She shook her head. She could not listen to this. Regardless of whether she believed him or not, their marriage was wrong. This could not be made right in the eyes of God and church. They could not be together.
“I needed ye to ken. If the only way for ye to find some measure of happiness is to agree to yer faither’s plans, then do it, lass. Ye deserve it after what ye’ve suffered at the hands of the MacKendimens.”
She could only move her head, for the tears completely blinded her to everything in the room. Happiness? There was no such thing in life. She rubbed her eyes, trying to clear some of the tears, when she heard him open the door.
“Anice? I have made certain that the bairn will stay with ye until he is old enough to be here wi’out ye.”
“How, Robert?”
“I told ye I would handle Struan. I just did no’ plan on yer faither’s anger.”
“Thank you for that.”
He turned back towards the door, then stopped and faced her again.
“Did ye ever think about... harming yerself again?” he asked quietly.
Startled by his question, Anice realized that she had not even contemplated ending her life to avoid what she would face now—possibly losing her son, definitely losing Robert, losing the clan she’d grown up with, and facing the uncertainty of another attempt at married life with some as yet unknownman. Her sense of confidence in herself was one thing that Robert had given back to her during their time together. She smiled through her tears and shook her head.
“Nay, Robert, not even for a moment. Besides, if you are not here to save me, I cannot risk trying it again.”
He grunted and then left without another word and she sank onto the bench next to the table. Laying her head on her arms, she let out the sorrow that overwhelmed her once again.
The soundof the babe stirring roused her from her stupor. Anice looked around to find herself still alone in Moira’s cottage. Turning the bairn over, Anice laughed as Jean’s little rosebud mouth pursed and sucked on nothing but the air around her.
“Come, little lass. Let us find your mam.”
Carrying the babe outside, she saw Moira and her own mother talking in the far plot of the garden. Walking over to them, she handed the babe over.
“Suisan, can ye take the babe inside for me? I will take my leave of Anice and be there directly.”
If her mother thought it was a strange request, she never showed it. Without a moment’s hesitation, she put the babe on her shoulder and walked back to the house.
“Did ye speak to him?”
“Aye, Moira, I did.” She could not look her friend in the face.
“Did it help?”
“Aye and nay. It does not change anything.”
“Ah, so it does no’. Well, he asked for my help in arranging this meeting and I hope ye are no’ angry at me for it?”
“Nay, Moira. How did you know where to find him?”
“He haes been working with Pol and Ramsey at the smithy these last few days and staying with Robena.” She turned to go and was stopped by Moira once again. “Can I ask ye a question before ye go?” She nodded. “Did it bother ye to marry a man when ye thought he was the son of a steward? Didye think about being the daughter of an earl when he brought his proposal to ye?”
Anice thought of what her reaction had been and remembered thinking about that exact thing. “Aye, it did at first. Then I realized it was not as important to me as feeling protected.”
“I just wondered, lass. Well, now, yer maither is probably tired of being entertained here and I am sure ye have many things to do before ye leave.”
Moira approached her and opened her arms. Anice hugged the woman and then stepped back.
“No more tears, lass. The time for greeting is done.”
“Thank you, Moira, for everything.”
Anice turned and walked around the cottage and met her mother on the other side. They walked back through the village and into the castle without sharing a word of conversation.
