He studied her and lifted his reins. “Do not do anything foolish while I am gone.” He whirled his horse and he and his men began trotting from the courtyard and through the entry tower, and out the castle gates.
Feeling so sick in her heart, so frightened, Alana stepped back, hugging the mantle she wore to her chest. “Go, Iain,” she said hoarsely. “Go with God.”
He gave her a last look, and cantered after his men.
Alana did not move, watching him vanish into the vault beneath the entry tower. She heard his horse’s thundering hoofbeats as he galloped through the castle gates. The sound receded—and vanished.
He was gone.
Alana turned slowly and saw Eleanor upon the top step, her expression openly worried. She slowly went up.
Eleanor put her arm around her. “He will be fine, Alana. He is a very good warrior.”
“He will not be fine if Buchan murders him.” Choking on her words, Alana walked into the hall with Eleanor. “We have hardly spoken since I lost the child, and now he is gone.”
“He loves you, Alana,” Eleanor said.
“Does he?” She went to the fire and stood there, thinking about Iain, whom she still loved in spite of her grief over the loss of their child. “He is angry.”
“He is grieving, Alana, as you are. It will pass.”
“But I kept another secret, Gran.”
Eleanor sighed. “Trust me, Alana. This is a difficult time. But the sun will shine again.”
Alana hoped she was right.
Eleanor took her silence for acquiescence. “At least you have the will to be up and about. That is a good sign. Do you want to help me in the kitchens?”
Alana had spent the days since her miscarriage by herself, in her chamber, consumed with her grief. Her back hurt and she rubbed her spine. “How is Godfrey?”
“He has been asking for you. I have been visiting him in your stead. I told him what happened.”
Alana straightened. “He hardly needs to remain locked up now.” How firm she sounded!
Eleanor paled. “Alana, are you certain?”
“I am certain,” she said. She was suddenly filled with purpose. Godfrey was not her prisoner—he was Iain’s. And she had never approved of his being taken prisoner when Brodie had surrendered. She walked swiftly upstairs.
A tall, blond Highlander she recognized but did not know by name stood outside Godfrey’s door. She forced a smile and he smiled in return, unbolting the door and opening it for her.
“Thank you,” Alana said, inflecting her words to pose them as a question.
“Seoc, my lady.”
Godfrey was standing at his window. He whirled and stared. “Are you all right?”
“I will manage,” she said. She prayed she would not start crying now.
“I heard you lost the child,” he said grimly. “When you did not come to see me, I demanded to know what had happened to you.”
“I have been sick with grief,” she said. She could barely get the words out. “I know I should not be aggrieved. I know I have no right to bring a bastard into the world. But when the time came, I desperately wanted my child.”
“Alana!” Godfrey hurried to her and took her arm. “I would have given that child a name.”
Alana collapsed in his arms. He held her and did not speak, stroking her hair. “I am so sorry,” he whispered. “I wanted to come see you. Iain would not hear of it.”
She looked up at him.Godfrey would have married her, for her child’s sake.Godfrey had wanted to see her.“I do not deserve your friendship.”
