She rested her forehead against the granite, ignoring the wetness of the rain. This was truly the worst day she’d ever known.
Though a part of her wanted to believe that something had happened to prevent Davin from coming, the cynical voice inside reminded her that he was a jealous man. He’d been furious when he’d learned that she loved Kieran.
She had to face the truth. Davin wasn’t going to come and take care of her, so the only person she could rely on was herself. The weight of loneliness bore down upon her at the thought as she wept.
After a time, the sound of voices interrupted her. Children’s voices, along with a familiar baritone. “Stop arguing, both of you,” the man commanded. “Take my hands and we’ll go inside.”
Iseult raised her face from the stone and saw Kieran standing there. His dark hair fell across his shoulders, his expression threatening. Drops of water shone upon his face, while his clothing was drenched from the rain.
When she saw the small hand holding his, her heart cracked apart. It was him. Her son Aidan.
Iseult’s knees crumbled like sand, and she began sobbing. He’d kept his word. Kieran had found her son and somehow brought him back to her. She picked up her skirts and ran toward the boy, crouching down when she reached his side.
His face, the one she’d dreamed of for the past year, had lost some of its baby roundness. Dark, fine-textured hair framed his jaw, and he stared at her with blue eyes that mirrored her own.
Suspicion darkened his gaze, and there was no recognition. “You don’t remember me, do you?” she whispered. “I’m your mother.”
The boy shook his head, but Kieran caught his wrist and placed the tiny hand in hers.
More than anything, she wanted to pull Aidan into her arms and hold him tight. She wanted to touch his silky dark hair and marvel at the sight of him. But she was afraid of frightening him.
“He’ll remember you in time,” Kieran said.
Iseult couldn’t find her voice, but managed a nod. Slowly she stood, though she kept her grip tight upon Aidan’s hand. “You came back.”
“I keep my promises.”
She waited for him to embrace her. She needed the feel of his arms around her. But he made no move. She couldn’t read his expression, didn’t know what he was feeling.
“Thank you for bringing Aidan to me,” she said at last.
He only nodded. Again, she waited for him to pull her into his arms. To say something, anything of what he was thinking. The earth seemed to drop beneath her feet when he didn’t.
He came for you, she reminded herself. Surely that had to mean something. She forced away the self doubts and faced him.
“Did you wed him?” he asked in a tight voice. Only then did she see the raw fear he’d been hiding. And she wondered if there might be a chance for them.
“No. He didn’t come.”
Kieran stepped forward, his hand reaching up to caress her cheek. “Then will you let me take his place?”
Chapter Twenty-One
Iseultstartedtremblingthen,afraid to touch him. Afraid that she was hearing things.
“Let me become your husband,” Kieran murmured. “Let me take care of you and Aidan.”
She slid her arm around his neck, blinded by the tears. “I didn’t think you wanted me anymore. I thought—“
He cut off her words with a kiss, healing the hurt and easing her in a way nothing else could. She clung to him, feeling his strength even as he cherished her.
“I think I’d have carried you away from here, even if you had married him,” he said gruffly.
She raised her palm to his face. “Know that I will follow you wherever you go.”
“Why did you agree to wed him?” He kept her in a tight embrace, as if afraid to let her go.
She broke away then, holding his hand and resting it upon her womb. “Because he promised to take care of me. And our unborn babe.”
