“But-”
“I will not get between you and your husband.” Alec looked at his hands, his fingers laced before him.
Rhiannon wondered if there was more going on in his head than her and William. “Is there anything you want to talk about?”
He shrugged one shoulder. “’Tis nothing you are not already aware of.”
“Margaret?”
“I should know better than to think of her,” he said quietly. “She is married now.” Margaret was his reason for having left England in the first place. Alec had embarked the day after her wedding. “She has made her choice.”
“She was persuaded by her parents, but Richard is a good man. I’ve no doubt he is taking the best care of her.” Rhiannon chose her words carefully. “He seemed delighted when he first saw her. I watched him try very hard to impress her.”
“He is not the most attractive man.”
Rhiannon smiled. “Perhaps not.”
“She would have . . . She and I . . .” He ran a hand through his hair. “I suppose I could talk your husband into waiting until after your child has come.”
“So that you can avoid seeing Richard and Margaret for as long as possible?”
He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. “It would be better for you.”
How quickly he changed his mind. Rhiannon considered letting him do just that, then realized it was better that he not. “William needs to see that I am strong. I need to go with him. This journey will prove it to him. And you need to make nice with Lord Richard. He is our neighbor, after all.”
Alec snorted. He looked over the training field, and his brows lifted. “I’d like to spar the one with the tattoos.”
“Graham. He might break your sword. And you have changed the subject.”
“Yes, I know.” Alec drew his rapier. The familiar sweeping spirals on the hilt of his sword made her heart squeeze. It had been a gift from her father. Alec angled his lightweight weapon into the sunlight. “You may be right about my sword.” He set it next to her, propped against the bench. “When in Rome.” Smiling, he walked over to the bin of practice weapons and pulled out a long-sword. “This will do.”
He winked at her, and then sauntered onto the training field like a man who was not pale and a good deal thinner than he used to be. Rhiannon hated seeing him like that, but she knew William and the other men would see to his reconditioning. And they would feed him more oats and barley and fish than Alec had likely eaten in his entire life while they were at it.
William sheathed his sword and stood down, gesturing for Alec to take his place against Graham. William walked across the field toward her. Like a jungle cat. Hard muscle ready to bunch and spring at any moment.
“Sit with me,” she said when he stopped before her.
He nodded, and the bench protested as he sank down on it. Rhiannon rested her cheek on his shoulder, wondering what she should say. “Alec likes you.”
“He is unbalanced with the long-sword.”
Not quite what she was hoping to hear, but at least he was speaking to her. That was good. “He is used to the rapier,” Rhiannon said. “And he is a good deal slimmer than usual.”
William lowered his voice, as if admitting to something that he would rather not. “Given your brother’s recent convalescence, perhaps it would be wise to delay our departure after all.”
She lifted her head. He wouldn’t look directly at her. The skin around his eyes tightened as if he were scrutinizing Alec’s form with the sword, and their current discussion had nothing to do with her.
“A few weeks would not hurt. I wouldn’t wait too long though.” Because if she were too far into her pregnancy, she would have no hope of convincing him to take her with him.
His frown deepened, paused, and then hardened into stone. “Ready to be rid of me, then?”
“Nay. Ready to go with you.”
He stood, Rhiannon almost toppling over. She caught her balance on the weathered bench, a splinter biting into her thumb. She pulled her hand back and plucked the wood out with her fingernails.
“I willna argue with you about this,” William said.
Rhiannon stood. “When will you learn to accept this child? It willna kill me. I am not Deborah.”
“Nay.” He reached out, touching her face, his fingers sliding along her jawbone. “You are not.” His Adam’s apple rose and fell as he swallowed. “My men and I will make sure your brother is strong. And then we will leave.”
We? She smiled and looped her arms around his neck. “Thank you. I will tell Mora. She can go with us.” Rhiannon realized he wasn’t holding her back. She slipped away.
“You are not going with us,” he said.
“But-”
“When I said we, I did not mean you.”
She had no words. The baby quickened inside her. She touched her stomach. “I felt him. I wish you could feel it too, but I think he has to be bigger before you can.”
This was nothing like her first baby. She had felt no movement with that child. She’d also been underweight, and knew it was possible the baby was unwell from the start. This one was healthy and strong. She knew he was. He grew quickly, and he wiggled inside her.
“Go within,” William said. “’Tis too cold.”
“But the sun is out.”
“I said go within.”
Rhiannon bit her lower lip and turned her back on him. She did not stay within the hall though. She found Alice and they walked together in the garden where William would not see that she had disobeyed his Lairdship.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Rhiannon stood in the middle of the courtyard watching William ride away, hoping he would look back at her. But he didn’t. And he had not had the decency to make love to her the night before. Even that one gesture would have done so much for her sense of security.
Triona slid her arm around Rhiannon’s waist. “When he returns and sees you holding his bairn in your arms, he will abandon his idiocy.”
But will I be able to forgive him for it?
She wasn’t sure she could.
“He is only trying to keep her safe,” Ronan said.
“Go polish your sword, will you,” Triona snapped.
He glared. Triona glared back. With a sigh, he ducked his head to the both of them and swaggered off.
Triona gave Rhiannon a squeeze. “Let’s go within. You could use a warm drink.”
“I need more than some herbs in warm wine.” Her voice sounded as hollow as she felt. Triona led her inside anyway, sitting her down on a padded chair before a hearth. A mug was pushed into her hands. Rhiannon took a sip as she stared into the flames. “He may return to me, but only in body. I have lost him.”
“Strange, how he says the same about you.”
“You say that, and I have tried to reach him, but he has built a wall so thick around his heart I cannot break through it.”
Triona sipped her wine. “Then perhaps you need more powerful weapons.”
Rhiannon looked away from the fire. There was an impish gleam in Triona’s eyes. Rhiannon recognized it, and felt her spirits lift a little. “What are you thinking?”
“Maybe you should follow him.”
“But how?”
Triona leaned forward, talking quickly. “Give him a day, then take Mora and a guard and leave. You will be able to catch up with them because there will be only the three of you. Mora will be no trouble. She is uncommonly hardy.”
“What about you? Do you not need her?”
“One of her daughters will see to me. I have already done this.” She looked at her stomach. She was past her due date. “Several times.”
“But what guard would be willing?”
Triona smiled. “The same one who brought me here when Ronan left without me.”
“Graham?”
“With the right persuasion, he will cave.” Triona nodded. “He may be unrivaled on the battlefield, but he is helpless when it comes to women.”
; “He is . . .” Rhiannon needed to conquer her fears. “So big, and he is blond. I do not trust blonds” Geoffrey had been blond.
Triona lifted her fair brows in question.
“I meant that I do not care for blond men.”
“Then Graham will help you work past that. Ronan has placed my safety in his hands more than once. Why would he do that if he did not completely trust him?”
Rhiannon took a deep breath. Maybe it was about time she faced her fears. Bravely.
Something she wished her husband would do.
One of them needed to be brave, because everything they had was crumbling down around them.
* * *
Graham sheathed his Irish long-sword. “Ye want me to what?”
Rhiannon stood before him, Triona at her side. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, willing her fingers not to shake.
“They are only one day ahead,” Triona said from next to her. “It will take no time at all to catch up with them.”
Triona nudged Rhiannon with her elbow, and Rhiannon, taking a deep breath, looked Graham in the eye. “Will you please take me.”
He shook his head at the sky, then sighed and pointed. “Off the field, ladies. Then we can discuss this.”
They made their way to a three-sided shelter just off the training field. Graham turned to face them. He looked at Rhiannon, then came down to his knees, sitting back on his heels. Rhiannon realized Triona must have told him he intimidated her.
“If Laird William wanted to take ye with him lass, he would have.”
“Do it as a favor to me,” Triona said. “You know how miserable I was when I was in the same position.”
“Aye, I know.”
Rhiannon watched Triona stare him down. She possessed an open boldness Rhiannon used to have, before Geoffrey.
Or maybe it was still there, somewhere, hiding; waiting for her to recapture it and set it free.
“Please,” she said. “This is something I have to do. But I cannot do it alone.”
“Laird William will have my head for this.”
“He could never stay mad at you,” Triona said. “He loves you too much for that.”
He eyed Triona, then focused on Rhiannon. “What of you, lass? Can you travel with me?”
Rhiannon cleared her throat. “It will not be easy, but yes, I can.”
He watched them for a moment.
“Please Graham,” Triona pleaded.
He scratched at his neat blond beard. “Ready yourself. We will leave tomorrow morning.”
Triona hugged Rhiannon.
“Ye can both thank me later, assuming my head is still attached to my body.”
“I will warn Mora,” Rhiannon said.
“Mora?” he asked. “There is to be another one?”
“The midwife. You would not want her to leave Mora behind, would you?” Triona asked.
“Nay,” he said with feeling. “I would certainly not.”
“I will smooth everything over with Ronan when he finds out you’re gone,” Triona said.
“Wonderful,” he muttered.
* * *
Rhiannon closed up her saddle bag. “Are you sure you will be all right without Mora?” she asked.
“I’m sure,” Alice said. “Are sure you are up to this?”
“Very sure. I have to. William has to know that I can do this.”
“Please, take care of yourself.”
Rhiannon took Alice’s hand, squeezing it. “I will.”
Alice came around the bed post, hugging Rhiannon. “Please come home safely.”
“I promise. Take care of Connor, and your baby when he comes.”
“I will. Best your husband, my lady, and be sure to do it well, so that he will always know what a fool he really is.”
Smiling, Rhiannon hugged Alice one more time. “Thank you.”
“Always.” Alice wiped her eyes and took up the bag, slinging it over her shoulder. “I will carry this to your horse for you. I’ll go out the servant’s entrance. No one will notice as long as I am careful.”
Alice slipped out, going one way. Rhiannon went the other. She met up with Triona and they continued on to the stables, where Graham and Mora were waiting for them.
“I hope this doesn’t get you into trouble with your husband,” Rhiannon said.
“Dinna worry about it. Ronan enjoys trouble. That is why he loves me.”
Graham was in the stable when they walked in, holding her stallion’s reins. Alice was there as well. Mora was already seated upon a white mare.
Triona hugged Rhiannon. “God speed,” she said.
“With any luck I will be home again before my baby comes.”
Poor Alice was teary-eyed again, and Rhiannon gave her yet another hug.
“We have not been apart like this ever before,” Alice said.
“I know. It will not last long, and you have Connor now, anyway.”
“But it is not the same.”
No. It wasn’t the same.
“I love you.” Rhiannon released her, looking down into Alice’s earth brown eyes.
“I love you, too.”
Graham gave Rhiannon a hand onto Jeremiah. The tall charcoal stallion curved his neck around, watching her with one dark eye. She scratched his neck.
Graham mounted. “Ready?”
Rhiannon nodded. “As ready as I can be.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“You might want to see this,” Angus said, jogging up to William. “I do believe we are being followed.”
William tossed a stick into the fire and rose to his feet. “By whom?”
“It might be better if I show ye.” He nodded to Alec. “You too.”
William and Alec followed Angus out of camp and over a craggy hill. Boot soles slipped over exposed granite in the dark, overcast night.
“There.” Angus pointed across the glen. A small campfire split the cold, dark night. “Their group consists of one rather large man, a young woman, and an old one.”
William wasn’t the swearing sort, usually, but he used a few choice words anyway. In two different languages.
“Graham,” he said finally.
Angus scratched his red beard. “Tattoos and all.”
Rhiannon was afraid of Graham. She would never have schemed him into accompanying her. Unless it was Triona’s idea. In which case, anything was possible.
“Rhiannon asked me to talk to you before we left,” Alec said. “She wanted to accompany us.”
William studied Alec in the low light. His shoulder length hair was the same color as Rhiannon’s. His facial expressions reminded him of her too.
“I told her I would not get between the two of you,” Alec said. “My sister is willful. It is a family trait. If she wants to be with you, then she will find a way.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Perhaps I should have warned you sooner.”
“I will deal with her.” William cocked his head at Alec and Angus. “You two head on back.”
Alec gave no argument. Nodding, he turned away. William had to give him credit for knowing enough to mind his own business. Alec and Angus half-slid back down the hill. William moved forward on sluggish limbs.
He would send Rhiannon back.
He should send her back.
He didn’t want to send her back.
William knew he being an arse. But if he gave himself to Rhiannon entirely, and then lost her, it would unravel him, and he couldn’t take that risk. It would hurt too much—the rotting kind of pain that ate a man from the inside out.
Graham looked up as William neared. He rose to his feet, ducking his head in greeting. Rhiannon followed Graham’s line of sight, then jerked, making William flinch. He needed to decide how best to respond to her, and soon. Trying to force her to leave was out of the question. It made him sick to his stomach, anyway.
Graham said something to Rhiannon and she stood, clasping her hands behind her. Mora watched them with a look that said she knew he was an idiot
, and he’d better do right by Rhiannon, or she was going to personally knock some sense into him.
Rhiannon came forward, her skin washed to a soft golden hue by the firelight. His chest felt tight and his blood warmed at the sight of her rounded body. He wanted nothing more than to carry her off in his arms.
She stopped before him, hesitated, then launched herself into his chest. He caught her, noticing the changes in her body since the last time he’d taken the opportunity to actually hold her. She was warm and full of life.
“Say nothing.” Rhiannon pressed her face against his neck. “I know you are angry with me, and I understand why. I went through a hundred different arguments with you in my head, but right now, all I know is that I need you. If all you have to give me is your touch, then touch me. We can fight about this in the morning. Just love me tonight.”
He backed them away from the others, then wove his fingers in her hair and lifted her face to his. He bent and tasted her softly. She was sweet, and perfect, and even better than his best memory.
“Take me,” Rhiannon whispered against his lips, curling her fingers in his shirtfront. “I need to feel you again.”
William lifted her up and carried her away.
Laying her out on his plaid in a secluded niche, he warmed her with his skin. Both were wordless, yet far from silent.
* * *
She awoke before dawn, stirring in his arms. William kissed the top of her head, wary. He felt used, but at a loss. He couldn’t deny her when she gave him what he needed. Physically. But he had time to think during the night, and there was something he needed to know, aside from whether or not she was capable of bearing his child safely. He needed to know that she was willing to forsake all else for him. England, her brother . . . and what? Herself? Was that even fair?
He knew it wasn’t.
But he couldn’t seem to help himself.
Rhiannon looked up, smiling, sleep in her eyes. Then the passion of the night before vanished like morning dew and she looked away, her face pink. He left her under his plaid as he gathered her clothing and helped her dress.
She was more beautiful than ever with his babe growing within her. William touched her face and she leaned into his hand.
Moonstone Page 20
