Helen was too selfless to judge him, to hold anything from his past against him. “Before I left, I gifted her with a house and enough coin to keep her comfortable for the rest of her life. I dinna want her to have to take another lover to eat and clothe herself. Women are treated differently across the ocean, Helen. In ways I doona approve of, that I have grown to despise since I’ve returned home. And after meeting ye…”
“The babe is yer own?” she asked calmly.
“Aye,” he admitted. “I dinna know. I swear it.”
Helen rested her hand over his on the table. “I willna judge ye.Allchildren are gifts from God.”
Amazed by her unselfish nature, he placed his free hand over hers, then quickly thought better of it, for their feelings for each other were not publicly known yet. “We shouldna act so boldly in front of anyone.”
Helen withdrew her hands. “Sometimes I forget myself.”
“As do I. So much has happened over the last few weeks. I feel as if I am living in a dream world, that I will wake up tomorrow and ye will be gone.”
She smiled so sweetly. “Go to the child. I will be here when ye need me, Jamie.”
If only he could take Helen and his new son home and banish the rest of the world from his life. He wanted something to call his own. And now—Jamie gazed in the direction of Ramsey—he had a child. One he must immediately claim in front of Father Michael, for Ramsey wouldna be raised in shame, as a nameless bastard. He was a MacKay and deserved all the honors that went with the title.
“Meet me in the storage room tonight,” Jamie said.
Helen blushed. “Ye are a man who likes to take chances.”
“No,” he said. “I am a man slowly starving to death because I havena kissed ye in three days.”
She nodded. “All right, I’ll be there. I feel confident enough to finish the missive to my sire today.”
“I am proud of ye, Helen. Maybe the earl will see the error in his judgement once he reads that missive. Speak from yer heart.” Jamie stood. “I will carry yer sweet smile with me for the rest of the day.”
*
Once Helen, Miran,and Petro left the great hall, tears stung Helen’s eyes.
“Milady? Why are ye crying?” Miran asked. “Is it about the babe?”
“Partly,” she admitted. “I had hoped…” She sniffed and wiped the tears away.
“Lady Helen,” Petro said quietly, “are you in love with Jamie MacKay?”
Shocked and embarrassed the scholar would ask such a question, she stared at him, not knowing what to say.
“Petro!” Miran said. “Tis not an appropriate thing to ask a lady.”
“No?” Petro clasped his hands behind his back. “In Rome…”
“We’re in the Highlands,” Miran reminded him.
“Yes. Is a Highland woman’s heart any different than an Italian maiden’s?”
Helen shook her head. “I am sure ye will say love is the same everywhere.” She had grown to like the scholar very much and trusted his opinion.
“Love is love, milady. What matters the most are the two hearts in question.”
Miran frowned and folded her arms over her chest. “Will ye play matchmaker now?”
“I will speak with Jamie when the time is right.”
“Leave that to Laird Alex,” Miran said.
“I believe your mistress wishes me to speak with her Highlander.”
