Rolfe smiled, his gaze lifting to the portal where Hildegarde already stood. Annelise smiled and beckoned to her, and it soon became clear that grandmother and mother were equally smitten with the boy’scharms.
* * *
Aweek and a half later,just before midday, Rolfe entered the solar. Annelise knew immediately that he had a scheme or a surprise, but expected that he had thought of a name for their son. His mother had declined to provide any suggestions, insisting the task was not hers, and had left the solar but moments before. Annelise was just lacing her kirtle when Rolfe arrived. Her maid tied the knot and secured her girdle, then carried the baby off to hisbath.
“What mischief have you been making?” she asked with asmile.
Rolfe grinned. “Me?”
“Yes, you. You have the devil’s own glint in youreye.”
He folded his hands behind his back and strolled to the window. “A messenger delivered something for youtoday.”
“Forme?”
“Yes. It was a twisted little root that I have asked the gardener to plant in the herb garden youfavor.”
“What kind ofroot?”
Rolfe spun to look at her, his eyes gleaming. “One from Outremer. I sent word to a merchant in Lyons when we first returned to Viandin, and he finally had success in locatingit.”
Annelise clasped her hands, guessing what he had obtained. “Those flowers. Theroses!”
Rolfe smiled. “Yes. Now you shall grow a shrub of yourown.”
“But not an enchanted one,” Annelise scolded in a teasing tone. “Do not even think of cutting all the blooms to cast across thebed!”
Rolfe laughed and she launched herself into hisarms.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “But you had no need to fetch me a gift for bearing you a son. He is my son as well, and his presence gives mejoy.”
“No, that was not my intent,” Rolfe said. “This is a nuptial gift that took much longer to acquire than Iexpected.”
“And a welcome one all the same,” Annelise whispered as she lifted her lips for hiskiss.
Rolfe only just touched his lips to hers. “Your gift for bringing our son into the world awaits in the garden as well, but it is not therose.”
Annelise blinked, but one glance told her that Rolfe was not going to tell her more. She crossed the solar and looked out thewindow.
A knight strolled there. His cloak flicked in the wind, but it was difficult to see him clearly because of the plants and the sunlight glinting off his mail. His auburn hair, so like her own in shade, gleamed in the sunlight and she took a step back from thewindow.
He was too tall and broad of shoulder to be Yves, and his hair was not of the same hue of gold. Indeed, he moved like a man older thanYves.
His cloak fluttered and Annelise went cold when she realized it was the robust wine color of Sayerne’sstandard.
An older knight from Sayerne could be only oneman.
Annelise pivoted to face her husband, only to find that he was watching her closely. “You did not,” shewhispered.
“Did notwhat?”
“Invite my brother Quinn to visit.” Annelise was hot withtrepidation.
“Of course, Idid.”
Annelise’s mouth went dry. What would she do? What would shesay?
“What did you tell him?” she asked. “What does hewant?”
