Strangclyf Secret (44 page)

“
Hurry up, Bernon,” Melita
ordered, tugging her husband down the stairs into the foyer of the
lord’s tower.

Bernon hauled her back
against his side as they entered the hall. “You will slow down
before you break your precious neck.”

“
But we are in a hurry.
Come this way,” she said, trying to urge him toward the front
door.

“
Why are we in a hurry?” he
asked, pulling her back. “And I have a notion to go out the back
door and inspect the fleet.”

She gasped. Her eyes grew
wide then she dug in her heels and scowled up at him. “I want to go
out the front.”

“
But I am your lord, and I
want to go out the back.” Bernon settled his hands on his hips and
favored her with a stern frown. God’s bones, nothing was simple
with her, and now her eyes were flashing in a calculating manner.
What was the little imp up to? He would stand firm this once and
not cave in to her demands. She would come with him and enjoy her
surprise.

Well,
zut!
She didn’t want him angry
today, but he looked like he was not going to budge on this. How
was she suppose to surprise the surly bear if he wouldn’t
cooperate? She could make a dash for the front door, and then he
would follow her, wouldn’t he? Tears watered her eyes.
Well
, zut,
why
did she feel like crying all the time lately. “Can we go out the
front door and look around first, then go out the back door when we
are done, please?”

Damnation, was she crying
again? He was getting sick of her tears gushing out all the time
for no apparent reason. How in perdition could he not give in with
her beautiful chin quivering like that? Bernon heaved an
exasperated sigh, grabbed her hand, and dragged her along with him
toward the front door. Pushing open the portal, he hauled her
outside and stopped on the top step. “Here we are,
ma belle.
What did you
wish to look at?”

Melita looked around at
the empty inner bailey and frowned. Where was every one? Aurick had
promised he would take care of this part for her. Did he pick
another place or blunder on the time? Now Bernon’s whole surprise
was spoiled.

“
Well, my dear?” he asked
in an overly patient tone that conveyed his readiness to be
gone.

She cleared her throat and
sniffed. Well,
zut!
What was she supposed to say? Everything was ruined, and she
had so wanted today to be perfect. A fat tear rolled down her cheek
as her face crumbled. Then she bowed her head.

God’s bones, what was
wrong? Could this be one of those fits Aurick warned him to expect?
Bernon slipped his arms around her, pulled her against his chest,
and gently rubbed her back. “Calm down, and tell me why you are so
tearful.”

She shrugged then sobbed
harder and clutched at his tunic. “I am sorry, Bernon. I do not
know why I am crying, but I cannot seem to stop.”

Bernon picked her up and
cradled her in his arms. He didn’t know if he could stand another
seven and a half months of this. She probably didn’t even
understand why she was so emotional. If she had figured out her
condition, she would be beaming and bragging. Mayhap he could get
Lady Brianna to have a talk with her later today. He turned and
carried her back into the hall.

“
Where are we going?” she
asked on a gulp then sniffed against his neck.

“
Outside
the back, so we can look at the fleet.”
And her birthday celebration better put a smile on her
face.

Crossing the vacant hall,
Bernon let a smile play across his lips. He couldn’t wait to see
the look on her face. He pushed open the door and stepped out onto
the low landing.

Seeing the deserted bailey
and lack of activity near the docks, Bernon scowled.
“Damnation.”

Melita sniffed and looked
at him. “What is wrong?”

“
No one is here,” he said
through clenched teeth. “Where in perdition did everyone
go?”

“
A moment of your time,
milord,” Aurick said from behind them. “We have a situation in the
hall demanding your attention.”

Bernon growled as the
muscles corded in his neck. “All right, but I expect some
explaining from you.”

“
And so do I, Papa,” Melita
added with a stern frown, still nestled in her husband’s arms. “You
made me a promise.”

The threesome entered the
hall, which promptly reverberated with a thunderous, “Happy
day!”

Melita beamed as vassals,
ladies, serfs, and servants poured out of every tower, corridor,
and hung over the galleries. Bernon drew to a halt, kissed her
forehead, and grinned at her. “’Tis all for you. Blessed
birthday.”

“
Nay, Bernon, ‘tis for
you,” she insisted with a happy grin and patted his
cheek.

“’
Tis for both of you,”
Aurick said on a chuckle. “Between the little lamb making plans and
the Black Bear making plans, everything was getting blundered. The
children decided we should make all the plans
ourselves.”

Bernon frowned. “Why were
you making plans,
cheri?
‘Tis your day.”

“
But I am giving you my
day, so we can celebrate you,” she replied with a winsome smile and
cupped his cheek. “Remember, ‘tis why we ended up
together.”

Love for her surged
through his veins, and Bernon smiled. “Then we must share the day,
because I intend to celebrate you. We shall start with your
present. Come to the dock and see your new boat.”

“
But, Bernon, you should
not give me one,” she protested with an embarrassed blush. “You
give me things all the time and I have nothing to give you except
the day.”

Mischief twinkled at her
from his silver-gray eyes, and he stood her on her feet. “Of course
you have a gift for me,
ma petite.
Just look down.”

Melita glanced toward the
ground then raised a baffled frown up toward him. “What do you
mean?”

Bernon splayed a hand over
her belly, leaned down beside her good ear, and whispered, “’Tis
getting bigger.”

She gasped and her eyes
grew huge. Then she looked down, settling her hands on top of his.
“You really think so?”

“
Aye,” he said, grinning at
the joyful glow radiating from her. “And if ‘tis a boy, I think we
should name him Barwolf. I have grown rather fond of the
name.”

“
We shall name him Bernon,
and I mean it,” she retorted, casting him her ferocious
glower.

Bernon chuckled and drew
her into her arms. “Ah, ma Melita, do you know I used to be a
fierce warrior who commanded respect and obedience from all? Then I
married a valuable, rare, and precious—”

“
And brave,” she slipped
in.

“
Aye, and brave little
wolf, who took me into her heart and made me feel celebrated
everyday. You must allow me a fondness for the name.”

“
Well
zut,
you do not like Barwolf better than Melita, do you?” A pretty
pout pushed out her lower lip. “I am not wanting to give my new
name back.”

“
I like your new name and
you will keep it,” he said, caressing a finger along her succulent
lip and releasing a sigh. “I shall just hold the name Barwolf safe
in my heart as a fond memory of my first meeting with my sweet
bride who mistook me for the devil.”

A light pink hue swept
over her cheeks. “I guess I should apologize.”

Bernon laughed and kissed
her red nose. “Forget apologies today. We are going to celebrate
each other.”

An excited gleam leapt in
her eyes and she grabbed his hand. “Let’s go see my new boat. I
have a mind to try something when we get far enough out to sea that
no one can watch. After all, you haven’t boated me yet.”

Chuckling, Bernon tugged
her against his side and wrapped an arm around her as they
continued on their way to the dock. “Honest to God,
ma petite,
I do like the
way you think.”

Mary has been telling
stories all her life. Now she writes Historical Romances set mainly
in the medieval Highlands and England that have put her on the
Amazon bestsellers list three times. She has won or placed in over
43 historical romance contests and is a past Golden Hearts
finalist. She loves history, has a particular fondness for the
Greek through Medieval periods, and is glad research for her books
has finally utilized her ability to speak Ecclesiastical Latin.
Mary resides in Memphis, Tennessee with her Maltese, Regina
Catriona, who runs the home. Visit her website
www.marymccall.net
or e-mail her
[email protected]
.

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