Ethan chuckled. “Ah, Ella, he never had any choice in the matter. The man was doomed from the beginning!”
Ella reached over and cuffed him playfully on the arm. “What do you mean doomed, Ethan MacKenzie? Perhaps I’m the one who is doomed, if I’m to have a child who takes after its father!”
“Aye, you may well be. You know, I have a bit of the Sight myself, from my mother’s side”. Ethan reached over and placed his hand low on her stomach, closing his eyes. Startled, Ella watched as a slow smile spread across his face. “Tis a son, strong and braw, the next great lairdof Tulloch.His father will be very proud.” He grinned at her, his eyes shining. “And his uncle will spoil him beyond all belief!”
Chapter 18
Ceann returned for the fourth time in a week to Castle Tulloch, hoping that there had been some word. There hadn’t. He had been to every village and keep within a two day’s ride, and no one had seen Ella, no one had heard of her, she had not stayed at any inn… it was as if she had just disappeared. She was alive; she had to be alive. Any other possibility was unthinkable.With no one having so much as seen her, he was at a loss as to which direction to go. He knew only one thing: he would spend the rest of his days searching for her if needs be. And if he was lucky enough to find her again, he would stop at nothing to keep her by his side.Nothing. In these weeks of being without her, of trying desperately to find her again, one thing had become clear to him, crystallizing in his mind with more clarity than anything he’d ever known before. Ella belonged to him and him alone, and he loved her… more than it should even be possible to love another human being. It was the overwhelming strength of that love that made him into such a fool. He had been so afraid to let himself feel it, afraid of what would happen if he did, and then lost it.And so he had sent her away, and his own child with her. Aye, there was no bigger fool than he.
He was in the hall, forcing himself to eat some bread and meat only so that he would have the strength to keep going, when Ethan strolled in.Ceann suddenly realized he hadn’t seen Ethan for some time. He hadn’t been here any of the times he’d come back to the castle in the last week.Strange… shouldn’t Ethan have been by his side, helping him search for Ella? His friend scanned the hall, and seeing him there at the table, smiled and headed over. His smile became a look of concern as he took in Ceann’s appearance.“Ceann? You look like hell. What in God’s name have you been doing to yourself?”
He scowled. “Just leave me alone Ethan. I’m not fit for company.”
Ethan eyed him, an amused smile playing on his lips. “You’re not fit for much of anything, as far as I can tell, but I’m not going anywhere just yet.” He pulled up a chair opposite Ceann and sat down. “Now, tell me what’s happened. I’ve only just come back.”
Ceann put his face into his hands and growled, but he eventually answered. “She’s gone. I sent her away, and now I can’t find her.” He tried, but he couldn’t quite keep the anguish from his voice.
“You sent Ella away? Och, and here I thought you two were getting along so well, what with you not being able to keep your hands off her, and she with your babe in her belly.”
Shocked by his blithe remark, Ceann looked up at Ethan, his mouth falling open. Ethan gazed innocently at him.
Ceann shot up, his chair crashing to the floor behind him. “You know where she is!” He couldn’t breathe.
“Aye, I do”.Ethan sighed dramatically.“I can’t believe you’re to be a father Ceann! I suppose our days as two carefree bachelors are over now.”
“Tell me!” Ceann roared.
Ethan’s expression turned serious. “I will, but first sit down; there are some things you should know.”
“Ethan!” Ceann growled, “Tell me where Ella is!”
Ethan gave an exasperated sigh. “I am not telling you until you hear me out, so you may as well sit down.”
Ceann looked as if he might pummel him, but he drew a shaky breath and righted the chair. “She is safe?”
“Safe and well, as is the babe. Now sit.”
Slowly, reluctantly, Ceann lowered himself into the chair. He had nearly lost hope. She was safe. His child was safe.“Talk.Fast.”
“You’ve heard of the Auld Ways, aye?”
Ceann gaped at him. “Ethan, this is not the time for stories…”
Ethan held his gaze. “It’s not a story, Ceann.Listen.”
Ceann’s already addled mind worked to process what Ethan was telling him. Had his friend gone mad? He knew of the Auld Ways, of course. Iona had gone on about them to Ceann and Ethan when they were boys. He had spent much of his youth playing in and around hercottage with Ethan. She had believed in wondrous and mysterious things; spells and magic, the Sight and prophecy. She had held them both rapt with her stories about the ancient kingdoms of Scotland, and the lives of their people. He hadn’t seen her in several months though…
“Do you remember Iona?” Ethan asked.
Ceann frowned at him. Could Ethan read minds, now?“Of course I do, she was like a second mother to me when we were lads. Why are you asking me this now?”
“Because sheismymother, Ceann. You never knew, did you? She thought to keep it a secret, to keep me safe.”
Ceann stared at him for a long moment. “Iona is your mother?”
“Aye.”
Ethan gazed consideringly at the shock on his friend’s face. Perhaps he should save the rest for later; the whole truth may be too much for one man to handle all at once.“About Ella…”
