“I have eaten already.”
Struan slammed down his mug of ale, splashing it onto the embroidered table linen. “Anice, I told ye to join me at table.”
“And I am here, Laird. I was hungry earlier than my norm and thought I should eat to appease the babe.” Robert watched as her hand moved to her belly in that unconscious touch of breeding women.
Struan’s face softened at the mention of the babe. Anice was good, very good, at making Struan dance to her tune. Robert watched with interest as she proceeded to turn the subject and the tone of the conversation. Now was as good a time as any to ask about the father of the babe under discussion.
“Tell me, Anice, when will yer husband return? Will he be here for the birth of the babe?”
He was not prepared for the response to his question. He swore every drop of her blood drained from her face in a brief moment, leaving her complexion a ghastly gray. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Her back went rigid and her eyes glazed over, seeing nothing. Then she slumped forward, missing the table only because of his quick intervention.
Within seconds, the high table was the scene of quite a commotion—servants clearing a path, Anice’s maid barging her way through to be near her lady, the laird of the clan bellowing orders. He sat, holding the wee lass in his arms while they argued around him.
“Firtha,” Struan called out, “she’s done it yet again. Robert, dinna fear. ’Tis just the breeding that does this to her. It will pass quickly.”
“Aye, Struan, I can see she’s passed out yet again.” The maid shook her head over the sight of the unconscious girl. She began calling out her own orders to those nearby. “Jean, haes Moira left for the village? Get some cool water and cloths and...”
She broke off her words when Robert finally took action on his own. He stood, gained a better hold on the lass, and carried her from the table. It seemed the logical thing to do. The lass needed to be made comfortable in her bed to recover from this spell. Although Struan tried to blame this “spell” on the breeding, Robert knew the real reason. The mention of her husband and the question of his return sent her spinning into a faint.
Fear.
He had glimpsed sheer terror on her face for but a moment before her entire being froze. An unprotected second that showed him clearly there was more going on here than just a hard breeding.
He walked through the hall, holding her securely in his arms. Even at this stage in her pregnancy, she weighed no more than a child herself. He took the steps without strain and stopped on the third level. He had gone to her room today to thank her for the food he’d found waiting in the kitchens and the clothes he’d found lying on his bed in his room. She was one step ahead of him all day and had not been in the room, but he knew now which one was hers.
As he stepped toward the door, her maid pushed around him and opened it. She guided his steps to the bed and helped him ease Anice onto it. Another young woman followed a few steps behind with fresh water and some cloths. He stepped away from the women and walked to the door.
“Thank ye for aiding my lady, sir. We will take care of her now.” The tall woman nodded at him, dismissing him.
“Does this happen often?” he asked, looking straight in the maid’s eyes. He waited for a lie.
“Aye, it does more now than before. ’Twas one of the reasons Struan sought ye out at Dunbarton.”
“Ye seem to ken much about what happens here.”
Servants usually did. Ada could tell him more about the goings-on at Dunbarton than any of the family. And tell him faster and more accurately. Mayhap this woman could tell him more.
“I take care of my lady, sir. Nothing else matters to me but her well-being.” Firtha stood straight and tall, making her point and her role here very clear.
“Is that well-being in danger?” Robert persisted.
The two women leaning over the bed startled, just a bit, but enough that he saw it. They exchanged a glance before both looked at him.
“Struan awaits ye in the hall. Ye should join him there... now.” Firtha was ordering him from the room.
Making enemies in this room would gain him nothing inhis time here. Strategic retreat was the best course and he made one. Nodding at the women, he turned to leave.
“If there is anything that she needs, will ye call on me?”
He meant it as he said the words. If the lass needed protecting, he would see to it. Her struggle here had touched another part of the heart he’d thought was long dead. If his half-brother didn’t have enough sense to be here with his wife and see her through this, well, Robert felt the bond of kinship for her. He would help if he could.
Firtha nodded and then turned back to care for the woman who was dwarfed by the size of the bed. He followed the path back to the hall and Struan... and more of the riddle.
“Well, is she resting?”Struan asked as Robert took his seat again at the table.
“Aye.” He nodded as servants placed hot food before him. “Her women are taking care of her now.”
Reaching to take a piece of the savory-smelling capon, he looked directly at Struan. “Does this happen often to the lass?”
