Free Queen of Hearts by Jayne Castle

to forgive the trick which had been played on him. For the first time she began to feel offended by Adam's rapid acceptance of Lucy as a sister-in-law. Did he think Janna would have made such an unsuitable wife for his brother? She had the notion she ought to feel insulted. As she moved to follow Lucy, Janna felt Adam's hand tighten on her soft shoulder.
    "Don't imagine the crisis is over," her murmured for her ears alone. "You have a great deal of explaining to do, Janna, and I intend to have all the explanations and answers.
    Janna cast a quick, nervous glance up at him and then looked away again, knowing the hard look on his face boded ill for the future. She had been so right earlier in the week when she had told herself that no one could cross Adam Halleck and escape unhurt. She had the distinct impression as she lifted her skirts to hurry toward the church that the full weight of his retribution would be visited upon her head. There would be no one else around upon whom he could vent his wrath, she told herself miserably as she started the slow, stately walk down the aisle. Nat and Lucy would be safely away on their honeymoon. Why, oh why, Janna demanded of herself in silent frustration, as she stood beside the glowing bride, hadn't she considered this possibility?

CHAPTER 4

    The ceremony passed in a haze for Janna who stood, clutching her flowers and trying to smile, with the other bridesmaids at the front of the church. Lucy moved serenely through her lines, however, as if there wasn't an uninvited guest in the back pew and her groom remained blissfully unaware of the entire affair. Janna spent the whole time wishing the service could be hurried, but when Nat had kissed his bride and turned to lead her back down the aisle, she suddenly wished the wedding had been longer.
    Eyes determinedly ahead, a falsely calm smiled on her lips, Janna moved to take her place in the exit march. There was no way to avoid Adam's tall, strong figure at the " rear of the church and her eyes clashed briefly with his as she trailed gracefully out the door. Nat must have seen him too, Janna thought wildly, wondering what emotions the younger man was experiencing.
    But Lucy had evidently infomed him that she and his brother had already met. Nat stood, smiling, beside his bride, shaking hands and accepting congratulations before starting across the quad for the reception in the room Lucy had rented at a nearby restaurant.
    "Well, Janna," he whispered as she hugged Lucy and leaned forward to give him a quick peck on the cheek, "I understand you had a close call before the wedding started!" The smile on his face broadened.
    "Too close!" she agreed feelingly, "I was beginning to think Lucy was going to have to go through the service with one less bridesmaid! Fortunately, when Adam finally realized Lucy was the bride and that you weren't marrying an aging shrew like me, he calmed down considerably!"
    "What made him think you were the one getting married, Janna?" Lucy broke in, keeping her voice low as the happy throng surged around them.
    "Yes, I think that needs an explanation too, Lucy," Adam's deep voice came from behind Janna's shoulder and she whirled guiltily to face him. He didn't look as if he were about to make a scene, though, she thought in relief. Instead he flicked a brief, 'wait-until-I-get-you-alone' glance at her wide-eyed face and then moved forward to kiss Lucy in a brotherly fashion.
    "But I plan to wait until after you two are on your way before I go into the subject in depth with Janna. You can spend your honeymoon digging the tale out of your husband." Adam looked at his brother.
    "Congratulations, Nat," he said with genuine warmth. "I hope the two of you will be very happy. This bride looks much more promising as a wife for you than the woman I mistakenly thought you planned to marry!"
    "Adam!" Janna recovered enough to protest in a small, furious voice.
    After a rapid, careful appraisal of his brother's bland expression,