ken, and needs to take great care of herself.”
Eric opened his mouth to proclaim that all nonsense, then quickly shut it. Bethia was not stupid. She had to know, deep in her heart, that it was all wrong. It was clear, however, that she chose to either ignore it or to deceive herself. Whether it was a game she played with herself to avoid pain or to keep peace within her family, he could not be sure; he was not even sure that Bethia would know herself. It would serve no purpose at the moment to open her wounds, of which he began to think she had many. There was one more question he needed to get answered, however.
“They must have been concerned when ye suddenly decided to go to your sister,” he said.
“Sorcha asked me to come. It was enough.”
“They didnae wish to travel with you?”
“They werenae close at hand when word came. I left quickly with a small guard. Those men would have returned to Dunnbea with the news of Sorcha’s death, but didnae ken my feelings that it was murder. My parents are probably sunk deep in grief.”
“Ye will be able to soothe some of that when ye bring them her son,” he murmured, unable to think of anything else to say.
Bethia sensed the insincere courtesy of Eric’s words and wondered at it, but her thoughts quickly turned to James. She prayed her parents would adore the child she brought into their care. He was certainly sweet and bonny enough for them to love. Yet they had been so fierce in their pride and devotion to Sorcha, she had sometimes wondered if they had any left for others. James was a part of Sorcha and that should be enough, but Bethia was not so sure. She kissed the top of James’s head and promised the child that, no matter which way her parents turned, he would never want for love. Bethia swore that she would always be there for him.
Once at the inn, Bethia waited patiently outside with the horse and their goods. When Eric did not immediately return to her, she felt her hopes rise. It would be nice to stay in a proper bed again. Their brief time at the little cottage had spoiled her. Despite the joy she had found in Eric’s arms last night, she had not been pleased to be sleeping on the hard ground again. She also wanted a decent meal with meat and wine and a hot bath. Her fears of discovery and concerns about James were quickly pushed aside when Eric stepped out of the inn, a big smile upon his face.
“We have a room?” she asked, unable to hide her excitement.
“Aye, and”—he kissed the tip of her nose and ruffled James’s curls—“I havealready ordered a bath.”
“Oh, thank you. Ye are the best of men. And food?”
Eric laughed as he led his horse to the stable, giving the stable lad a coin but waving him away for he wished to tend to Connor himself. “And food. Enough meat and wine to please a king. While ye bathe, wee James and I shall seek out some bread, cheese, and wine to take with us on the morrow.”
“Ye need not waste your coin. ’Tis nay such a long ride from here to Dunnbea.”
“Nay, but we shall feast for every mile.”
“Poor Connor,” she drawled and laughed with him as he led her back into the inn.
It only took a few words from the innkeeper’s wife for Bethia to realize the woman thought she and Eric and James were just a young family in need of a room for the night. She could not really believe Eric had lied outright to the kindly woman, but Bethia suspected he had done nothing to correct her errant assumptions when they were made. Bethia smiled and did the same. She felt she would rather do a penance for that small lie than risk losing the chance of a hot bath.
The maids were already filling a huge tub in the room with hot water. It was set before a warm fire to ensure that she did not take a chill. One of the maids sprinkled a handful of herbs over the water and the scent of lavender filled the room. Bethia took a deep breath as she removed James from his sling and handed him to Eric.
As the two fulsome
Eric opened his mouth to proclaim that all nonsense, then quickly shut it. Bethia was not stupid. She had to know, deep in her heart, that it was all wrong. It was clear, however, that she chose to either ignore it or to deceive herself. Whether it was a game she played with herself to avoid pain or to keep peace within her family, he could not be sure; he was not even sure that Bethia would know herself. It would serve no purpose at the moment to open her wounds, of which he began to think she had many. There was one more question he needed to get answered, however.
“They must have been concerned when ye suddenly decided to go to your sister,” he said.
“Sorcha asked me to come. It was enough.”
“They didnae wish to travel with you?”
“They werenae close at hand when word came. I left quickly with a small guard. Those men would have returned to Dunnbea with the news of Sorcha’s death, but didnae ken my feelings that it was murder. My parents are probably sunk deep in grief.”
“Ye will be able to soothe some of that when ye bring them her son,” he murmured, unable to think of anything else to say.
Bethia sensed the insincere courtesy of Eric’s words and wondered at it, but her thoughts quickly turned to James. She prayed her parents would adore the child she brought into their care. He was certainly sweet and bonny enough for them to love. Yet they had been so fierce in their pride and devotion to Sorcha, she had sometimes wondered if they had any left for others. James was a part of Sorcha and that should be enough, but Bethia was not so sure. She kissed the top of James’s head and promised the child that, no matter which way her parents turned, he would never want for love. Bethia swore that she would always be there for him.
Once at the inn, Bethia waited patiently outside with the horse and their goods. When Eric did not immediately return to her, she felt her hopes rise. It would be nice to stay in a proper bed again. Their brief time at the little cottage had spoiled her. Despite the joy she had found in Eric’s arms last night, she had not been pleased to be sleeping on the hard ground again. She also wanted a decent meal with meat and wine and a hot bath. Her fears of discovery and concerns about James were quickly pushed aside when Eric stepped out of the inn, a big smile upon his face.
“We have a room?” she asked, unable to hide her excitement.
“Aye, and”—he kissed the tip of her nose and ruffled James’s curls—“I havealready ordered a bath.”
“Oh, thank you. Ye are the best of men. And food?”
Eric laughed as he led his horse to the stable, giving the stable lad a coin but waving him away for he wished to tend to Connor himself. “And food. Enough meat and wine to please a king. While ye bathe, wee James and I shall seek out some bread, cheese, and wine to take with us on the morrow.”
“Ye need not waste your coin. ’Tis nay such a long ride from here to Dunnbea.”
“Nay, but we shall feast for every mile.”
“Poor Connor,” she drawled and laughed with him as he led her back into the inn.
It only took a few words from the innkeeper’s wife for Bethia to realize the woman thought she and Eric and James were just a young family in need of a room for the night. She could not really believe Eric had lied outright to the kindly woman, but Bethia suspected he had done nothing to correct her errant assumptions when they were made. Bethia smiled and did the same. She felt she would rather do a penance for that small lie than risk losing the chance of a hot bath.
The maids were already filling a huge tub in the room with hot water. It was set before a warm fire to ensure that she did not take a chill. One of the maids sprinkled a handful of herbs over the water and the scent of lavender filled the room. Bethia took a deep breath as she removed James from his sling and handed him to Eric.
As the two fulsome
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