Olivia Charlotte wouldn’t give up. “Can I live here when he is born?” she said. “I can help you tend to him. I can play with him and feed him.”
Dustin waved off her eager twelve-year-old, on the cusp of womanhood and so very intrigued with anything that had to do with babies. “Do not pester Elle,” she said. “She has a long time to go yet, and decisions like that cannot be made now.”
Olivia Charlotte might have stopped asking questions, but she still held Elle’s hand, smiling at her in a way that should have made Elle uncomfortable, but it didn’t. She could sense that the lass was simply a sweet, rather innocent child, curious about things that most girls were curious about. Or should be curious about. But Elle had never even considered babies or children until she became pregnant.
Now, it was all she could think of.
“I would like for you to stay with us, of course,” Elle said. “But as your mother says, we will speak on it when the time draws closer. He still has a long time before he’s ready to be born.”
“He is baking in your lady oven?”
All three women burst out laughing. “Where on earth did you hear that?” Dustin asked, shaking her head. “Enough, Liv. Take Rebecca and find Papa. Tell him that we are almost ready and will be done soon. And if you mention lady ovens, I will blister your backside. Do you understand me?”
Olivia Charlotte’s eyes widened. “Aye, Mama.”
Dustin smiled brightly. “Excellent,” she said. “Hurry, now. We will not be far behind.”
The girls fled, leaving Elle quite appreciative of Lady Hereford’s parenting skills. When their eyes met, Elle snorted.
“Is that how I should parent our son?” she asked. “Through intimidation and adoration?”
Dustin chuckled. “If it works,” she said, but quickly sobered. “I would say you parent your son with a good deal of love andencouragement. That is what children want—your love. But if you have a lass like Olivia Charlotte who likes to run off at the mouth, then sometimes, you must put fear into her so she will learn restraint.”
Elle turned to watch her in the mirror as she finished with the stitch. “Olivia Charlotte,” she murmured. “Why does she have two names?”
Dustin finished and cut the loose ends of the thread from the dress. “Because her father and I could not agree,” she said. “I wanted to name her Olivia and he wanted to name her Charlotte. Therefore, we gave her both.”
Elle grinned at the stubborn nature of her husband’s parents. “I suppose if you feel strongly enough, you must take a stand.”
“Precisely,” Dustin said. Then she stood up and pulled Elle’s arm down before tugging at the bodice again. “There. How does that feel?”
Elle tugged at it, too. “Better,” she said, pulling on the skirt to loosen everything. “Much better. I cannot thank you enough, my lady.”
Dustin stepped in front of her, putting herself between the mirror and Elle. Elle was an inch or two taller, but she would swear that Dustin was the biggest person in that chamber. Probably in any chamber she entered. The woman had an air about her that was positively fearsome.
“Elle,” Dustin said softly. “I hope that I may call you Elle.”
Elle nodded. “Of course, my lady. I would be honored.”
Dustin smiled faintly. “Good,” she said. “I am glad that Rebecca and Liv are not here because it gives me the opportunity to speak with you alone. I want to let you know that Christopher has told me everything about the first day or so after Brython fell, after the siege. He has told me about his conversations with you and what transpired.”
Elle couldn’t look the woman in the eye any longer. She lowered her gaze. “It was a difficult time, my lady,” she said. “I had—”
“I know,” Dustin cut her off, but not unkindly. “I know that you were called the Wraith. I further know that you held the castle against my husband for an entire month, and I must say that you have my great respect for that. Greater warlords have fallen much more quickly against him than you did. You are to be commended.”
Elle smiled wanly. “But the castle still fell in the end,” she said. “I did not hold out forever.”
“Nay, you did not,” Dustin said. “But do you know what you did?”
“What?”
“You proved your worth to my husband,” Dustin said, a twinkle in her eye. “You proved yourself strong and capable in Christopher de Lohr’s eyes. Why do you think he was so determined for you to marry Curtis? He knew that such a strong and capable woman would make a magnificent Countess of Leominster and a magnificent wife to our firstborn son. I know the first few days of your acquaintance must not have been a pleasant one, but I have heard that Curtis is very happy with this marriage. I’ve not yet spoken to him, but from the brief moment that I did when I first arrived, he looks happy and content. That is your doing, my dear. I want to thank you.”
Elle could lift her eyes again, feeling touched at the woman’s praise. “He has made me happy also,” she said softly. “I… I do not know how much you have been told about my life, Lady Hereford, but before I met Curt, it was a dark and terrible thing. The Wraith… That woman no longer exists. Curt has shown me another life I never imagined.”
Dustin touched her arm gently. “I was told about your upbringing,” she said. “I know this has been a drastic change for you, but I hope Curt has been helpful.”
Elle grinned. “He is the greatest teacher I could have hoped for,” she said. “And Myles is a wonderful teacher, too. Douglas and Westley… Well, they are young, but they are good in their hearts. You have raised fine sons, my lady.”
