He turned and stalked out of the room, slamming the door in his wake. Willa heard his heavy footfalls on the stairs and collapsed back onto the bed, finally letting the tears come. It was only a short time before the door opened and she looked up to see Faith, concern etched on her pretty face. She took one look at Willa and hurried to the bed, sitting down and enfolding her in her arms.
“I saw him go.”
“He was angry. As angry as I imagined he would be. No, angrier.”
“Oh Willa! He’s not reallyangry, he’s frightened. It will all work out, I know it will. He will think about it and calm down. He loves you so very much,”
“I know. He’s afraid, that’s all. Afraid of something that he can’t fight against. Something he’s already convinced himself is going to happen. I can understand that.” She wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand. “I can understand… but it still hurts.”
Faith smoothed her hair, and Willa sobbed into her shoulder.
“I’m sorry”, she said after a time. “I don’t mean to cry so. It’s just that I’ve been dreading this moment since I found out, and…”
“Hush, you let it all out now. A cry is good for you. You shouldn’t keep anything bottled up inside. And it’s normal, for being pregnant I mean. The hormones; I cried for days at a time in my first two months. It’s only just started getting better.”
“Hormones?”
Faith smiled. When would she remember that she was in a different time? “Never mind. It’s normal for you to feel especially weepy, that’s all. Besides your husband being a complete ass, of course. Do you want me to stay with you awhile? I could sit here while you rest…”
Willa sat up and pushed her mussed hair out of her face. “Thank you, but no. I think I’ll go out for a walk. I feel like I need some fresh air, and maybe some time alone to think.”
“All right. I’m here if you need me.” Faith stood and started for the door, but then turned around. “And Willa, think of it! We’ll both be having babies! Little cousins that will grow up together. I can’t think of anything more perfect.”
“Neither can I”, Willa said, smiling and sobbing all at the same time.
Chapter 19
Faith looked up from her work and watched as Drust trudged up the stairs to the tower. Then she watched him come back down again. His jaw was still set and his shoulders stiff, but he seemed marginally calmer.
“Where is she? Where’s Willa?”
Faith frowned at him. She had half a mind to tell him what an idiot he was being, but decided it likely wouldn’t help matters any. Men didn’t know that they were being idiots, even if someone pointed it out to them. They had to figure it out for themselves, usually through the consequences of said idiocy. Still… she loved Drust like a brother. And he had been willing to give up everything for Bren… and for her. Drust Mac Coinnach was a good man.
“She went out for a walk.”
“Alone? Where did she go?”
Faith shrugged, turning her attention back to the little shirt she was attempting to knit. Maggie was trying to teach her, but already she’d had to unravel it twice. “I don’t know. She said she wanted some fresh air.” She looked back up and narrowed her eyes accusingly. “And she was more than a bit upset. I sat with her while she cried. A lot.”
Drust groaned as if in pain and dragged a hand through his hair, pacing a few steps before running for the door. “I really dinna need this…” he mumbled.
Faith sighed and set down her knitting. Drust and Willa would work things out. Drust was just a little confused… a little lost. She smiled. It was time to meet Bren for a private dinner for two.
Faith had intended to walk in the gardens until her head cleared, but after a while she realized that just wasn’t going to happen. Nor did she feel like she could go back to the confines of the keep. When she noticed a narrow path winding through the woods, she followed it, still lost in her thoughts. A small cottage came into view through the trees, and just as she drew close enough to see the door, it flew open.
An older man with white hair stood there, a strange grin on his face. Shocked, Willa could only gape at him.
“Ah, lass! Ye must be the latest Mac Coinnach bride. I’m sorry I wasna here to greet ye when ye arrived, but I was away on some verra important business. I’m Dirc. I’m certain ye must have heard of me.”
She had. So this was Dirc… the sorcerer who was both beloved and reviled by all. She walked closer, a tentative smile on her face.
“Yes, I have heard of you. It’s good to finally meet you, sir.”
“Och, just Dirc to you lass.” He moved out of the doorway and began to walk around her in a circle, looking her up and down all the while. “So he kens?”
“What?”
“About the child.”
