He beamed, his pale face glinting with undertones of pink.“Ellard.Just in time.Sheera and I have a com-meeting with Uncle Niran.”
Ellard stepped into Gweneth’s suite, his gaze going straight to Gweneth.She sat curled up on her favorite gel-chair, her features wan yet beautiful.
His breath caught as he stared at her.
“Hello, Ellard.Did you enjoy your stay with Jarlath and Keira?”
“Yes.”He thrust the plate at her.“Mogens told me to bring you these.He said you should nibble on them.”
“Thanks.Why are you here?I thought you’d said everything when you rejected me on the journey from Narenda.”
Ellard flinched at the harsh words even though he deserved them.He sighed and decided to lead with the truth.He owed her that at least.“I love you, Gweneth.From the moment I saw you I wanted you.”
“You have a funny way of showing it.”
“Please, let me finish.”
She sniffed and bit off the end of a hardtack.
Unable to stand in one place, Ellard started to pace.“You know my history.Because of me, the House of Cawdor got a foothold here on Viros.No woman had ever paid such close attention to me before, and I fell for it.I’m not pretty like Shiloh, and now I have one arm.”
“You can get another.”
“No, I can’t.Not only was it expensive, but the way they installed it meant it was a one-time proposition.They warned me of this, and I accepted the risks.Most beings who have a Stores go through their lives without mishap.I had bad luck.”He squeezed his eyes shut, trying not to let self-pity take over.Jarlath had lectured him, told him he was unique, and he felt proud to call him a friend.He’d also threatened to kick his butt if he fell into despondency again.Ellard accepted he was a work-in-progress in the self-pity stakes.While he struggled, Gweneth didn’t need the weight of his problems on her shoulders.
“I’m sorry.I didn’t realize.”She leapt out of her gel-chair so fast the impression of her butt remained for secs after she’d disappeared into her sanitizer room.
With his acute feline hearing, Ellard caught the loud noises she made as she vomited.
His footsteps took him to the doorway.
“Go away.”
“No, you’re not well.Let me call Mogens.”
“He can’t help me.”Gweneth straightened.“Wait for me out there.I have something to tell you.”
Indecisive, Ellard hovered.
“Wait for me.”Gweneth slammed the door in his face.
Unable to sit because of his worry, Ellard paced back and forward in front of a window.Not even the view of the square and the forest beyond, one of his favorite places, snagged his attention.Instead, he worried about Gweneth.Mogens knew of her symptoms, yet he hadn’t seemed overly concerned.
The click of the door drew his attention, and he spun around to face her.
“Have a seat.”
Ellard studied her impassive features.“I prefer to stand.”
“So it’s easier for you to get a running start?”
He gaped at her.“What?”
“The reason I keep throwing up each morn is because I’m pregnant.”
Her words pierced the silence like blaster fire.Ellard’s knees wilted, and he dropped, a gel-couch breaking his fall.
“Did you hear me?”Spots of color highlighted her cheeks.
