Legacy of the Mist Clans Box Set (120 page)

“Have you ever been that late before?”

“Nay.”

“Connell said it’s a struggle for you to control your tears at times.”

Mairi nodded, and as if to prove the point, wiped away a tear. “I always cry; it doesna matter if I’m happy or sad.”

“What about recently? Before everything happened with Adam. Has it been worse?”

She nodded. “When Connell and I were married, I thought I’d fly into a million pieces. I was afraid he would think I didna want tae marry him.” She attempted a smile, but it vanished quickly.

“Were you feeling sick to your stomach at all before this?”

“Aye,” she paused and scowled. “Just a bit.”

Lia sighed softly. “You aren’t fevered, and I can see nothing that would indicate anything else.”

“What?” Connell asked, his voice barely audible.

Lia smiled gently. “I really believe we have another baby on the way.”

“What?” Connell battled to get air into his lungs. If he didn’t, Lia was going to be tending to him as well. But his pulse continued to rattle, and he felt as if a horse had just kicked him in the gut then stomped on his chest.

“It’s all right, Connell,” Lia said, finally turning to him.

“But . . . what happened afore . . .” Connell said.

“Doesn’t mean it will happen again. Mairi, you went into labor because you were grieving, correct?”

“Aye. The midwife who tended tae me, she said it might be possible for me tae someday have another bairn, but I shouldna get my hopes up because the same thing would probably happen.”

Lia huffed a sigh. “She probably said that because it was too soon for her to tell, and she didn’t want you getting your hopes up. But one thing is certain, if you do the same things as last time, then most likely you will end up with the same result. We are going to be very careful. I know you are upset about Adam, but it’s more important than ever that you stay calm.”

“I . . . I try, but it be so hard . . . I canna stop crying.”

“I know, and it is even more difficult because you are breeding. Your body has turned its full attention to your baby, and you need to do the same.”

Connell’s arms tightened around her as he continued to hold her close. But his mind couldn’t possibly keep up with it all. It was as if he watched everything from afar. None of this felt real. Surely he was hallucinating or dreaming.

“I dinna want tae loose another bairn, Lia.” Unfortunately, Mairi seemed to be growing more frightened and distraught.

“And as long as we are careful, I see no reason why you would.”

“Lia, are ye certain?” Connell asked.

Lia leaned forward, took Connell’s hand in one of hers, then took Mairi’s in the other. “Both of you listen and listen well. Connell, you did exactly the right thing bringing her here.”

“I . . . I did?”

“You did. Mairi’s baby came too early because she was so distraught over her husband’s death.” She looked at Mairi. “The reason why the baby died was because you had no one to help you, not because the baby didn’t grow as it should.”

Connell shook his head. Lia couldn’t have shocked him more if she had pole-axed him between the eyes. “Is she ill, Lia? Ina had the breeding sickness, but it was never like this, and it faded quickly.”

“Some women struggle more than others,” Lia said. “It can be made even worse by grief and fear.” She looked again at Mairi. “Everyone copes with loss and grief differently. Some seem to have better control than others. No matter where you fall in that, there is no shame. That is just the way you are. I know giving up Adam hurt terribly. I can’t imagine how you found the strength to do what was right, but you did. The important thing now is not to dwell on the pain and loss.”

Connell looked at Mairi. She had said something very similar to him not so long ago.

“Will we have to be careful?” Lia continued. “Aye. You are to stay in bed.” Lia looked around the room, her gaze missing no one. “And if anyone upsets her, I vow they will answer to me.”

No one said a word.

“Lia,” Mairi said, her voice tiny. “Please no’ the entire nine months. I’ll be barmy before it be finished.”

Connell’s lips lifted.

“Oh nay,” Lia said quickly. “You will stay in bed at first, especially because you need to recover from this journey and allow your stomach to settle. When you can keep food down, you’ll feel stronger. We just have to take it day by day and see how things fare.”

True hope stubbornly clawed its way back into his heart. He reached out and gently smoothed the hair from Mairi’s forehead. “It will be all right, lassie, ye will see.” He spoke the words with gentle confidence, but all the while his heart screamed prayers to the heavens.

HHH

It was late Christmas night. Connell sat at a small table next to the bed where Mairi slept. Lia had given him leave to stay with her as much as he wanted. He could even sleep in the same bed. She thought it important he stay close at hand, and he agreed. Lia had given Mairi another medicant, and her stomach had improved enough that she was able to keep more broth down. But she was still very weary and had fallen asleep soon after. Lia had also told him the medicant promoted sleep, so it was very likely she would not awaken for a while.

Soon after Mairi fell back asleep, he had privately talked to Ronan at length. After their discussion, Ronan had handed him several sheets of parchment, an ink well and quill, and told him to get to work on his idea. At least it kept him occupied while Mairi slept.

He heard a soft noise from below stairs and looked at Mairi, wondering if she would awaken, but she slept on. Ronan was holding a Christmas feast and revel in the great hall. Because of the storm, few dared to travel to Castle MacGrigor, so his guests of honor were his brother and sister-by-law and Connell and Mairi—if nothing else than by proxy.

Again he looked at Mairi. “Happy Christmas,” he murmured, but sorrow plagued him. The celebration he had planned for her in Edinburgh had been far grander than being stuck in a small room worrying what might happen to her and his bairn.

My bairn.

Joy tried to rise within him. He wanted to be happy, but how could he when he didn’t know if the child, or his wife, would survive?

For a brief moment, Adam’s face flashed before him.
Da-da-da-da!
Connell swallowed hard and tried to dismiss the image. But then his gaze fell on the parchment again, and another idea blossomed in his mind.

He quickly inked the quill and wrote rapidly.

It took quite awhile for him to finish. Well, he wasn’t really finished. Both projects on the table before him would take some time to complete, but he thought both were important, not only to him but especially to Mairi.

A soft knock sounded on the door as he sanded the ink to dry it.

Unwilling to have his raised voice disturb her, he quickly rose and opened the door.

Aidan stood before him with a tray in his hand, laden with food.

“It’s no’ fair that ye two canna be with us enjoying the revel,” Aidan said, keeping his voice low, “so I brought a little of the revel tae ye.”

Connell grinned and opened the door wider. “Thank ye, my belly was starting tae complain.”

Aidan carried the tray to the table, and Connell quickly moved the parchment out of the way.

“Is she still asleep?” Aidan asked, looking at Mairi in surprise.

“Aye, has been since ye left earlier.”

Aidan shook his head and sorted out the items on the tray, snagging a cup of ale and a plate for himself. “So ye dinna have tae eat alone,” he said with a wink.

Connell chuckled and helped himself as he sat back down at the table. “Oh, I meant tae thank ye for yer Christmas gift.”

Aidan grinned. “I thought ye’d be missing MacGrigor’s finest.”

“I was, and fortunately Mairi and I got tae enjoy it a few days before . . . well . . . everything.”

“In this case, it be good that ye didna save it for Christmas.”

“Aye, besides, I didna have that kind of willpower.”

Aidan bit back a laugh, trying to keep silent so he didn’t rouse Mairi, but his light blue eyes sparkled in mirth. “As soon as ye can take yer leave for an hour or two and join us below stairs, we will share a bottle, my friend.”

“That sounds like fine fun.”

Aidan’s gaze fell on the parchment Connell had moved. He chewed his food thoughtfully for a moment. “What’s all this, if ye dinna mind me asking?”

“An idea,” Connell said, surprised to feel his face heat. “The master swordsmith I worked for said I need tae get my own forge.”

“Ye going tae be our swordsmith after all?”

“If Mairi agrees, aye.” He pulled out one of the sheets where he had drawn something of a plan, a rough sketch of what he wanted his smithing yard to look like. Strange, he thought he had devised a place quite different from Ian’s, but now it appeared he really hadn’t.

Aidan looked at the drawing. “That will be massive.”

“’Tis about the same size as the one I worked at. If I sell the old house and the fuller’s shop, that coin along with what the king gave us ought tae be enough tae buy Old Man Duncan’s smithy. Ronan mentioned he was wanting tae sell.”

Aidan rolled his eyes. “If I hear that man complain about his aching joints one more time . . .” He paused and shook his head. “Aye, he be ready tae sell, Connell, and I think he be tired enough that if ye haggle well, ye can get a good price.”

“I was hoping for that. Besides, when my brother and I chose no’ to inherit our da’s trade, he sold almost everything tae Duncan.”

“But ye will sell the house too?”

Connell nodded. “’Tis why I spoke with yer brother. I wanted his leave tae stay here. There be too many memories in that house tae be good for me. Plus . . .” He paused and pulled out another sheet. “I want tae build this next tae the yard.”

Aidan looked at the drawing, his eyes widening. “Glory, that be a good-sized home.”

“Ours was tiny, but Mairi didna mind. I want her tae have a nice home, and I should be able tae afford it if I build it myself—with some help, of course.” He paused, his gaze locked on her sleeping form. “I want her tae have a garden.”

Aidan studied him a moment. “So that be why ye talked tae my brother? Tae ask him if ye could stay at the castle while ye built yer home?”

Connell tore his gaze from his wife. “Aye.”

“Of course he didna have a problem with that.”

“No’ in the least.” He was able to turn back to his meal and eat a bit more. The goose was excellent. He realized he had even missed the way the food was seasoned in the Highlands. Not that he didn’t like Mairi’s cooking. He found himself looking down at his gut. “Aidan, have I gained weight?”

Aidan looked at him, startled. “If anything, yer shoulders appear broader, and ye’ve put on even more muscle. Why?”

“That’s from working the sledgehammer. Gordy came a mite too close tae calling me fat.”

Aidan choked back a laugh. “That be Gordy for ye.”

“I need tae ask ye a favor.”

“Of course, anything for ye, Connell, ye ken that.”

“I need tae get word tae Ian Smith that we arrived safely here. The man and his wife were so kind tae us. I dinna want him tae worry.”

“I’ll send Gordy tae deliver it personally. Besides, now that ye be here, I need tae establish a nest in Edinburgh.”

Connell’s lips twitched. “Gordy said he was counting on me tae keep my eyes and ears open.”

“Aye, can ye blame me for wanting tae take advantage of an opportunity? Things be changing fast with this war. The Bruce will have tae turn his eye tae Edinburgh sooner or later, and from what we’ve seen of King Edward, the Bruce has a much stronger chance than he would if Longshanks still lived.”

“Aye. And as long as Ian Smith kens Gordy be my friend, ye will be able tae trust him with anything. He may no’ be willing tae be a bird, but he can tell ye who ye can trust. Dugal and Angus too. Even Marcus and Hamish will be valuable resources.”

Aidan stared at him. “Ye did make friends, did ye no’?”

Connell grinned. “I thought it important that we blend into the community quickly and quietly.”

“Ye ken, Connell, ye be no slouch when it comes tae intrigue.”

He rolled his eyes. “Ye taught me what I ken, so I’d better at least have a grasp. When it comes tae intrigue and secrets . . . that realm be yers, Aidan. But I’ll tell Gordy of the people I ken in our little quarter. Would ye like me tae mention him tae Ian in the letter, tell him that Gordy is indeed my friend?”

“That would be wise, thank ye. Write yer letter, and I’ll send Gordy off as soon as this storm clears.”

“I hope it doesna last too long.” He paused and sighed, looking at Mairi. He caught himself fiddling with his medallion again. “I hope Ronan plans a grand celebration on Twelfth Night, and I hope we can take part in at least a portion of it.”

“He is planning one, and I’m certain ye will be able tae enjoy it with Mairi. I ken everyone from the village will attend. They wish tae congratulate ye on becoming a da.”

Connell blinked at him. “What?”

“Everyone be pulling for ye, Connell. They’re glad ye be home and that ye will have a family again.”

His eyes widened as he stared at Aidan. His thoughts scrambled, then he realized what had happened. He fought down a grin as he immediately saw how he could discomfit his friend. Aye. The old Connell was back with a vengeance.

“And how do they ken I am tae be a da again? I have no’ announced anything.” His voice was flat, and he glared at Aidan.

Aidan blinked, and his eyes widened as he realized his error. “I . . . uh . . . forgive me, Connell, but I told Robert. He was beside himself with worry.”

“Robert I understand. Be he be no’ one tae tell everyone. He would ken I’d want tae announce this happy news.”

Aidan ducked his head, his cheeks darkening with embarrassment. “Dinna blame him. Ye see, he’s no’ the only one I told. We were all overjoyed that ye have returned. The only thing keeping them from yer door be the fact that they dinna wish tae disturb yer lassie. Hell, Connell, just the fact that ye be married—”

“I dinna believe this,” Connell growled. “The spy master, my friend who can be entrusted with any secret, just proved he canna keep one. It be a good thing yer wife is breeding, for ye need tae be put tae pasture, old man.”