Arik caught sight of her before Gaston did and greeted her pleasantly. The two had developed a genuine like for each other within the past week.
“What brings you out here on this hellish day, madam?” he asked.
“I must speak with Gaston,” she said, wiping daintily at her nose. “That damnable envoy just gave me an earful in the hall. I would tell Gaston.”
Arik frowned. “Was he deliberately rude? Was he harsh?”
She was verging on a pout. “He’s an arrogant little bastard. Is Gaston too busy to speak with me now, Arik?”
“Never,” Arik bade her to stay where she was as he sought Gaston on her behalf.
Watching him walk toward her across the hot, dusty bailey brought a rush of warmth to her cheeks. He moved so gracefully and with such presence that she felt her knees go weak at the mere sight of him.I want for you to be my husband. The familiar chant filled her, only this time he echoed the sentiment. He was hers.
“What’s amiss, angel?” he asked with concern. “Arik said you were upset?”
She nodded. “The envoy cornered me not a few minutes ago and demanded that I be ready to leave by the morning. He says he will not wait any longer; if I am not ready to leave on the morrow, he will return to London alone and tell Henry that you deliberately disobeyed the king. I think he means what he says, Gaston.”
Gaston’s face hardened. She could see him thinking, for his eyes took on a distant look even though he was focused on her. “Where is he now?”
“Inside,” she flipped her hand carelessly in the general direction of the castle. “Somewhere. I hope he trips on his ecclesiastical robes and breaks his neck.”
He grunted, a half grin on his lips. “I shall speak with him. Go inside now, love. ’Tis too hot outside for you.”
She sighed, glancing up at the brilliant blue sky. “I cannot remember such heat. Rory wants to go swimming; will that be very well?”
Gaston glanced over his shoulder at his men, nodding faintly. “I suppose I could spare Nicolas to take you.”
“Thank you,” she said, dragging her hand over her forehead. She had not taken three steps away from him when she suddenly stopped and faced him.
His eyebrows drew together at the faint smile suddenly playing on her lips. “What?”
She gave him a sly look, one of her very best.
“Congratulations, father.”
He forgot all about his men, the bailey, the keep, the envoy, and the king. He was on her in one stride. “Are you sure?”
She smiled and nodded her head slowly. “Oh, yes!”
He stared at her. Then, the smallest of twitches tugged at the corner of his mouth. He had not allowed himself to think on the prospect since they had last spoke of it because he did not want to be disappointed. Listening to her confirmation was almost more than he could take. “Honestly?”
“Come early April, I will bear you a son,” she said confidently.
He could show no outward signs of his joy, he knew that distinctly. But, God help him, he wanted to shout and jump and hug everyone he could get his hands on. Including and fore mostly Remington. He was struggling so to contain himself that he started to shake and Remington noticed.
“What’s the matter?” she asked, suddenly concerned.
“Nothing, Remi,” he cleared his throat and stood back from her; he was dangerously close to displaying his joy in front of a thousand men. “Go inside now. I shall send Nicolas to you.”
She blinked. No thanks? No words of joy? “Aren’t you happy?”
He let out a choked gasp, taking another step away from her and raking his fingers through his hair to keep it back. A nervous smile burst forth as he gazed at her. “Remi, I am closer now than I ever have been in my life to breaking protocol and taking you into my arms. Too close! Go inside before I lose all control and ravish you in front of my men.”
She grinned in return. “Then you are happy.”
He could only manage an unsteady nod. “Aye, happy. Happier than you will ever know, angel. In fact, I shall show you just how happy I am later in private.”
She understood and proceeded to head back toward the castle, turning every so often to glance back at him. He still stood where she left him, staring at her as if she were the Virgin Mary.
