“I dinna ken.”
“Look, she’s waking up already.”
Drust looked down at her as her eyes fluttered open and she tried to sit up.
“Och, Jesus God, lass! Dinna do that to me!”
“I only fainted… I… I think I’m all right now.”
She tried again to sit up, but Drust prevented her with a heavy hand on her chest. Then in one swift motion he scooped her into his arms.
“I’m taking ye right back to the castle to have Maggie take a look at ye.”
Willa could actually feel the color drain from her face.
“No! No, I’m fine now. I was only too warm, and I don’t think I ate much this morning… that’s all it was.” Her panicked gaze flew to Faith, who gave her a sympathetic smile and nod, as if telling her to just get it over with.
She turned to look at Drust, but by the hard set of his mouth, she knew he wasn’t going to let her out of this. Maggie would know her secret right away. The old midwife had already been eyeing her suspiciously. And there was no point trying to keep the truth from Drust any longer, anyway. She already felt terribly foolish for keeping it as long as she had. All because she feared her husband’s reaction to the news that he would be a father. What a thing to be afraid of! It wasn’t as if it was her fault. She turned her head and rested her cheek against his warm and solid chest. She could only hope his reaction wasn’t going to be as bad as she thought it would be.Oh, but it is… don’t fool yourself.
Faith went in ahead of them to find Maggie, while Drust carried Willa up to their bed. She had protested all the way that she could walk on her own, but he refused to put her down. No sooner than he had her settled, Maggie bustled into the room, followed closely by Faith and then Bren as well. Drust was encouraged that the color seemed to have returned to Willa’s face, but he would not be happy until Maggie declared her hale and hearty.
Maggie went directly to the bed, her face tight with concern. “Och lass! Are ye unwell?”
Not even giving her time to answer that she was fine, Maggie began loosening the ties to her gown before turning to the two men at the foot of the bed.
“Out! Both of ye! I’ll let ye ken when I’ve finished.”
Drust started to protest But Maggie glared at him and pointed a finger towards the door. He reluctantly turned and went to wait in the solar across the hall with Bren. His brother was eyeing him strangely, and a shiver of foreboding slid down Drust’s spine.
“What, Bren? Do ye ken something?”
Bren pasted a look of innocence on his face. “No.”
“Then why are ye looking at me like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you ken something yer no’ telling me!”
“I ken a lot of things that I doona tell ye”, Bren said, thinking he had neatly evaded the question.
Drust really wanted to punch his brother in the face.
Faith put a hand on Maggie’s arm.“It’s all right.We know what’s wrong.She’s with child.”She looked at Willa reassuringly.“I fainted twice in my first month, it’s just all the changes happening in your body.”
Maggie could not hide the look of joy on her face. “Och! I had a feeling! Another babe! What a blessing.” She took in the uneasy looks passing between Faith and Willa. “Drust doesna ken?”
Faith shook her head, then turned to Willa. “I’ll tell him. Bren is out there with him, and he knows already.” She winced. “Sorry, I was too excited not to tell him. He can help with damage control, if it comes to that.”
Willa nodded weakly. “Thank you.”
Drust was just about to slam his fist into his brother’s too-smug smile when Faith came into the room, closing the door behind her. Drust quickly searched her face. Panic was rising in his chest even as he tried hard to stay calm.She’s fine. Just fainted.Women faint, don’t they?
“Well? Is she all right?”
Faith bit her lip and looked away, causing Drust’s heart to plummet. Bren nodded to her encouragingly.
“Tell me! What is it?” He wanted to shake her, but he knew Bren would probably kill him for that.
