Tarnished Honor by J. Lee Coulter

hand. She gave him a puzzled glance as she put away her needlework and took his proffered hand. They retired to their chambers silently.
    Placing his hands behind his back, he waited for her to be seated before he spoke. Connall cleared his throat seve r al times as he considered the best way to approach this. He did not wish for another battle with his lovely bride. Brighde began to fidget under his intense scrutiny.
    “Have I displeased ye in some way, husband?”
    He shook his head brusquely. “Nay, wife.” This was proving to be more difficult than he had anticipated. It should not be. All he need do is tell her the facts and she must accept it. With that decided, he plowed forward.
    “This concerns the eve afore we wed.”
    “Oh.” She bristled but kept her tone respectful. Her one desire was to forget that eve of shame. “I do nae wish to discuss it, my lord.”
    Connall’s black brow arched in surprise. “Nay? Just the same…we will , my lady. I would have ye ken the why of my behavior.” He sat opposite her, peering intently into her face.
    “Before ye came to sup that eve, Angus told Stephen and I of a reprehensible proposal he had concocted in his greedy mind. He wished ye gone from Urquhart…I do nae ken why.” He took in a deep breath as she sat silent. “He was going to drug ye then have Ross bed ye , so ye would be forced to wed him.” She gasped.
    “Uncle drugged me?”
    “Aye.”
    Brighde’s eyes narrowed as a thought struck her. “Ye said Ross was to enter my chambers yet it was ye that were there.”
    His eyes pleaded with her to understand what he r e vealed next. He gave a curt nod. “Aye, I could nae allow it. He has had four wives lass , and every one has died in a year or less. I could nae let that happen to ye. Twould nae be honorable to depart kenning that was your fate.”
    Her eyes rounded as she remembered his words. “So that is what ye meant when ye said ye did this for me! I had wondered.”
    His gaze softened. “Ye remember ed my words. I was nae certain … ”
    “Why did ye nae tell me this at the time instead of bedding me? Uncle would nae have known.”
    He shook his head. “Ye would nae have wed me ot h erwise. I had thought to do just that, a fore he told me ye would demand an examination. Angus swore ye would call for the healer…and he was right. If ye had nae then he would have been s uspicious and given ye to Ross.”
    “I still do nae understand how it came about that ye e n tered my chamber. What happened to Stephen?”
    Connall shrugged. “I convinced your uncle that my suit was preferable. My coffers are deep and my title desirable. Twas enough for him. ” A sense of guilt nagged him as he hedged around the whole truth. He was certain that Brighde would be displeased if she knew about the gold. But, a fter all, he had not lied to her…he just did not go into detail.
    She studied her hands as she contemplated all that he had said. “So ye wed me just to keep me alive?”
    His voice gentled as he lifted her chin. “Nay, Brighde, twas nae the only reason. I desired ye from the moment we met. I would have nae other to wife…only ye.” His kiss was a caress as he sought out her lips. She sighed when their lips separated…certain that she was in Heaven. Aye. I am very pleased that Connall was the one that entered my bed. He has more honor than I thought.
    Her finely etched brows furrowed as her thoughts raced off in a new direction.
    “I still do nae understand Uncle Angus’ motives. Why was he so intent to be rid of me? We got along well enough and my dowry was allotted by my father before his death. Twas quite generous was it nae?” She glanced at her hu s band, catching a glimpse of something…she was not ce r tain of what. “What is it, Connall? Ye did receive my do w ry, did ye nae?”
    He sighed, raking a hand through his hair. He had hoped to avoid speaking of money and lands. His green eyes peered deeply into hers as he shook his