“I don’t,” Dominic said with such certainty that Emelie didn’t doubt him. “How can you know?”
“The midwife in Stirling gave me a bunch of wheat and a bunch of barley. The ancients said that if a woman pishes on them, and the wheat blooms, then she’s having a lad. If the barley blooms, she’s having a lass. Either way, if aught blooms, she’s with child. The wheat was the one to change.”
“That makes this easer. I’ll agree to Nic, but you realize his name will rhyme with his cousin’s. Nic and Rick. Sounds like endless trouble already,” Dominic chuckled.
“Sounds more like, like father, like son,” Emelie giggled. “And I’m convinced you will make me the ogre parent who insists on rules while you have all the fun spoiling them.”
“Most likely,” Dominic guffawed with a wink. As they finished their meal, Emelie put the plates and dishes back on the tray, and Dominic moved it to the table.
“When will you set off?” Emelie asked.
“Alec should be back any time now. I’ll meet with Brodie and him, then we’ll leave a couple hours before sunrise.”
“I pray Alec is safe. No matter what, do not trust completely aught you hear from Henry or his brothers.”
“I suspect one or two of them will stay behind, since they will undoubtedly question whether our scheme is a ruse. Brodie and I are prepared for that. If need be, Brodie will remain here in case they don’t follow or they split their forces.”
“Do you think there is anyone else involved? You already discovered two traitors. Are there others who supported Graham in secret?”
“Likely. Colina didn’t limit her affairs to Graham. She bedded other men I trusted. I never learned who, but I suspect Wallace and Stanley were on that list.”
“Oh, Dom,” Emelie groaned.
“It’s fine, Em. It doesn’t bother me as it once did. I no longer care what she did or who she did. All I care aboot is my life with you. She deserves no more of my feelings. Not hate, not love, not regret.” Dominic slid under the covers beside Emelie. “There is no room in my heart or my mind when that space belongs to your and our family. I can’t say I’ll never think of her. It’s obvious she isn’t yet completely in the past. But I find there is naught but ambivalence now. It’s as though I think and speak of an acquaintance, not a woman I married.”
Emelie nodded, uncertain how to react to Dominic’s confession. Part of her was glad to hear it, and another part of her remained uncomfortable. It relieved her when Dominic blew out the candle beside the bed and drew her closer.
“Wake me when you go to speak to Alec. I don’t want to wake alone and panic,” Emelie said.
“Do you wish to be part of the conversation?”
“If you’ll let me,” Emelie replied.
“This isn’t aboot allowing you to do aught. You have a right to know if you wish. If you prefer to not know, or to sleep and hear from me later, then I won’t disturb you. If you want to discuss this with Brodie, Alec, and me, then I want you to come.”
“Don’t forget Laurel. You know she won’t miss this.”
“True. Then I’ll wake you when Alec returns. I won’t leave the keep without you knowing.”
Emelie nodded as she settled against Dominic. It felt like only a moment later that Brodie summoned Dominic to the upstairs solar. He carried Emelie and settled her on his lap as Laurel and Brodie entered with Alec behind them. The conversation carried on for nearly an hour as Alec recounted what he learned. The Pringles weren’t interested in sailing anywhere else. He relayed that there were closer to two score men now, and they intended to infiltrate the castle before Emelie and Dominic supposedly planned to leave. They expected Alec to let them in.
“Emelie, Laurel, and Rick will come here,” Brodie decided. “We’ll have three men inside here, and three posted outside. Alec will let the Pringles in, just like he promised. No one makes a move until they’re all within the walls. Then we seal the postern gate and leave none of them alive.”
“We need to bring the villagers inside the keep,” Laurel spoke up.
“Aye. We can’t risk the Pringles attacking the village as a distraction,” Brodie agreed.
“Won’t they notice they deserted the village? The men head to the fields at sunrise, so people are already moving around their crofts before then,” Emelie pointed out.
“Then we bring them in, and we send a handful of men to the crofts. They can move around and sound like the villagers, but they can fight if the Pringles attack,” Dominic reasoned.
With a plan in place, there was little for anyone to do but try to catch a few more hours of sleep, but Brodie would speak to his men first. Emelie feared she couldn’t, but as always happened when she nestled against Dominic, she was asleep within minutes.
* * *
“Sparrow,” Dominic murmured as he shook Emelie’s shoulder to rouse her just before dawn. “It’s time for you and Laurel to go in the solar with Rick.”
Emelie’s eyes snapped open as reality came rushing back. She gazed at Dominic and realized this was the first time she would watch her husband ride off to battle. But she wouldn’t actually watch because she would be locked away in an abovestairs chamber, and the battle would take place in their bailey, only yards below where she hid. She would have to trust all went well. She wanted to cling to him and keep him in their bed, but she never would. She would be stoic and send him off with a kiss. She would never tell anyone how her heart ached at the idea that he might not return. She accepted his help out of bed and dressed quickly. It seemed only moments later Dominic carried her into the solar and eased her into a chair by the fireplace.
