Page 54 of Highland Flame

“Well, what do ye expect from men?” asked Yvaine, and both of the women giggled.

“What about ye?” asked Davita. “Are ye tryin’ to look strong by no’ tellin’ them everythin’?”

Yvaine stopped walking. “What do ye mean?”

“Yvaine, I must admit that the real reason I am here is because I ken yer secret.”

Yvaine’s body froze and she could barely speak. “What secret?”

“Dinna play the dolt with me,” Davita scolded.

“Wh-who told ye?”

“My little brathair, Archy, filled me in. He works for yer brathair, Keithen, takin’ care of the henhouse. He overheard Keithen speakin’ about yer secret to one of the whores in the tavern.”

“God’s eyes, nay,” whispered Yvaine, putting her hand to her mouth. If her secret was out, then she would be arrested and probably hanged for her crime. Her body started to shake.

“Ye look so frightened, but ye needna be,” Davita assured her, taking Yvaine’s hand in hers. “I am here to help ye get through it. Have ye told yer brathair, Gillies, or Cam and his friends about it yet?”

“Nay! Oh, please tell me that ye havena told anyone.”

Davita’s expression revealed to Yvaine that the woman thought she was being silly. “Just Gavin, but he willna say a word. It is yer secret to tell.”

“This is awful,” said Yvaine, feeling like she was going to faint. “It’s the worst thing that could have ever happened to me. My life is over. I didna want anyone to ever ken about it.”

“Yvaine, really! I think ye’re overreactin’. This is a time for celebration, but ye dinna seem very happy at all.”

“I dinna think Dun would agree with ye about me celebratin’,” she mumbled, feeling sick to her stomach now.

“Aye. It’s a shame that Dun willna ever get to see his bairn. Still, ye need to carry on without him now. I ken it is hard, but I am here to help ye cope.”

“M-my bairn?” Yvaine blinked twice in surprise and her hand went to her belly. “Ye are talkin’ about me being pregnant.”

Davita giggled. “Of course I am. What did ye think I meant?”

Relief washed through her, but Yvaine still needed to know how much Davita’s brother overheard from Keithen. “Did Archy hear Keithen say anythin’ else? About me?” She looked cautiously at Davita from the corners of her eyes.

“Just that ye were bairned,” said Davita. “Why? Do ye have another deep, dark secret ye’re hidin’ from everyone?” Davita said it in a playful manner, making Yvaine realize that her secret of killing Dun was still safe after all.

Yvaine laughed, too. “I suppose I was just shaken, and didna want anyone to ken about me bein’ bairned until I was sure I wouldna lose the baby.”

“How far along are ye?”

“No’ quite four months now.”

“Well, I’m sure once Cam finds out, he’ll stop sniffin’ after ye like ye were a dog in heat.”

“What do ye mean?”

“Gavin told me how Cam only wants one thing from women, and it is no’ marriage, that’s for sure.”

“Of course,” she said, feeling sad about the entire situation. She had felt that Cam really cared for her, but perhaps it was all just a story to get her into bed, after all. Mayhap she’d been more of a fool than she’d thought.

“When are ye goin’ to tell him?”

“I – I’m no’ sure.”

They continued to walk to the infirmary. “Well, what are ye waitin’ for? Ye are goin’ to start showin’ soon. Ye canna really think ye can keep this a secret much longer.”