Roger had come back upstairs so much more quickly than she had imagined, her hands shaking as she had thrown back the bolt and he had thrust open the door.
His expression not grim at all as when she had last seen him, though his eyes held a shadow as he drew her into his arms to hug her.
“Everything that can be done is done,” he had murmured against her ear, though she had pulled away to stare at him with alarm.
“William?”
At once he had sobered, saying simply, “Gone tae fetch the bishop, my men couldna catch him,” and then he had picked her up, her feet dangling, to embrace her so fiercely that Julianna had lost her breath.
“No more talk of any such things, are we agreed? You must say it or I swear I willna let you down—”
“Yes, yes, I agree!”
“Good! Give me a kiss and then let’s go see our daughters.”
Our daughters. Even now, the words warmed Julianna, though her amazement at the change in Roger’s demeanor had not lessened.
After removing his breacan and sword belt, he had led her into the girls’ room where he’d knelt down beside Elspeth’s bed, the little girl already asleep since it was well past sunset, and had given her a gentle shake.
Elspeth had awakened at once to launch herself into her father’s arms with a squeal, which had roused Breda, her plump arms reaching out for Roger, too. In an instant he had gathered them both up and brought them to Julianna, sweet hugs and wet kisses greeting her.
Then he had bade one of the equally astonished nursemaids to go fetch his son, the wet nurse herself carrying Aran into the room as if she was uncertain what she might find.
“I want all of my family together,” he had explained to reassure the young woman, Julianna only then beginning to understand that he wished to think only of the good and not whatever darkness lay ahead of them. She had rushed to take Aran into her arms, her joy immense that the boy looked even healthier and plumper.
Now Julianna still cradled Aran where she sat upon Elspeth’s bed, watching Roger with his daughters. Truly, one of the sweetest scenes she had ever experienced, but too soon interrupted when servants carried in trays laden with food and drink.
“We’ll sit in a circle, aye?” Roger queried his girls, who bobbed their heads and sat down cross-legged upon the floor.
To see so powerfully built a man settle down next to them and fill their plates, though the servants hovered nearby, was truly a wonder—Julianna handing Aran at last over to the wet nurse so she could hoist up her light blue gown to her knees and join the rest of her family, too.
Her family.
The terrible events earlier in the day pushed even further from her mind, Julianna was nonetheless hesitant to bring the cup of honeyed cider to her lips until Roger reached out to touch her hand.
“There is no one else here that wishes you harm, I vow it—and Evander has cloistered himself in the chapel with his misguided piety for company. Let us enjoy a meal with our children, Juli.”
She did, then, pushing the awful memory of the poisoned wine from her mind as best she could and helping herself to a heaping bowl of delicious fish stew, a thick slice of fresh-baked bread slathered with butter, and a brimming cup of cider that made Elspeth giggle to see her eat and drink so heartily.
“Mama, are you always so hungry?”
“Only after I’ve been laughing—and we’ve laughed a lot, haven’t we?”
Fresh giggles erupted, but when Breda gave a contented burp, Roger decided to join her and mustered a loud, extended burp that had everyone staring at him in amazement.
“What? Honeyed cider always makes me belch. Go on, Juli, it’s your turn.”
She must have turned bright red for Breda pointed at her face and Elspeth rose to her feet to hop up and down in anticipation.
“Aye, go on, Mama!”
“Oh, my…here goes.” Julianna sucked in a huge breath and then burped so noisily that the room erupted into laughter, her family and the servants alike.
Grinning, Roger reached out to clasp her hand and Julianna squeezed his fingers right back, which made his eyes seem to darken and her cheeks to flush even warmer.
What was it about the man when he looked at her so hungrily? As if the serving women had sensed the intimate shift between them, the wet nurse left with Aran while Elspeth and Breda were bustled back into bed, the girls seeming quite content to close their eyes and curl onto their sides to sleep.
The room now as quiet as it had been ringing with laughter only moments ago, Roger rising to his feet and offering Julianna his hand to help her up.
