“I should hope as much. We have kissed a few times.”
She laughed. “And more, sir. Far more.” This time, she kissed him, as seductive and beguiling as ever she had been. His plans for the morning were forgotten in the urgent heat that flared between them. His hand eased down the length of her and slipped beneath her chemise, only to find her as warm and welcoming as ever. The slick heat of her arousal sent a fire through him as always it had: the evidence that she desired his touch as much as he yearned for her embrace was the most thrilling revelation the Hawk had ever found.
’Twas only right that he see her sated with pleasure.
And so it was that the Laird and Lady of Inverfyre were late to the board that morning, though no one in that abode was overly surprised. Their smiles were all the proof needed that the love of their match yet burned bright, and more than one person in the hall guessed why the Hawk seemed so vigorous on this day—and his lady so delighted.
They arrived in the hall to find a messenger with a missive, dispatched from Abernye. Neither laird nor lady were entirely surprised by this, nor was the Hawk surprised by the unmistakable weight of the small leather pouch surrendered to him.
He met his lady’s gaze, knowing it contained the seal of Abernye.
He had never been able to think well of Abernye or the family there, for Aileen had known unkindness from her father’s second bride. Her mother had despaired at that holding and died young, as well. And no man save Nigel could have wished for the company of his young wife, Blanche, a grasping if pretty creature. Blanche had died in the delivery of her first and only child, a boy who had not thrived. Nigel had passed soon after, perhaps of his own despair, and Blanche’s brothers, as greedy as she herself, had squabbled over the prize of Abernye. He doubted it was a prize any longer—the older brother had driven the holding inherited from his father into poverty and the Hawk had heard indications that the younger son had done the same with Abernye. There had been little contact between Blanche’s brothers and Aileen, but the Hawk made it his business to learn what he could—though he had seldom told her of it.
That the seal came to him meant there was no heir.
Aileen nodded understanding but did not weep, for she and her father had not been close since Nigel had wed Blanche. The Hawk knew Aileen would shed her tears later in privacy, in the shelter of his arms, and they would honor the father she recalled from her youth.
He would be honored to provide that haven for his beloved, and the choice of what was to be done with Abernye’s seal would be hers alone.
* * *
The rain beganin earnest at daybreak. On the one hand, the deluge meant that they were indistinguishable from any other party so unfortunate as to be on the road that day. Ramsay chose to take to the road that they might cover more distance more quickly, and was glad of their progress.
On the other hand, they were soaked to the very skin. The harness was slick with water, the rain ran in his eyes and slid beneath his chemise to travel down his back. The horses kept their heads bowed in the foul conditions and the entire party was silent. The road turned soon to mud, which slowed them again, and the puddles splashed on their garments as they continued onward.
It was a grey, cold and miserable day. He consoled himself that they had gone further than he might have hoped, but ’twas hard to feel any optimism when he was both chilled and hungry.
They neared the gates of another village, a smaller one this time, and he was debating the merit of passing through it or going around, when Gaelaich slipped in the mud and Anna was almost thrown from the saddle.
“Enough!” Evangeline said, the first word of protest she had made in two days. For a woman who said she chafed at discomfort, she was more tolerant than most men Ramsay had known. But now her features were set with determination and he had to admit he was glad of her protest. She pushed back the wet hair from her brow and shook the rainwater out of her eyes. To his astonishment, she pulled a small rapier from her boot. Even from a distance, he could see that it was a fine weapon and he was amazed that he had no notion it was in her possession.
She granted him a grim look and pulled up the hem of her kirtle. “If you cannot afford for us to take shelter this night, then I shall see the keeper’s wage paid.”
“Nay, my lady!” Anna protested inexplicably, but Evangeline sliced open the hem of her kirtle. Ramsay saw a small cluster of cloth in her lap, then she was unwrapping it with haste. She cast it toward him and it flashed as it tumbled through the air.
He caught the silver penny and stared at it in wonder. Then he smiled, understanding why her kirtles were so heavy and why she would not leave them behind. What a marvel she was! He caught half a dozen more pennies, then she halted, eyeing him expectantly. “Will it be sufficient?”
Shelter for four and a warm meal. Aye, ’twas tempting to take her suggestion, to be sure, but the amount of coin was not the issue. He could have paid for such a refuge himself, if he had not feared Rufus’ pursuit.
“We will be discovered, my lady.”
But Evangeline shook her head. “No one will look closely on this night. Tell them I am your wife,” she said, then smiled a little. “As you are wont to insist.”
As Ramsay watched, undecided, she seized a bag and shoved it beneath her kirtle. She loosed the laces with impatience as she fairly wrestled the mound into place over her belly. “Tell them I am with child,” she said and in other circumstance, he might have laughed at her transformation. “We return to my mother, with your servant and my sister, for you cannot bear to listen to my complaints any longer.” She raised a hand, a beguiling twinkle lighting her eyes. “Aye, what manner of demanding wife would insist a man ride in such weather? A veritable shrew, to be sure, and who are you, a mere smith, to deny her? You even had to borrow the finest horses left in your care to see the harridan satisfied, but still she complains and complains.”
Ramsay found his grin widening. She was fiendishly clever, to be sure.
“How can you endure this woman?” Evangeline asked lightly and he chuckled.
Then he placed a hand over his heart. “I love her with all my heart,” he said, his voice husky for it was no less than the truth and he realized as much as he uttered the words. “And so I can deny her naught at all.” He kissed his fingertips and blew the kiss to her, making light of his heartfelt confession, because she had denied him. To his relief, Evangeline smiled.
“Go then, husband, and make haste, I entreat you, for I can endure no more.” Then she held her supposed belly and rocked a little, moaning as if the babe might make its appearance at any moment.
And Ramsay went.
* * *
Was it true?
