“I realized aboot a sennight and a half ago that I was likely with child. That is why the incense bothered me, and I looked poorly. I went to a midwife in town, and she confirmed it.”
“But I don’t understand what he has to do with all of this,” Blythe interrupted.
“Blythe,” Emelie hissed before she inhaled again. “Dominic ran into me when I returned from my second trip to the midwife. I dropped the medicinals Goody Thomas gave me, and he recognized the pennyroyal. He deduced my situation and offered me a solution that didn’t involve ridding my body of the bairn.”
Blythe looked scathingly at Dominic. “And why would you know what pennyroyal is or what it does?”
Dominic glanced at Emelie before looking squarely at Blythe. If secrets were coming out, then he would have to tell some of his. “I was a widower until half an hour ago. My first wife was a deceptive woman who I gravely mistook for a loving partner. After her death, I discovered pennyroyal in her belongings. My clan’s healer admitted my wife used it to keep from bearing my child or my illegitimate, aulder half-brother’s, who was her lover.”
Both women gasped. He hadn’t told Emelie the details of why he recognized the plant. He hadn’t intentionally hidden it from her. Their conversation had drifted away from it, and they’d never revisited it. He couldn’t recall if he’d told Emelie about Colina’s faithlessness. The pity in her gaze rankled, but he knew she had good intentions. He took over explaining his arrangement with Emelie.
“I offered your sister the chance to marry me or handfast, if she preferred. Your sister is a good woman who made an awful choice. She doesn’t deserve to live a life in shame.” Neither woman missed the edge of warning in Dominic’s tone as he locked eyes with Blythe, almost daring her to speak out against her sister. “I know we don’t know each other well, but I offered her the chance to have a home and to make her bairn legitimate. She accepted my offer of a handfast, knowing I will take her back to your clan or anywhere else if she wishes to end it before the year and a day is up, or when the handfast expires.”
“She is a wonderful woman, but I don’t understand why you would help her. Why would you take a woman carrying another mon’s bairn into your home and among your people? Can you not sire your own?”
“Blythe,” Emelie hissed again.
“As far as I know I can, even if I never have. I have no bastards, and as I’ve just told you, my wife took precautions never to get with child. But I have no reason to think I can’t. No bairn controls who they are born to. My father despised my mother and would have rather married my half-brother’s mother. Had he done so, my half-brother might be alive and laird right now,” Dominic shrugged. “I didn’t ask for a mon who was cruel and ill-tempered to my mother to sire me. I didn’t ask for a mother who my father cowed. We get who the Lord gives us. In this case, I think he’s giving me a chance to be a father and giving this bairn a father who will honor and protect him or her.”
“But it won’t be yours,” Blythe pressed.
“It will be,” Dominic said with finality. Blythe opened her mouth, then frowned. She nodded her head before she looked at Emelie. She rose and pulled her sister’s hand. Dominic had to move to allow Emelie space to stand. Blythe shot him a warning glare before she led Emelie to a corner.
“Is this really what you want?” Blythe whispered. “We could tell Father that you eloped, but there was an accident. We could say you’re a widow.”
“Father knows I was interested in Henry. It won’t take much for him to deduce what really happened. I won’t be married, but Henry would be dead.”
“Does Henry even know?”
“I sent a missive several days ago. I don’t know what to expect. But Dominic is a good mon. Despite his wife’s deceit, he loved her and he grieves for her. I believe he was a good husband to her, and I think he will be a good husband to me. He’s sworn that he will take the blame if I wish to leave, and I trust him. I can’t explain it, but I just know. I thought I loved Henry, but at best I was enamored. I think I loved the idea of being loved, of being courted and desired, of becoming a wife. I’m not even angry at him. I’m just naught. But Dominic—” Emelie peeked at him. “He makes me feel different. He makes me feel safe. He has never once looked down at me, reviled me, or admonished me for the situation. I never imagined a more understanding and accepting mon existed.”
“Are you sure aboot this, Emmy? I’m scared for you.”
“I know. I’m nervous too. But it’s not aboot being with Dom. I’m nervous that people will discover the truth, and I’m nervous his people won’t accept me.”
“What will you do when your bairn arrives too soon?”
“Dom has already said we will tell people we handfasted during one of his earlier trips here. He’s been away from home for nearly three moons. It would make it plausible.”
Blythe wrapped her arms around her older sister and held on, just as they had since they were children. Emelie returned the embrace, realizing for the first time that she would soon leave Blythe at court. She might even leave Blythe that night if Dominic expected her to share his chamber.
“Will you be all right here alone?” Emelie asked. “I haven’t considered the position this places you in.”
“We’ve always known one of us would likely be here alone. It just happens to be me.”
Emelie pulled back, remembering something from their father’s missive. “Father said he is going to look into betrothals for us. We must send word to him immediately aboot my handfast. But you should prepare for a groom sooner rather than later. I know you wished for—”
“Don’t say his name,” Blythe mouthed, tears welling in her eyes. Emelie nodded as she embraced Blythe once more. When both women felt composed enough to step apart, they turned toward Dominic, who had returned to his place against the wall. “I owe you and my sister my felicitations.”
“Thank you, Lady Blythe,” Dominic responded with a nod.
“You are my brother-by-marriage now. I think you can call me just Blythe.”
“I appreciate that, Blythe.” Dominic offered a warm smile as he moved to stand beside Emelie. Without thought, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He glanced down, realizing he wished she were tall enough to wrap his arm around her waist. But he was happy to have her at his side. She returned his smile, and he felt her lean against him. Blythe watched the couple, their unintentional body language telling her more than either of their explanations. She’d never seen Henry offer such silent surety as she saw from Dominic. Her doubts and worries eased.
“Would you like me to help you pack?” Blythe asked Emelie.
Emelie’s stomach sucked in. She and Dominic hadn’t even broached the subject of a living arrangement at court or at Kilchurn. She didn’t even know when they would depart. She glanced up at Dominic once more.
