since I have seen the children here so taken with a mon they were nay kin to, and see that mon return all their attention and affection.”
    “Aye, Callum loves them. When he was a lad he made an oath to be a protector of all children. His keep, left to him by his grandfather, fair swarms with them. ’Tis rare that we pass through any village or town where he doesnae collect another poor waif. And God help any mon or woman he finds who is being cruel to one.”
    Triona began to express her admiration for Callum’s kindness when her cousin suddenly wrenched open the door and marched out. Arianna looked as furious as any woman she had ever seen, her skin flushed with anger, her eyes alight with it, and her small hands clenched into tight fists. It suddenly occurred to her that there was more behind her cousin’s anger than hurt that her husband had not told her everything about his past. Arianna was smart enough to ken that few men told their wives everything they had done before meeting them, and while forgetting to mention a previous wife was a bit extreme, it should not be tearing Arianna up as it was. Triona did not think all this high emotion could be fully blamed on the fact that Arianna was with child, either.
    “We are nay done talking,” said Sir Brian as he stood in the door.
    “We are for now,” Arianna snapped. “I just cannae talk to ye anymore.”
    A look of something that resembled fear went through the man’s eyes as he watched his wife stride away. Triona had the strange urge to pat him and say something soothing. Then he scowled at Brett.
    “She isnae listening to sense,” he complained.
    “I think ye both need to take a wee breath,” said Brett. “Tempers are too high right now. Ye should step carefully, Brian. The lass is carrying your child, and raging at each other cannae be good for her.”
    The man actually paled and Triona was compelled to say, “’Tis nay so verra dangerous, either, Sir Brian MacFingal. Just nay verra good, as it could cause her to feel a wee bit ill or the like.”
    “She lost a bairn once, and she is terrified that she will lose this one. ’Tis why I cannae understand why she did this.”
    “This is nay my business, but since ye are here in my home, if I might just ask ye something?”
    “Ask,” he said, cocking his head to the side and studying her carefully.
    “Arianna was wed before, and I ken that he was a bit of a liar.” She ignored the way both men snorted in amusement at her understatement. “And that lie concerned another woman in his life.” She nodded when Sir Brian’s eyes widened. “Watching her just now, I thought it seemed that she was far too upset about this, and I couldnae think it was just because she is with child. I wonder if there is something from that past, that mon and what must have been a miserable marriage, that has added to her upset. I am nay sure but . . .”
    “Ye are right,” he said. “I was so angry that she left, put herself and the bairn at risk when she should have just stayed and talked to me, that I wasnae thinking clearly. I must think on this.” He started to walk away and then stopped to look at her. “That is, if we are welcome to stay for a wee while.”
    “Oh,