His Bonnie Bride, Hannah Howell [best ebook reader for chromebook .TXT] 📗

Her hand rested over the nesting place of her child. "I crave a name for my child. Each time he stirs within me I hear the scornful whispers aimed at a bastard. It tears at me to think I will bring that woe to my child. I ask naught else. Just the name. Do I truly ask for such a great thing?"

"Nay," said Hadden, moving to sit by her upon the bed and placing his arm around her. "Haig and I are with you, Storm. 'Tis wrong to fault a child for what he had naught to do with, but faulted he is. We have seen it. I cannot bear to think on the pain that will bring you, for I know you will feel the sting of each cruel word, mayhaps more than your child."

"He truly speaks for you, Haig?" Andrew asked.

"Aye, and I mean no disrespect to your father, nor do I savor the idea of disobeying him. In truth, doing so pains me deeply, for he has been more than good to us. Howbeit, I go with Storm. What matter the name of the man so long as it rests, by church blessing, upon the child he bred?"

"But 'twill be an empty marriage. Is that not so, Storm?"

"Aye, I fear 'tis so, Andrew."

"Do you speak from your pain, cousin?" Phelan asked quietly.

"Mayhaps in part. I will not deny that he near tore the heart from my body when he stayed silent that day. Nevertheless, he ne'er spoke of future or love. I foolishly held hopes, though I tried not to. Still, when I can look past the hurt, past the foolish hopes so cruelly dashed to the ground, I can see that he is not a man who craves marriage and all it entails. There are many such men."

"If that is so, do you not fear he will refuse to give ye the name ye seek so avidly?"

"Not really, Andrew. He is an honorable man, and I do not believe he would wish the product of his seed to suffer from the taint of a bastard. In truth, I may offer an arrangement that pleases him mightily. He will have a wife and an heir, yet not need to play the husband, will still hold all a bachelor's freedoms."

"And what if ye do not give him a son but a daughter?"

" 'Tis a boy child I carry. I am certain of it." She smiled faintly. "I have chosen a girl's name, though, despite what my feelings tell me. It troubled me some to place such complete confidence in but a feeling. Nay, Tavis MacLagan will have his heir. I but hope that he will not try to hold the boy at Caraidland."

"We would tear the keep down stone by stone to gain back the child."

"I know ye would, Haig, which is one reason I hope he will not try such a thing. I should not care to see it come to that. In truth, I hope ne'er to see Eldon fight MacLagan again. Too much that I value lies on both sides of the border now. Aye, e'en Tavis, though I oft curse him most viciously." She sighed, shook her head and looked at Andrew. "If ye decide ye cannot go, I will understand, but recall that ye swore that all we talked of here would be kept secret."

"Aye," he growled, feeling she had tricked him in a way. "How go ye, Matilda?"

"With Storm."

"And ye, Phelan?"

"With Storm."

"I guessed it so. 'Twas a waste of breath to ask." He sighed and prayed that his father would understand as he said, "I am with ye, Storm, curse ye and myself for a fool. When and how do we go?"

* * * * *

"I feel ridiculous," Andrew hissed as they crept into the stables the next night at an hour close to dawn.

Glancing at Andrew, Storm had to stifle a giggle. The monks' robes had been difficult to gain, and there was one very nervous young man praying fervently that they would be returned before the monks discovered they were gone. They all looked a bit silly, but it would not be wise to let a bad-tempered Andrew know that.

"Hush, Drew. I do not wish to chance discovery when we are so close to victory."

It was relatively easy for them to creep away from Hagaleah, horses and all. The watch was for an enemy trying to creep in, not for anyone leaving. They also knew their home as few others did and could find the best way out unseen and unheard. If the need arose, they could find their way back inside with as little notice being taken.

Progress was slow until dawn's light was strong enough for them to ride safely. Looking at the small group as they mounted, Storm had to smile. It would not only be Tavis who was surprised.

The thought of Tavis made her heart contract. She did not know what she would face when she confronted him. She was almost afraid to do so. He could be wed. He most certainly had not remained celibate. Would she have to face his new lover or wife? Would it be, God forbid, Katerine MacBroth? Would he deny their child? Would he refuse to wed her and mayhaps need to be prodded to the altar at sword-point, if his kin and clan would ever allow such a thing? Just how much pain was she riding to collect?

Seeing the confusion upon his sister's face, Andrew asked, "Do ye change your mind, Storm?"

"Nay," she answered softly. "I suddenly feared at what cost I would gain what I seek."

"Cousin," Phelan ventured, "what if he not only agrees to wed ye but asks that it be a real marriage?"

"I have tried not to think on that. I have had enough of shattered hopes."

"Would ye not e'en consider it?"

"Aye. I do not want to think upon it now when 'tis naught but a chance, a small chance."

Phelan said no more.