She tightened then smoothed his bed covers, reminding him of when she used to tuck him into bed at night. Her kisses and whispers of love had soothed him. She’d kept him alive, taught him how to eat correctly and speak, how to use a garderobe. She was there when he attempted something and succeeded or failed, when he was hurt for the first time, when he was ill.
He didn’t realize that a few tears had escaped his eyes until Berengaria looked at him for the fourth time, saw them and came to stand in front of him.
“Why are you weeping, Child?”
He felt his heart swell up with love for her as those words reverberated through his soul. “My mother is gone,” he told her.
She looked concerned and sat on the bed beside him. Was she in her right mind, or not?
She leaned into him and looked up into his eyes. “She is not gone, William.”
“Mother?” he asked with a hopeful heart.Just a few moments. A few moments. Please.
“I never thought I would see you again, William.” She lifted her hand to his temple and ran the back of her hand over his cheek. “You are so handsome. I knew you would be. You would turn the heads of many maidens but Julianna always held your heart.”
She was here. He had her back! He didn’t know what to say first but he knew he had to be quick.
“I’m sorry you suffered and I was not there for you.”
“Oh, but you were there!” she told him, wrapping her arm around his. “You and Julianna were with me every day. Every moment—that I can remember.”
“I will take care of you now. You will come home with me and Julianna.”
She smiled at her name. “Be a good husband to her, William. She was not raised up to be strong. She has led a pampered life. She loves you and she might have to prove it.”
“She has proven it, Mother.” He loosened his arm from hers and closed it around her bony shoulders. She had no idea what had happened to them after she was taken. They had been children. She didn’t know Julianna had married Phillip, her son. Nicholas didn’t want to tell her. Not now.
“Oh, that is good news, Son!” she rejoiced. “Do you have bairns, my boy?”
He nodded. “Elias. He is two.”
She looked around. “Where is he?”
“He was taken to safety by his nurse.”
She asked him questions about Elias and Julianna. And she listened to him tell her about Julianna finding him and saving him from a manmade pit of his own.
He pleaded her forgiveness for many things and she granted it for all. She made him promise to take her with him wherever he lived.
“We have so much to talk about, Will. I would like time with Julianna, too. I have missed her so.”
“She has missed you, too. She speaks of you often.”
He asked her what to do about Phillip. She stopped speaking for a moment. “Then you know?” she asked with her gaze toward the ground.
He nodded, “Aye, Phillip told Julianna. ’Tis why he hates us.”
“He is wretched. His father should have allowed me to raise him.” Her eyes filled with heavy tears that fell into her lap.
Nicholas held her closer, his heart wrenching from its place with compassion for her.
“Perhaps, he needs…perhaps…” She stopped. Her breathing changed against him. Her weeping ceased and she pushed away gently.
“Mother?” he asked, looking into her eyes. There was no recognition there. He let her go and wiped his eyes. He thought he needed to be thankful for each and every moment when he was given them. He felt the rumbling of his soul, the quaking of his heart like mountains shaking around him.
He would never let Julianna go again. He needed to go get his son and bring his family to Invergarry, where he should have grown up. If Rauf ever wanted to follow, he would be welcome in Highlands. Nicholas wanted that life. With them. It’s what he’d been searching for. His happiness. Julianna was part of that. He wanted to tell her. He had to tell her.
“Come, Mother,” he said, going to her. He motioned her to the door and opened it.
