“You are wrong. I am not with child.” Her throat closed off, too tight for her to even swallow.
Ruth’s eyes widened. “How can you possibly not know?” She shook her hands in the general direction of Brighit’s swelling middle, apparently unable to put words together.
Bright looked to the heaven, her hand on her hip. After a moment, she slid it across her middle rubbing her little babe that she had thought she’d be able to keep secret. “How long have you known?”
“Two months at least.” Martha stretched her back and moved to stand beside her. “You’ve always been well endowed but heavens, it’s quite obvious.”
Brighit wiped at the tears. “Do you think Peter will know when he sees me?”
Ruth’s mouth dropped open and she stared at Martha. Martha’s eyes widened. “It’s more obvious every day. If he were to return now, he may not. Most men are not so observant. But why would you not want him to know?”
“I love Peter with all my heart but you heard him. He did not want a wife or a family. With me he has both.”
“But he loves you, Brighit.”
“No. I think he is just an honorable man. He would never leave me in a position where I’d be treated as a fallen woman.”
“I think you underestimate Peter.” Ruth shook her head. “A knight answers to no one but the King. He would not have married you simply because your brother said he must.”
Brighit nibbled at her cheek. “My brother never told him he must marry me. It was all just this and that and nothing really was said right out in the open but the next thing I know, Peter is telling me to let it be and just go through with marrying him. I love him, so I did.”
Ruth rubbed her hands together and brushed off her robe. “I think you need a rest. Let us go in before the rain starts and we get drenched.”
Martha put an arm around Brighit. “Do not worry about what will happen when Peter returns. I’m sure he will be glad you are with child.”
“No!” Brighit halted, pulling against her arm. “You cannot tell him! Please.” She glanced between the two women. “Promise me you will not tell him.”
“Oh, Brighit, I fear you are making a terrible mistake.” Ruth’s eyes rounded. “We will not tell him but I pray you will do the right thing by him just as he has done by you.”
Martha and Ruth left Brighit to follow behind through the front gates of the Priory. Incessant drumming became a fast-paced horse just coming into view in the distance.
“Peter.” Brighit whispered the words. Her heart leapt in her chest. The women watched as the horse and rider came closer.
“Look at you! You’re filthy.” Martha started her toward the front door.
“Halt!” Peter’s order stilled all movement.
Martha and Ruth exchanged glances. “I think we can safely wait within. It is you he wants to see, no doubt.”
Brighit felt abandoned and the sound of the horse stopping just inside the gate set her heart to drumming in her ears. She heard him call to her and when she turned, the sun could have been bursting through the clouds with the intense pleasure that filled her.
Peter took her in his arms, tight against his body. “I’ve dreamed of holding you for the past five months.”
Brighit’s knees buckled as intense relief swept over her. He pulled her into his arms, right off the ground, then kissed her. Nose to nose, he smiled at her. “Sweet Brighit, I have missed you. I was a man dying of thirst for want of a drink of you.”
He kissed her again, more gently this time. She opened her mouth to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She felt like a ship in a storm that had found safe harbor. “I have missed you, too.”
A horse approached at a slower pace. He set her down and smiled again. “Mort!”
“Greetings, Brighit! I’m not sure how my friend did not get thrown from his horse with the pace he took getting back to you.”
Peter never took his eyes from her. “Mort, enough. See to the horses. I’m busy.”
He lifted her in his arms and pushed his way into the Priory. “I’ve missed you more than I’ve missed anything in my life.” He shifted her head so he could kiss her on the mouth. “You are the sweetest thing I’ve tasted for months.”
Brighit put her hand to his cheek, caressing it tenderly. “Peter, you do look thinner. Have you been eating?”
He nuzzled into her neck as they turned away from the Great Hall. “No. I don’t want to talk about that. I’m fine. Let me look into your eyes.”
