“Lady Blythe is hale. She bid me deliver this missive,” Micheil explained as he looked at Emelie, surprised to see her in a chair outside and so pregnant. Blythe informed him that Emelie handfasted and left court, but she’d neglected to mention her sister had left pregnant. Micheil kept his thoughts to himself as he bowed to Emelie and handed her a folded parchment.
“Does she expect a response?” Emelie asked as she broke the seal.
“I don’t know. I can’t travel back to court. My father expects me home within a fortnight,” Micheil answered. Emelie glanced at the visitor, certain she heard regret in his voice. Something flashed in his eyes, but it left too soon for Emelie to decipher it. She turned her attention to the missive, the salutation already raising an alarm in her mind.
Emmy,
HP tore through court, searching for you about a moon after you left. He received your missive and demanded to know where you were. I don’t think it was because he misses you. The king informed HP that you handfasted with Dominic and went to Kilchurn. He was gone for ages, so I thought he returned home.
But he came to back to Stirling yesterday, which would be nearly a sennight from when you’re reading this. He backed me into a corner and threatened you, me, and your bairn. It was Micheil who spotted us and came to my rescue. I’ve never seen a man so enraged.
I digress. I fear it is Dominic who reads this and not you, sister. I don’t think he told anyone but the king why he searched for you. I don’t think he wants anyone to ask questions about your wellbeing or a bairn’s if he’s done something to you, or at least tried. I only know any of this because the king summoned me to the Privy Council chamber when HP claimed he hadn’t been allowed to see you. The king suggested I might have useful knowledge to help HP gain entry to Kilchurn, but I think he wished to warn me that HP still searches.
I don’t want to believe you’re gone, Emmy. I’m certain I would feel it in my bones if you were. But if it’s Dominic who’s reading this, you must know that HP is after my sister. One way or another, aught that happens is his fault.
Emmy, if you’re reading this, you aren’t safe. The king appeared shocked that HP went in search of you, but he did naught in front of me that leads me to think he will intervene. I regret to say it, but I don’t think the king cares what happens to you or your bairn. I believe he’s passed that responsibility to me.
Send a response if you can, be it yours or Dominic’s.
I miss you terribly, Emmy, and I fear for you. Dominic, protect my sister if she lives.
Devotedly your sister,
Blythe
Emelie read the letter twice. It was on rare occasions that Blythe addressed Emelie by the pet name Isa gave her when they were all young. The last time Blythe called her Emmy was just before she left Stirling, and it had been years before that. Her hand shook as she passed the missive to Dominic. She looked at Micheil, who watched her. His expression gave nothing away, but she knew he was aware of some of the missive’s contents since he’d found Henry intimidating Blythe.
“Did he touch her?” Emelie kept her voice low, careful not to name names.
“Nay. He would have strangled her had I not rounded the corner from the lists when I did. It was the middle of the day, but he backed her into a corner. It was pure coincidence that I was there, but I will be forever grateful that I was,” Micheil explained.
“Were they arguing?” Emelie pressed.
“They must have been, but he was only threatening Lady Blythe when I arrived. I told him that if he wished to kill someone by strangulation, he should know it’s a slow death. He didn’t appreciate me demonstrating on his throat. He’d best hope he’s sired an heir off his wife because he may not after my boot met his cods.”
“Blythe’s safe? Is he still there?” Emelie demanded.
“He left just before I did.” Micheil shifted his gaze to Dominic. “I followed him toward here. He and his men camped about fifteen leagues from here to the southeast. I passed him two days ago.”
Emelie shifted her attention to Dominic, and her gut clenched. She’d seen her husband’s fierce appearance before, but the look he possessed as he listened to Micheil was unlike anything she’d imagined. Gone was the doting husband and eager father-to-be. Gone was the calm, trained warrior. She read vengeance in Dominic’s expression, and she feared he wouldn’t cease pursuing Henry even if it killed him. She made to rise from her chair, but Dominic’s gaze swung to her. It softened, but his command was clear.
“Sit,” Dominic growled. Micheil shifted toward Emelie, but she waved her hand at him.
“The missive is upsetting, to say the least. And I’m to be on bedrest right now. I begged Dom to bring me outside. He’s worried for me, not angry at me,” Emelie explained. “Dom, I think we need to go inside.”
Dominic nodded before he eased Emelie into his arms as though he feared she would break. She sagged against his chest, terror still making her heart pound. She was apprehensive for her babe, Dominic, Blythe, and herself. She needed Brodie and Laurel to talk sense into Dominic before he dumped her in their chamber and raced off.
“Bring the chair. You’re coming inside, anyway. Brodie needs to know.” Dominic’s terse words made Micheil scowl, but he nodded and brought the chair with him as he followed the couple into the keep. Micheil moved toward the dais as Dominic strode to the stairs. Brodie poked his nose out from his solar, but Dominic maintained his course. He would not shut Emelie into their chamber and make decisions for her.
“Brodie!” Emelie called out. “Stop him from doing something foolish.”
“Emelie,” Dominic warned.
“No. You are not locking me away in our chamber, then hying off to get revenge. You’ll get yourself killed.”
“I’m not racing off anywhere. You need to rest.”
“Don’t tell me what I need, Dominic. I’m not the one acting like an impetuous child. What I need is for my husband to live. If you take me up those stairs, you’d best be taking me to the solar. I will crawl if I have to, but you are not sticking me in our chamber.”
