“Skye!” Helena exclaimed, shocked at her stated wish.
“I’ll not be takin’ it back, Maither,” Skye said, lifting her chin. “He served ye shamefully, as he did his other wives. Twould not hae been long ere he served Lillias with the same.”
“Ye tell ‘em, Lassie!” old Elsie put in. “I doubt not he beat his horses an’ kicked his hounds, as well. Man like that, once he’s done a thing, he’ll keep after it until he’s stopped. Arran would hae gi’in him mercy, had he not been such a coward as to go at him after crying surrender!”
“I would hae, indeed,” Arran said. “An’ I’d gie ye a place for Skye and Helena’s sake, if for no other reason. But we make the three of ye secure, an not leave ye to the cauld winds of chance.”
“Thank ye,” Lillias said, dipping her chin down, but not before Arran saw the glimmer of tears on her cheeks.
She gathered her children, big as they were, into her arms. The yeth and maiden looked embarrassed but hugged their mother.
“Enough with all this blitherin’,” Elsie said. “Let’s eat before the food gets cold.”
After the supper was eaten, everyone went out into the garden to enjoy the last of the light. Fionn gamboled in and out of the bushes, startling the adults by leaping out at them, then dashing away.
It was all in good fun, and everyone laughed at his pranks.
Skye leaned into Arran’s shoulder. “One day, our child will play like that. He will be surrounded by people he knows and trusts, and hae nae fear o’ any.”
“Aye, that he will,” Arran said, his arm about her as he held her fondly.
“Will ye be disappointed if the bairn is a lass instead of a lad?”
“Nay. Och, perhaps a trifle. But how could I be sorry to have a bonnie lass who might grow up to look like her maither? I’ll be happy if the babe has all its fingers and toes, eats, and cries, an’ all the things baby should.”
They both watched as ten-year-old Fionn used a stick to fight off pretend foes as the shadows in the garden. Arran noticed that Magnus had edged over to stand near Helena, who seemed tohave her full attention on the boy. But he thought he saw her glance at Magnus out of the corner of her eye.
Skye had noticed Magnus and her mother, as well. “Could it be that there will be another wedding?” she murmured.
“The thought hae crossed me mind,” Arran whispered back. “Best we nae appear to notice. I am sorry that our wedding had to be in such haste. Perhaps this one will make up for it.”
“Perhaps,” Skye agreed, leaning into him. “But I am happy to be here, in this garden, with family and friends about us. I can think of nothing better, Arran. Nothing better, at all.”
Arran put his arm around Skye, savoring the heat of her against his side, secure in the knowledge that they would soon retire to their own bedchamber to enjoy each other’s company.
“It is growing dark,” Helena commented.
“Aye, it is,” Magnus replied, glancing over at Arran.
Arran recognized the hint for what it was. “Come along, everyone,” he obliged the older man, “Best we should get within doors whilst we can still see our way.”
Ava fell in on the other side of Skye. “I’d like to wait upon yer lady in the morning, Laird Arran,” she said. “Will it inconvenience ye?”
Arran though of waking up with Skye beside him, and sighed regretfully. “I’ll not stand between me wife and the one who will oversee the birthin’ o’ this babe.”
Skye squeezed his arm. It almost seemed she knew what was passing through his mind. “Perhaps not too early, Ava dear. I need me rest, ye ken.”
“Oh, aye. And is it restin’ ye’ll be doin’?” Ava teased archly. Then she relented and said, “Would right after midmorning tea be late enough?”
Arran and Skye both laughed. “It should be,” Arran said. “I’ll be off to the stables to go about me rounds. But I should be back by noontide.”
“Then I’ll see ye tomorrow,” Ava said, dropping back to walk with old Elsie.
Arran walked on with Skye. “Does she ken enough to keep ye safe?” he asked anxiously. “Or should I send down to Lunnen or over to Edenborough for a physician?”
“Oh, Arran!” Skye exclaimed. “Ava is the best! The absolute best. I dinnae need some man poking and prodding at me in such a special time. Ava will take good care of me.”
Arran felt his brow wrinkle with worry. “Yer sure?”
