“My lady…?” began one of them, but Julianna shook her head and handed Aran to the wet nurse, who unbuttoned her bodice so the child could suckle, his cries ceased.
Her legs shaking, her hands trembling, Julianna sank down upon the cot, reasoning that William must have heard the women approaching and decided it was best to leave—thank God.
Should she tell Roger about what had just transpired? It didn’t take much to sense there was strife between the two after what she had overheard Gabriel MacLachlan say to him, so mayhap she would only make matters worse.
“We brought you supper, Lady Douglas.”
The women all looking at her so kindly, Julianna could not help wondering why the servants were so accepting of her while Roger’s brother…
“My thanks…but I’m not hungry,” she murmured, any appetite fled altogether as another wave of exhaustion struck her and she lay back down upon the cot.
Now that Aran was doing so much better, she needed to sleep, her only decent rest when she and Roger had spent the night in that barn.
Certainly not at Dumbarton Castle where she had lain awake for hours with him lying so close to her, listening to the stirring sound of his breathing…no, she couldn’t think of that now.
Nor did she want to think about William’s disturbing visit, but focused instead upon the soft rustlings of the women moving about the room and the cooing of the wet nurse settling Aran into his crib.
The peaceful sounds lulling her, and easing her mind if only for a while…
* * *
Roger stoodat the doorway and put his finger to his lips, indicating to the women tending to his son that he wished for them not to awaken Julianna as he moved quietly into the room.
Little Aran slept, too, the wet nurse gently rocking his cradle, which made Roger send a fervent prayer of thanks heavenward that his sweet son had been spared.
His gratitude so intense for everything done to save him that he felt moisture burn his eyes as he glanced back at Julianna, who lay curled on her side upon the cot, her face half covered by a blanket.
Everythingshehad done from recognizing what ailed Aran to urging him to find a new wet nurse to remaining by his son’s side for days…
He stood over her now, longing so deeply to lift aside the blanket so he could caress her cheek—
“She didna wish tae eat, Laird,” whispered one of the maidservants, who had ventured closer while the other young woman nodded along with the wet nurse. “She’s managed tae get some rest here and there—but not enough. We’re worried for her…”
So was he, Roger noting the paleness of what he could see of her face, which had concerned him as well when he’d come by earlier that day with his daughters…though she had blushed upon first seeing him.
A pretty pink tint that had too quickly faded, her weariness evident even when she had so affectionately greeted Elspeth and Breda for the first time.
Julianna was so kind and so giving—och, God, and here she slept upon a hard cot set close to Aran’s cradle where his slightest cry would surely wake her…
“Can you manage without my wife?” he murmured, not surprised when all three women silently nodded and glanced from him back to Julianna, their somber faces evidencing their concern.
“Aye, then, she goes with me.”
Within a moment, Roger had bent down and eased Julianna into his arms so as to try not to wake her, though she moaned softly and flickered open her eyes.
“Shh, Juli, all is well, dinna worry,” he murmured, holding her close and carrying her from the room while one of the serving maids hastened past him down the hall to open the door to his bedchamber.
The obliging young woman rushed forward to turn down the bedclothes, and removed Julianna’s slippers so Roger could lay her down and then cover her up snugly.
To his relief, she hadn’t stirred again, but slept on as if she hadn’t been moved to another room and another bed at all, so great was her exhaustion.
Now Roger did not hesitate, but reached down to stroke the silken softness of her cheek while the maidservant went to stoke the fire…the sound of the poker prodding the logs with extra vigor jarring him.
“Lass?” he queried, the maidservant’s face reddening as if she just realized the noise she was making.
“F-forgive me, Laird…it’s not my place tae say, but he shouldna have upset your lady so—”
“Who upset her?” Roger crossed over to the fireplace, trying to keep his voice low. “What has happened?”
