“Sit up, angel, and let me get this cloak off,” he said gently, pulling her up carefully.
“Did you speak with Jasmine?” she asked wearily.
“Aye,” he tossed the cloak aside and gently lifted her, placing her on the pillows and pulling the coverlet over her. “You rest now and I shall return later.”
“Where are you going?” she asked, closing her eyes as he tucked her in.
He braced his arms on either side of her, gazing down at her sweet face. “To retrieve a relative. I shall send Eudora in with your supper, and I want you to eat something. Do you understand?”
She smiled softly at him, her left hand reaching up to stroke his stubbled face. “I love you, Dark Knight.”
He kissed the palm of her hand and touched her forehead quickly to make sure her fever was moderate. “Rest. I shall be back.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Remington cried thefirst time she saw Mary. Nearly two years old with silken blond hair, she was the most beautiful child she had ever seen. For the first day Jasmine could not go five minutes without weeping, setting off Rory and Skye every time. Gaston merely shook his head at the women; it was comical as well as touching and he was pleased he had been able to assist.
It had not been overly difficult; the peasant family already had six children to feed and was not reluctant to return Mary to her rightful mother. But the child had been clean and well fed, and Gaston had paid the family well enough to support them easily for years to come.
When he saw Jasmine cuddle her daughter for the first time, the great expense had been worth every pence. He had chuckled at himself for becoming soft in his old age, smiling at the mother and daughter and wondering fleetingly if he and Remington would be so blessed one day.
Antonius had not been difficult, either. Gaston explained the situation because Jasmine had been too choked up to speak a complete sentence. Confession ended, without another word said, Antonius had put his arms around the two ladies and hadkissed them both tenderly. Gaston had been impressed with his knight’s compassion.
It was late when he checked in on Trenton. The lad was sound asleep in his big room, his face unlined with the terrible events he had suffered through. Gaston was deeply saddened at his son’s grief and he wished he could comfort the boy, but Trenton seemed to be mightily confused and distant. Gaston could only hope the morrow dawned a bit brighter for his son.
He slept with Remington that night in the small lady’s bed, much smaller than his massive one. She ran a fever most of the night, sleeping listlessly, but by the time morning broke so had the fever. When Eudora brought the morning meal, Remington sat up and ate nearly an entire bowl of porridge and honey and he was pleased to see that she was recovering well.
After the dishes were cleared away and Remington and Gaston were talking between themselves, Dane wandered into the room aimlessly. Both adults focused on the young lad.
“What’s the matter, sweetheart?” Remington asked. “Why the long face?”
He frowned and toyed with the coverlet. “Nothing.”
Gaston was sitting in the big chair next to the bed. “Did you see your new cousin?”
His scowl was evident. “Aye.”
Remington raised her eyebrows expectantly. “And?”
He turned away from his mother irritably. “And it’s just a girl. Another girl.”
“Girls aren’t so bad, Dane,” Gaston said with a faint smile. “You shall come to realize that one day.”
Dane made such a face that Gaston almost laughed. “I do not want any more girls.”
“Then go find Trenton. Surely you two can find something to do,” Remington suggested.
“He does not want to play,” Dane said forlornly. “I knocked at his door but he told me to go away. I told him I was sorry about his mother, but he yelled at me and told me it was your fault.”
He was looking at Remington, who in turn glanced at Gaston. He scratched his chin leisurely and rose on his massive legs. “Mayhap we should go see Trenton together, Dane.”
He did not give the lad a chance to protest as he grabbed him by the shoulders and urged him through the door. He paused a moment before following him, long enough to kiss Remington sweetly. “I have got other duties to see to this morn.”
She smiled. “Aye, a whole keep full of new soldiers to keep you busy.”
He returned her smile. “Rest this morn, angel. You need to regain your strength.”
Her face fell with mock disappointment. “But I was so looking forward to playing with Mary.”
