Reid clasped his small hands in front of him, looking far too intense and serious for such a young boy. “I but wondered if ye can tell me if Ilsabeth is safe yet.”
“Nay yet, laddie, but I intend to see that she is verra soon.”
“Oh.” Reid sighed and his small shoulders slumped a little. “I dinnae like how sad she grows sometimes. I dinnae like to think me and Elen might lose her.”
“I dinnae plan to lose Ilsabeth to the plots of others, lad. But, if it will calm your fears, ye need nay worry that ye and Elen will be cast out into the street again. I have sworn that, if aught happens to Ilsabeth, ye and your sister will be taken to her family, either the Armstrongs or the Murrays.” He smiled again. “That is if Old Bega will let ye go anywhere.”
“Ilsabeth told me that she has made sure we will be cared for, but I would prefer to stay with her. She is teaching me a lot of things that will help me be a mon who can earn some money, more than a wee coin tossed to me here and there. I am nay yet sure what that could be, but I do ken that what she is teaching me will help and then I will be able to take proper care of Elen.”
“Reid, I willnae lie to ye and say this will be easy or that the road to getting her free of this tangle will be a smooth one, but I am doing all I can to find the ones who really plot against the king. I dinnae want her or her family to have to run and hide any more than ye do.”
“I ken it, sir. I but thought I would ask and so came here as we dinnae see ye much anymore.”
That stung and Simon had to force himself not to grimace. He had not given much thought to the children, to how they might see his absences. He thought of how pretty little Elen always ran to him with a sweet smile, asking for a hug and kiss when she saw him, and inwardly cursed.
“ ‘Tis difficult, lad. Hunting down a truth that many wish to keep weel hidden can take a lot of a mon’s time.” He stood up. “But, I have some time now and isnae it time for Old Bega to try and kill us with more of her food?” He grinned when Reid laughed. “Come along then. We shall all dine together this eve.”
The boy fairly glowed with his pleasure as Simon took him by the hand and led him out of the room. That only added to Simon’s guilt. When had he become so concerned about his own fears and emotions that he could have missed the need the children had for his company, for something that faintly resembled a true family? It was not going to be easy but he was going to have to find a way to be near Ilsabeth more often and yet keep his lecherous hands off her.
Ilsabeth was so stunned when Simon joined her and the children for the evening meal that she almost gaped. She avoided that embarrassment but it was difficult to hide how his presence unsettled her. It also puzzled her for she had been so certain that he would avoid her as if she had the plague for a few days more. Yet here he was, seated at the table, talking to her and the children as if he had not spent the last two days gone or hiding in his ledger room. Ilsabeth did not think Simon had had a sudden change of heart or mind, since he had fled her arms that night they had become so passionate upon the settee.
So what was he doing here? she asked herself, and began to get irritated when she could think of no quick answer. Then she noticed what close attention he paid to Reid and Elen. Elen was nearly sitting on the man’s lap and kept trying to feed him. Reid was laughing and telling Simon all about the things he had been learning. Simon listened carefully to Reid’s words and offered a lot of encouragement and praise. All the while he did so, Simon managed to keep Elen in her seat and food off his clothes with a skill many a mother would envy.
He would make a wonderful father, she mused, and nearly sighed like some love-struck maiden. Filling her mouth with food so that she would not say something foolish, she found that the thought of Simon as a father would not leave her mind. One of the reasons she had been so eager to accept Walter’s offer of marriage was her desire for children. Now she could all too easily see Simon as the father of her children, could easily list all the qualities she admired about him that she would like him to teach their children. Of course, she thought with a hidden grimace, Simon was most reluctant to do what was needed to breed those children.
“I have what I believe may be good news, Reid.” Simon smiled at the boy and then lightly tousled Elen’s thick curls. “And for your sister. I had a word with Sir Donald Chisholm today.” He frowned when Reid grew pale.
“Ye arenae going to make him take us back, are ye?” asked Reid in a voice that was high and taut with fear.
“Nay, never. I wouldnae trust the mon with a mangy dog let alone two fine children like ye and your sister. Nay, I went to make him live up to his rightful responsibilities.”
“Oh, how good of ye,” said Ilsabeth. “Did ye beat him into naught but a stain upon the floor?”
“Bloodthirsty, arenae ye,” murmured Simon, and resisted the urge to grin at her like Reid was doing. “I but punched him once in his nose when he appeared reluctant to do as I asked. I also threatened him a wee bit.”
“What did ye ask of him?”
“A dowry for Elen and money for Reid so that he might have a better choice for what he wishes to be when he is grown.”
“And he gave ye some?” asked Reid in astonishment.
“He gave me what he had there and has sworn to give me the rest as soon as he is able. I will then see to the care of it until Elen weds and ye, Master Reid, make up your mind as to what ye wish to be and what may be needed to accomplish that.”
“Thank ye, sir. I will do ye proud.”
“Ah, laddie, ye dinnae need worry o’er that. Just do as your heart tells ye and that will be enough.”
Old Bega entered and hurried right over to a yawning Elen, scooping the sleepy child up in her arms. “ ‘Tis my night to tuck them up in their wee beds,” she said as she waved Reid to her side.
“So it is,” said Ilsabeth as she hurried over to kiss Elen and Reid on the cheek. “Be good and I shall see ye both in the morning.”
Old Bega led the children out of the room, talking every step of the way. Ilsabeth shook her head as she retook her seat and reached for one of the apples set in a bowl in the middle of the table. It was no wonder Elen talked so much, she mused, as she neatly cut and cored the apple, when the child spent so much time with a woman who never seemed to be quiet.
Tossing a piece of apple in her mouth, Ilsabeth looked at Simon. “That was a verra good thing ye did,” she said as soon as her mouth was empty.
“The mon couldnae be allowed to shirk his responsibilities,” replied Simon, already wondering when he could slip away without offending her too much.
“Many do. Do ye believe he will gather the rest of the money ye demanded of him?”
