“Aye, well, we’ll talk about that,Ice.” The king’s mouth curved in a wry smile. “Although from what MacKay and the others say, you earned the name on that journey back. MacKay said it was the most nerve-wracking experience he could recall, but you were icy calm the entire time.”
Kenneth’s mouth twitched. “I did what the situation called for.”
The king laughed. “You did indeed. That is what you are here for, is it not? Although not even I anticipatedthatmuch versatility. You did well, Sutherland. If you think there is something to this scouting foray of Clifford’s, that’s enough.” Kenneth looked around the room filled with his fellow guardsmen, surprised to see the universal agreement in their expressions. They trusted his instincts—even without proof. “Once Edward marches from Berwick Castle, we’ll have men ready all along this route. We’ll hit him hard and fast, making sure his sojourn in Scotland is a short one.”
They discussed the coming battle for a little while longer before Kenneth excused himself to check on Mary.
She was sitting up against the back of the bed, holding the baby, when he walked in. His sister was standing there, along with a few other women, but he didn’t notice any of them. His eyes were only for his wife and son. His heart squeezed so tightly he couldn’t breathe. He didn’t think he’d ever seen anything more beautiful in his life.
But when he thought of what had happened to her, how she must blame him for putting her in danger, the squeezing knifed. Could she forgive him?
He crossed the room, feeling suddenly uncertain. In the turmoil of their escape and sea journey there hadn’t been time for awkwardness and questions. Emotion had been stripped to the bone. Love, simple and unfettered by complication. But now, the hurt and pain hung in the air between them.
The babe was swaddled in a soft woolen blanket and tucked into her arm. “He looks so small,” Kenneth said, overwhelmed.
“He is,” Helen said. “But he’s a fighter.”
“Will he…” Kenneth’s voice cracked; he couldn’t even let himself say the words.
Helen smiled. “He seems a strong lad. He’s breathing well, and already had a few meals while you slept the day away.”
Kenneth scowled at his sister. “You should have woken me.”
Helen laughed. “You needed your sleep. From what I hear from Magnus, you all had a long night. I don’t think my husband has recovered yet. It will be some time before he wants to go through that again.”
Kenneth wasn’t looking forward to the battle of wills between his sister and MacKay when she became pregnant. Helen was enjoying her position in the Guard, and Kenneth didn’t see her relinquishing it without a fight.
Mary watched the interplay between the siblings with a wistful expression on her face. He knew she was thinking of Janet. He was going to have a talk with Bruce about that very soon. If he knew anything about her sister, Kenneth intended to find out. Mary deserved an answer.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
Their eyes held. “Much better.” She held out the babe. “Would you like to hold him?”
Kenneth hoped the horror didn’t show too plainly on his face. But when all the women in the chamber started to laugh, he knew it had.
Helen was still chuckling when she reached for the baby. “Here, I’ll take him. You two will want some privacy. And once my brother gets over his irrational fear”—he didn’t bother denying it—“I suspect I won’t get a chance to hold him very often.” Helen turned to him. “Have you decided on a name?”
Kenneth looked to Mary. “I thought William would be nice,” she said. “In honor of your brother.”
His chest swelled, touched by the gesture to a brother who would have no sons of his own. He could see that Helen was as well. He nodded, remembering another William, too.
Helen left the room, taking baby William and the other ladies with her.
Kenneth felt himself strangely at a loss for words. He sat down on the edge of her bed and took her hand in his. “I’m sorry, Mary. I’m sorry for getting you into this. I know you didn’t want to come here—”
“But I did,” she interrupted. “You were right. It was time to come home.”
“I should have given you a choice.”
“Aye,” she agreed. “But I can see why you did not at first.”
“I was scared of losing you,” he said, trying to explain what kept him from telling her.
She nodded. “I can understand that, too. When I heard you were to be arrested—” She stopped, her face paling. “I knew nothing else mattered as long as you were safe. I was so scared that they’d taken you. What happened?”
He gave her a short explanation, piecing together what he knew as well as what Sir Adam had told him. “I knew that I had to reach you before they took you into the castle. It’s not impenetrable, but it would have taken time and been much more dangerous to get you out.”
“You convinced Sir Adam to help you?”
