“If our enemy is close enough to see that, to espy some small flicker of light, then I suspect he will be near enough to hear us breathe.” Ailis grimaced as a contraction gripped her. “Even if Jaime didna need the light to stem his terror of the dark, he would need it to help me. Ah, thank ye, Giorsal,” she said as the girl returned and started to brush out the hiding place. “That is kind of ye.”
“Ye may be stuck within these walls for some time.” Giorsal lined the area with some blankets.
“My plan is to be rid of my cousin as soon as possible,” Malcolm said.
“ ‘Tis already late, sir.” Giorsal set a basket of fruit, cheese, and wine inside as well as a supply of clothes, rags, and water. “I fear we will have Sir Donald’s unpleasant company until the morning.” She handed Jaime some candles and a flint. “And I fear he will be bellowing for ye any moment now,” she told Malcolm, then looked at Ailis. “ ‘Twould be best if ye and your man get into your wee hiding place. I dearly wish we had better.”
“To keep my bairn safe, I can abide a wee bit of discomfort.”
Ailis stepped inside and sat down. An instant later Jaime handed her some pillows. She lit a candle as he stepped inside and hurried to light another as Malcolm shut them in. As the door closed, sealing them within the walls, she kept a very close watch on Jaime. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. She prayed that he would be all right, for the time between her contractions was becoming distressingly small. Soon she would need his help. When he finally looked at her, he was clear-eyed if pale-faced. There was no sign of the mindless fear that could grip him in such places.
“Are ye sure ye are all right, Jaime?” she whispered. “There may still be time to hide in some other place.”
“There is no other place.” He sat down facing her. “I will be fine. ‘Tisna dark and I am not alone.”
“And soon I fear we may both be busy.” She bit back a groan as a strong contraction tore through her.
“The bairn isna going to wait.”
“Nay, I fear not.”
“Have ye seen a bairn born or helped in the birthing?”
“Never. Have ye?”
“Nay, but I have helped with the sheep and a calving or two.”
“ ‘Tis more than I have done.” She panted as she fought to stay clear-headed while a fierce contraction gripped her. “I didna have much time to study the matter before I was made a prisoner at Craigandubh, and no one told me about birthing there. They only spoke of death whenever my child was mentioned.”
“Dinna think on them. They willna get hold of this child. All ye should think about is the birthing, the living child who is demanding to be born.”
“But, Jaime, bairns make noise when they are born. They scream and squawl.”
“Well, aye and nay.” He frowned and scratched his head. “I canna think of how to stop it if he wants to do it.”
“Neither can I, yet it could lead Donald right to us.”
“Dinna fret on it. There is naught ye can do.”
“True. Except pray that Alexander’s child has the wit to ken that there is danger all about and keep his wee mouth shut.” She smiled weakly when Jaime nodded.
Malcolm cursed when Donald stumbled after him. He had tried to get his cousin so drunk that he spent the night under the oak table in the great hall. Instead, it appeared he would have the lout for company all night. He could only pray that Donald was so drunk that he could hear nothing nor had the wit left to understand anything he might hear. Malcolm dearly wished there was enough time to warn Ailis and Jaime.
“I willna be made to sleep upon the floor in my own keep,” Malcolm said as loud as he dared as he and Donald entered his bedchamber.
“Yourkeep, is it?” Donald laughed nastily as he sprawled on the bed. “Ye forget who ye owe everything to, Cousin.” He clumsily sat up to tug off his boots, then flopped back down on the bed. “I really thought that little slut would have come here.”
“Here?”
“Aye, to beguile her way into your protection again.”
“Ye insult me with your lack of trust.” Malcolm moved to wash up for bed and prayed that Donald would hurry up and go to sleep.
The sound of men’s voices caused Ailis to stop panting. That enhanced her pain and she almost screamed. When she recognized the voices that scream was even harder to suppress. Ailis could not believe Malcolm had brought Donald right into the room, mere feet from where she was. Then she realized that Malcolm probably had no choice. Now, however, she was faced with what could be an impossible task—to bear her first child without a sound.
Ailis stuffed a wet rag between her teeth to cushion them as she suffered another contraction. Through the blur of her own tears she saw Jaime crouched between her legs silently urging her to push down. Her child was coming into the world with his deadliest enemy but feet away. She cursed as she strained for she could not repress every tiny sound; even breathing made some noise. Keep talking, Malcolm, she silently ordered. Talk long and loud.
Malcolm heard a soft, low noise from within his walls and broke out in a cold sweat. He grabbed the decanter of strong wine Giorsal had left by his bed and poured large goblets full for Donald and himself. As he handed the drink to his cousin he began a long, detailed account of a night he had spent with the king’s court. For the first time in his life he set out to purposely bore someone to sleep. He was pleased to see Donald growing glassy-eyed by the second round of wine.
She fought the urge to scream as blinding pain swept over her. The agony of her child leaving her body was equaled by the terror of knowing what the baby’s first cry could bring. Ailis was so tense with fearful anticipation that she was only vaguely aware of Jaime yanking open her bodice and settling something warm and wet there. It was a while before she had enough clarity of wit to look down at what she held. Her child lay on her chest determinedly suckling as Jaime cleaned him off. Since there had been no sudden outcry, she relaxed a little.
“A son,” she whispered.
“Aye, and a quiet one.”
“Thank God.” She grabbed hold of Jaime’s hand. “And thank ye.”
“I just wish I could have stopped ye from promising Malcolm what ye did. It could cost ye a great deal, mistress.”
“Aye, I ken it.” She looked down at her child and smiled. “But look what was saved, Jaime.”
