Always Mine (40 page)

“How is everyone? I knew Alana had planned to come, but I hoped Elise would also make the trip.”

“I fear Elise could not stand the pace. You know she can barely keep her seat on Buttercup,” Aunt Maud answered with a grin. “Lynette of Wycliffe has come to Ridley for a visit. Cecelia was delighted having the two of them to herself.”

The evening passed pleasantly, but Damron could not stop watching the expressions in Bleddyn and Alana’s eyes. The sweet face of the abbess stilled as she looked at Damron and searched his eyes. He flushed. Somehow, she sensed all that had taken place at the keep since her last visit.

After a while, the room became too tense, too quiet.

Meghan rose and suggested the room needed a little music.

She grabbed her bagpipe from beside the fireplace, and Bleddyn smiled and picked up his bodhran.

“Come, Brianna, sing with me and welcome me to your home,” Galan murmured. “We will choose only happy tunes, and the wild Welsh music that you favor.” Galan’s gentle eyes gazed down on her.

Damron could not believe that with just a soft word from Galan, Brianna joined them. His hands clenched until his knuckles turned

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white. He forced a pleasant smile, determined not to let his jealousy ruin the moment, and placed a stool amongst the musicians for her.

Galan started with a merry, romping tune that made Brianna chuckle, then she sang alone her favorite melody. Mereck rose to join Galan, and rested his arm over the younger man’s shoulder.

“Galan, let us sing the ballad that has become famous even here in the Highlands.”

Bleddyn started the beat, and the others joined as they recognized the tune Mereck sang when he first returned from Brianna’s holdings at Stonecrest. It was Galan’s song. Their voices merged, and they stood before Brianna, paying her homage.

She joined them in the last verse. Sorrow and pain came through in her voice. Damron swallowed hard, realizing the loneliness and fear she kept so well hidden. The minute their voices stilled, he gathered her in his arms and held her tight to his chest, while he sang the German love song she seemed to favor.

When he finished, Brianna waved to the extended family around her. “I’m so sleepy, I’m afraid I’ll start to snore like Damron. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Huh! Snore, wife? I ne’er snore. ’Tis yer imagination.” Damron grinned down at her, then turned and started up the stairs.

By the time Bleddyn reached Brianna’s bedchamber with her nighttime drink, Damron and Mari had propped her up on pillows, ready for her hot potion. They talked of the enjoyment of the evening as she drank, and when she was finished, Bleddyn kissed her forehead.

“Nathaniel,” she whispered, “ask Alana to meet with us in your herbarium after we break our fast. I have much to say, and I will need you both with me when I say it.”

“My heart, we will be there for you. Now you must sleep and rest.” He patted her cheek and left the room.

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Damron got in bed and held Brianna in his arms. He snuggled the covers over her shoulders and back, then sang softly to her until she slept.

Soon after the sun’s rise, Brianna felt Alana’s presence and awakened. She gazed into her sister’s serene brown eyes.

Alana always seemed at peace with the world, and now Brianna needed her presence and her guidance. Meghan burst into the room, vibrant with energy.

“Connor and I are going to show Galan the grounds and then go huntin’. I agreed to take Simple, for Galan canna believe the sparrowhawk is as ungainly as Alana has told him.”

After Brianna dressed, Meghan and Alana held firm to her elbows to see she did not falter as they made their way below.

Damron and Galan stood talking together before the fireplace, and Brianna heard Galan laugh at something Damron said.

Bleddyn turned toward Brianna, and when he came close, she murmured, “I’m happy to see Damron and Galan together, Nathaniel. Damron has been pleasant to him. It surprises me. I thought it would be a ‘cold day in hell’ before he stopped hating him.”

“They will be friends, my heart. Have no fear for Galan.

You look much better this morn. When the others have gone on their hunt, we will meet as you asked.”

Brianna rewarded Bleddyn with a warm smile just as Damron looked up and saw her coming toward them. He hurried to hold her arm and suggested they all should take their places.

Cook’s helpers carried in large bowls of steaming porridge, cheeses, cold meats, sweet apples and grapes from France. The aroma of freshly baked bread made Brianna’s mouth water. A servant filled Brianna’s chalice with milk, then poured ale into Damron’s. Mari’s daughter placed a warm bowl of egg custard

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close to Brianna. Custard was one of many things Bleddyn insisted she eat each day.

Brianna’s mouth gaped on seeing the next item. Cook arrived with a long platter, not filled with fish and meats, but oranges. Galan laughed at her surprised face.

“I thought you would like this special fruit. Bleddyn told me before you left Ridley that you had heard of this thing called an orange. At the end of my travels, I spied a ship being unloaded.

Amongst the cargo were large crates of a yellow fruit. When I found what they were, I convinced the merchant to sell me as many as I could keep from spoiling. I set sail the same day.”

“Thank you, Galan. It’s truly a wonderful gift you have brought. I will keep one tucked in my pocket to enjoy as often as possible.” His eyes lit with pleasure.

Damron spooned porridge into a bowl, added butter and heavy cream before he put it by her hands. She thanked him and, for the first time in days, smiled up at him.

He watched to see she ate every drop. When she had, he replaced the empty bowl with a large cup of custard.

“Goodness sakes alive. I don’t have room for all of this.”

“We will linger o’er our food until ye have room, wife.

Bleddyn said ye must have it for strength.”

Damron forced his face to softer lines as he reached up and stroked her hair. The babe drained much from her, for her curls had lost their warmth, their luster. They no longer grasped his fingers. He would be glad when the bairn was born.

After everyone finished eating, Brianna selected two oranges, and put one in each of her tunic pockets. Damron carried her down the stairs to the bailey, and watched as she waved to everyone leaving for their jaunt. He saw the bittersweet expression on her face and tried to reassure her.

“Afore long, wife, ye will be ridin’ and doin’ all ye wish to do.”

Brianna lowered her gaze, then looked up to pat his cheek.

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“Don’t worry, Damron. I’m not unhappy to stay at home today.

Alana and I are going to visit Bleddyn in the herbarium.”

Alana moved to her side, and Damron nodded. He studied the men milling about, awaiting his attention. After kissing her forehead, he strode off, bellowing for the men to assemble in the great hall and be quick about it.

Brianna felt Alana’s comforting arm around her waist as they entered Bleddyn’s bright and fragrant hut. The herbal was sweetly aromatic from the lavender, mint, rosemary and sandalwood that hung from the rafters. Vats, tubs, vials and dishes held all sorts of ingredients. The quantity of herbs her Nathaniel had gathered, dried and stored to last through the season amazed Brianna. He rolled a pallet and placed it against the wall so she could sit and lean back in comfort.

Sunlight streamed through the window, making the room warm and cozy.

“Now, little one, we must talk.”

He tried to spare Brianna pain as he told Alana about the night someone drugged Brianna and attacked Eric. Fierce anger flashed over Alana’s face. He spoke of the dreadful day Asceline had loosed her raptor, and of how they had fought to bring Brianna back to health. When he came to the present time, he stopped and looked to Brianna. She stared down at her tightly folded hands.

“ ’Tis time to hear from you now, little sister. Tell all, for I suspect there is much we do not know.”

Tears misted Alana’s brown eyes as Brianna reached out to cling to her hand.

Chapter 24

Brianna’s gaze was unseeing as she told Alana about her soul’s journey back from the twenty-first century. “It began the day I fled Saint Anne’s, and I fell and struck my head on the rock. The day Damron brought me to Ridley.”

She told Alana her tale up to the past months. Her voice quivered and her eyes blurred as she looked from one to the other. “Something happened to the babe that night someone dishonored Eric and me. I realized it when I got my wits together. The bairn became quiet. Her movements weaker each day. I hugged and sang to her, and told her how much I loved her. I tried to support her in every way.” Her face mirrored the agony of her mind when she described the day Asceline loosed the heavy gyrfalcon. “I felt the instant she lost the strength to continue. She didn’t move again.

“I know you think I can’t possibly tell what happens inside my body, but I can. You see, in my life as Lydia, I suffered the same horrible experience. I’ve waited, praying I was wrong. I’m not.

My stomach is increasing because the baby’s nest has pulled away from my womb.” At their shocked looks, she shook her head, bidding them wait and listen to her. “I’m increasing because I’m bleeding inside. The baby, or the nest, has blocked the opening

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to my womb and kept my blood from spilling out.” She squeezed her eyes tight to hold back her tears.

“I’m slowly being poisoned from what is happening. Soon, my stomach will heave as if the baby is strong and fighting to be born. I’ll break out in a rash that will look like a dreaded disease, and finally my body will seek to empty its contents to try to save me. I’ll tell you all you need to know so you may help me when the time comes.

“With all my heart, I thank Galan for the oranges. Inside the fruit’s skin is a natural remedy that strengthens blood vessels.

It will do much to help me survive.” She took a shuddering breath. “In my future time, I studied the history of Blackthorn and learned I will birth two sons for Damron. It will be so.”

She gritted her teeth and fought to keep from crying out with the mind-numbing dread of having to go through the anguish of losing a child the second time.

Bleddyn nodded, pain filling his beautiful eyes. “What Brianna has said is true. I have seen in her mind all she speaks of, and what we must do when the time comes. Hopefully, we will do better by her than the doctor who near killed her as Lydia.”

The door burst open, sending blustery, cold air racing through the room. Damron stood outlined against the bright day. He quickly entered and shut the door.

“I came to make sure my love isna drainin’ her strength.” His gaze searched the room, and his face relaxed when he spied Brianna sitting bathed in sunlight. The corner of his lips lifted in a soft smile, watching her nibble the white underside of the thick orange skins. “’Tis a strange thing ye crave, Brianna.”

“To me it’s the best part of the orange, Damron.” She smiled up at him, a flicker of longing crossing her face.

Damron sat on the hard earthen floor, then reached for her and placed her on his lap. He took the orange from her hands and deftly finished peeling it. When she cleaned the rind with her small, white teeth, her face puckered, making him

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chuckle. His arm wrapped around her, eyes half-closed, concentrating. His big hand roved and stopped for minutes at a time over each section of her swollen body.

Damron’s heart skipped a beat, then began to pound. He waited. With every breath he drew, his heart throbbed harder.

Near frantic with worry, he stared into Bleddyn’s eyes.

“Well noo, ma fey gawkie, I expect Alana wud agree ’tis time ye took a wee walk and rest. Ye must ha’e been sittin’ for a long while, for I ha’e finished the petitions for the day.”

Brianna wondered what stress had brought out such a thick brogue in his speech. Did he suspect the babe was no longer vital? Would he blame her for it? Her thoughts fled as he stood with her in his arms as easily as he had the first time he picked her up.

“What? No creaking and groaning under my weight?

Surely with your advanced years, you should be complain-ing?” She poked him in the chest and grinned up at him.

He growled low in his throat. “Did ye really believe I did not hear ye mumblin’ that ‘the dratted man has a penchant for carryin’ women’? I like feelin’ my wife close to my chest. Have ye not noticed?” Before she could answer, he lowered his head and kissed her loudly. “Hmmm. I believe the taste of these oranges on yer lips makes them all the sweeter.”

He walked out into the bailey, then turned to call to the others. “Come, let us take Brianna to visit her favorite spots.”

At the top of the stairs leading to the curtain walk, he carefully lowered her feet to the ground. “Look. Is it not a beautiful sight?” He waited for them to admire the water where Brianna herself stopped each day.

Sensing when she had seen enough, he put his arm around her waist to support her and moved to the next section overlooking the open field and paths that had brought them from England. With each area he selected, he surprised Brianna by knowing her favorite viewing points.

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Halfway around the curtain wall, he insisted she have a brief nap before the rest of the family returned. He carried her down the wooden stairs, and asked Alana to take her noon meal in Brianna’s room so his wife could lie abed. Her arms tightened around his neck, and she nuzzled a kiss on that tender spot below his jaw.

“As long as you are not struggling overmuch, my lord, you may as well take the whole burden of my increased size to our chamber.”

“Bleddyn must make me a tonic, wife. Me puir muscles can barely take the strain.”

Alana laughed up at him. “Poor muscles, like hell, my lord.

You carry her as lightly as a dove.”

He stopped a moment, then turned to stare at her, his brows raised. “Like hell?” he repeated.