“A little.” The knight stared down at the ground.
“You could go and speak to her after the babe is born.” Isabel did not mention her worst fear, that Sosanna would not survive the birth.
He gave a sad smile. “No, I do not think so.”
Isabel fingered the flowers. “I will give these to her and tell her they were from you.”
He shrugged and nodded, walking toward the edge of the ringfort. Unlike the others, he had no family who had come. A lonely soldier he was, and her heart went out to him.
With reluctance, she turned back to the hut where Sosanna labored. Her face was red, her hair dampened with sweat, and Annle had ordered her to push.
Isabel came to the opposite side to support her. She took Sosanna’s hand and gave her the heather sprigs. “These were from Sir Anselm,” she said. “He sends his prayers.”
Sosanna crushed the flowers in her palm as she pushed again. The heather crumbled to the earthen floor, seemingly forgotten. Over the next hour, she fought back until at last a newborn cry emerged. All three women wept, and Annle laid the young child upon Sosanna’s stomach.
“You have a son.”
Sosanna caressed her child’s head, her tears openly spilling over her cheeks.
Both women fell silent as Sosanna touched her babe. Her hands ran over the babe’s head, touching the tiny fingers.
“He is beautiful, Sosanna.”
But still the woman did not speak. While Annle helped her deliver the afterbirth, Isabel walked down to the water’s edge of the island, dipping her hands into the cool water.
Though they had triumphed in the face of death, Isabel stared up at the dark sky. No stars glimmered, nor was there a moon. Only when she put her hands to her cheeks did she notice her own tears.
The loneliness and longing for her husband gathered around her. She wished he were here, but more than anything else, she wished he were not a king. She wanted an ordinary man, someone to take care of. Someone to love her.
After allowing herself a few more moments of self-pity, she rose and walked back to the donjon. Her shoulders ached from the long night, and her limbs were stiff.
To her surprise, when she entered the dwelling, a bright fire crackled on the hearth. Upon a low table, a cup of wine was poured, and a meal of salted fish, bread, and crisp spring peas awaited her. Another platter held cakes drenched in honey, sprinkled with chopped hazelnuts.
A furry motion caught her attention, and she saw her cat Adelade striding across the threshold. The feline appeared confident, as though she owned the dwelling.
When the cat reached Isabel, she stopped and sat. Meowing loudly, she licked her lips.
Isabel couldn’t help but smile. “Would you like some fish?” More meowing.
She ruffled Adelade’s ears and broke off several pieces of the fish, holding it out. The cat nibbled the fish, purring and rubbing herself against Isabel’s legs.
Footsteps caught her attention, and Isabel turned to the door. Her husband walked inside, dropping a sack upon the floor. When he drew nearer, her pulse gave a leap. He moved with silent authority, his body prowling like a wolf toward her.
Isabel remained standing, but her hand curled around the goblet of wine. She took a deep drink as if to gather her courage. Patrick stood before her, not touching her but near enough to make her feel the heat of his body. A muscle in his cheek tightened.
“They told me Sosanna bore a son.”
“She did. It was a difficult birth.” Isabel sat down upon a large pillow beside the low table and took one of the honeyed cakes.
“But she is all right now?” He sat across from her, reaching for a honey cake. Isabel nodded.
Her husband watched her across the table, his eyes upon her as thoughshewere one of the honey cakes. But he didn’t move to touch her.
She leaned her head upon her hand, resting her elbow upon the table. “What did you want to speak to me about?”
“Us. Our marriage.” He reached out as if to touch her, but Isabel drew back. Her senses were already in disarray with him sitting so near to her. She could smell the scent of pine upon his skin, as if he’d been walking in the woods. “What about it?”
“Donal Ó Phelan asked me to set you aside and wed his daughter.”
