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from her.
    After a time, she’d come to realize that nothing she did would draw Braden’s attention. Not the tarts or pastries she had made especially for him on the days she knew he would be coming to her home. Not even the rich perfume Anghus had brought her years ago from his only journey to Ireland. Sweet, wonderful perfume she had worn for Braden’s notice.
    Well, he had noticed
that
, all right. He’d sneezed until his eyes watered.
    But in the end, she’d been forced to admit her love was completely and utterly unrequited.
    To her, Braden was everything. He was the moon, the sun, the very air she breathed. And now he was back, spouting kind words and touching her with those wondrous hands of his. Kissing her hand in a way no unmarried woman of virtue should allow, and yet she’d been powerless to stop him.
    For her, it was a dream come true.
    But for him, it was a means to an end.
    No matter how much she might want to pretend otherwise, she knew the truth of it. To him, she was merely another conquest to be added to the others. Or worse, an obstacle for him to remove so that his brother could continue the feud.
    He only saw her today because his brother hadmade him see her. She held no delusions of that basic fact.
    However, Maggie was not a trifle to be forgotten. She was an intelligent, capable woman who refused to be used by any man. She would not let him past her defenses, and she would not fail her mission.
    Looking at Pegeen, she promised herself that she would never, ever fall victim to her treacherous body. Her feelings could be controlled. They must be!
    “I have known Braden since I was but two winters old,” she said quietly, “and never once in all this time has he ever given me so much as a glance. Don’t you find it odd that all of a sudden he’s interested?”
    “Nay,” Pegeen answered. “You are very pretty.”
    Maggie scoffed. “Is that why men fail to court me?”
    “Men fail to court you because you have six brothers. Have you not seen the looks they cast at any man who comes near you?”
    Maggie thought about it. Her brothers were a bit overbearing. She was the youngest of seven, and her brothers had always watched over her like tyrants over treasure.
    Still, it didn’t change anything.
    “Braden is only after one thing,” Maggie insisted.
    Pegeen crossed her arms over her chest. “And that is?”
    “To get us back into our homes.”
    “Is that not what we want as well?” Pegeen asked.
    “Aye, to be sure. But we want to go back
after
they have settled this feud. If Braden has his way, we’ll go back and the bloodshed will continue.”
    Pegeen shook her head. “Surely he wouldn’t be so cruel.”
    “You honestly think not?”
    “But his mother …?”
    “She sees him through the loving eyes of a doting mother. She is blind to his motives.”
    “Then what are we to do?”
    That was one question Maggie wasn’t sure she could answer. But one thing she did know: The earth would cease to exist before she ever succumbed to Braden’s honeyed words and hot glances.
    Her heart might be partial to him, but her head was not. So long as she possessed her reasoning abilities, she would not let him sway her.
    Maggie was the one woman on this earth who would never be moved by his charming good looks. And if there was one thing she’d learned while living with six boys, it was how to handle a man.
    Aye, Braden had no idea what he was in for.
    “What are we going to do?” Maggie repeatedPegeen’s question. “I’ll tell you. We are finally going to see to it that the devil gets his due. If Braden wants to stay here, fine. But I promise you this: He won’t enjoy a single moment of it.”

  Chapter 4
    B raden immensely enjoyed the sight of Maggie leaving the women’s dormitory and walking toward the small alcove where he was standing, concealed by shadows.
    After Maggie had left to see to Bridget, Lochlan had headed back to the castle while Ewan and Sin had gone to help Father