Mazey didn’t think it was possible for her to feel more joyful. “Aye, Baile, ah’ll marry ye.” She didn’t even hesitate when she answered. This man loved her. He would care for her no matter what. If he didn’t care about her poverty or station, then she didn’t have to either.
His eyes crinkled in the corners. “Ah love ye,” he said before he kissed her. It was a slow sweet kiss that spoke of promise.
She blinked the tears away and looked down at her new son. His lips puckered in a sweet heart shape. Long brown hair curled around his head. He was the most beautiful child she ever saw.
Baile put his hands out to her. “Can ah hold him?”
Mazey nodded and handed him the child.
“He’s beautiful. What will ye call him?”
“Ah dunno,” Mazey said with a wistful smile. “Ah thought ah was having a girl. Ah never came up with a boy name.”
Baile beamed down at the child, touching his finger to the bairn’s cheek. For a moment, Mazey knew what pure joy felt like.
Chapter 10
Cohlm insisted he carry the child back to the keep. The entire way back he smiled and made cute sounds at the baby. It was adorable. Mazey rode the horse with Baile. He held on to her tight.
“Ye didn’t get as far as ye thought.”
Mazey was so exhausted, she dozed in and out while cuddled up to Baile’s chest. “What’dye mean?”
“Ye thought ye were close to the village, but ye were still a good half days walk off or more. Ye must have been walking a lot slower than ye thought.”
Mazey playfully pushed at Baile’s chest. “Ye calling me slow?” she asked.
“Nay, ah would never. Ah was just pointing out it shouldn’t take us long to get back home.”
“Well, ye made that sound better didn’t ye?” she teased.
He chuckled. “Ye’re feisty when ye’re sleepy.”
She laughed too, wincing at how sore she was. “Aye, ’tis a bad habit of mine.”
“Ye did good with the bairn, love.” Baile commented.
Mazey sighed in contentment and fell sound asleep most of the way back to the keep. Once they arrived back, Baile helped Mazey down and took her to her room. Cohlm deposited the baby with the sleepy mother and made sure both she and the baby were healthy and happy.
“Make sure she is getting rest and have her drink water. She needs it now. And ye’ll have to make sure she doesn’t get up too much,” he instructed before he left.
Baile nodded and sat near the bed. “Ah’ll make sure.”
After Cohlm left, Mazey spoke quietly. “Ye don’t have to stay. Ah know ye have business to tend to.”
Baile shook his head. “Ah have no business, except to make sure my bride to be is okay.”
She felt a flutter somewhere near the region of her stomach at the words. He really still wanted to marry her. That wasn’t a dream, or an impulse. “Are ye sure ye want to marry me?”
Baile moved over to the edge of the bed and kissed her passionately. His hand wound into her hair and his tongue caressed hers. His kiss melted every ounce of reason and reserve she had inside of her.
“Aye ah do. Ah love ye.” He repeated the phrase and Mazey felt her heart leap in joy.
She put her hand on the side of his face. Her other hand rested against her new son. “Ah love ye too, Baile.”
“Get some rest. Ye need it.”
She was home.
