“The whole village is talking about it. He’s to wed Robert Gerwan’s daughter by the King’s decree and all Gerwan’s holdings will revert to Cree along with the title.”
With her dream shattered before her eyes, she suddenly feared for her unborn child. No new bride would want her husband’s bastard child in the village for all to see.
The door opened and Cree stood in the doorway, a light snow covering his cloak.
“Leave us,” he ordered sternly and Lila scurried out after giving her friend’s hand a squeeze.
Dawn grew even more upset when she realized Cree knew this last night, knew it all along and had never said a word to her about it. Not that he had to, but she had thought that they were... what a fool she had been.
Cree stepped further in the room after closing the door. “You’ve heard.”
She nodded.
“This changes nothing between us. You are my mistress and will remain so. Elsa will be here shortly. She will provide you with the plant that prevents conception. Make certain to take it.”
Was he telling her to get rid of any child that might be growing inside her? But of course he was. He would not want a son or daughter born voiceless like her.
He walked over to her, though he did not reach out to touch her. “I will treat you well and keep you safe.”
Dawn wouldn’t look at him; she couldn’t. Her heart was breaking. She simply nodded.
His hand moved to touch her face and she braced herself not to cringe and blessed the heavens for the knock at the door that stopped him.
“That will be Elsa. Take what she gives you and we will talk more on this later.” He opened the door and let Elsa in. “We have discussed this. She knows what is expected of her.”
Elsa nodded and when the door closed she walked over to Dawn setting her basket on the table.
Dawn would accept the plant but had no intention of taking it.
Elsa explained to Dawn how to brew the leaves and how often to take it. “But remember if you are already with child it will abort the babe.” Elsa took a pouch from her basket and placed it on the table. “I will bring you more next month.”
Dawn nodded.
“Think on this Dawn for any decision you make will have repercussions.”
Dawn realized then that the woman knew that she was already with child and leaving the decision to her.
“I am a healer and I heal. I cause harm to none for I am all too aware of the consequences. Think on it, Dawn, and do in your heart what you feel is right for you.”
Dawn wanted to hug the woman for giving her a choice but she didn’t. She simply nodded and pressed her hand to her chest to show her gratitude while she fought back the tears ready to spill.
Elsa squeezed her hand before she stood. “I am here if you need me.”
Dawn nodded and tried to smile but it barely reached her lips. As soon as the door closed she burst into tears. She spent the rest of the morning sitting in front of the hearth too numb to move.
When Sloan arrived telling her that Cree wanted to see her in his solar she gestured that she was sick and could not go.
“It isn’t a request,” Sloan said.
Dawn was pleased that the babe decided to protest just then and she ran to the bucket and heaved.
To her relief, Sloan left after telling her he would inform Cree that she wasn’t well.
Several hours later she heard Cree talking to the guard outside the door and she hurried into the other room, pulled her boots off, climbed under the covers, and curled into a ball. She didn’t want to see him, didn’t want to talk with him... she wanted him to leave her alone.
She heard him enter the room and walk over to the bed and lean over her.
His hand touched her brow. It was cool, his touch gentle and as always her body sparked to life but she refused to acknowledge it.
“Dawn,” he whispered.
She knew if she didn’t open her eyes that he would persist and so she fluttered them open as if she was waking.
“Are you all right?” he asked with such concern that it touched her heart but again she refused to acknowledge it.
She shook her head.
“I will send for Elsa.”
She shook her head. Placed her hands together as if in prayer and rested them to her cheek.
“You just need to rest?”
She nodded.
“If you are not better by late evening than Elsa will see to you,” he ordered and she nodded. He kissed her brow. “I will see you later.”
Dawn nodded and closed her eyes to keep her tears from falling and sighed silently when she heard the door close.
The hours wore on until she finally felt the need to get away from the cottage and not with a guard. She slipped on the wool, fur-lined cloak, and then moved the trunk to the window, relieved that Cree had not had it boarded up, but then she had not given him cause to after the last time. Now however was different, and she didn’t care about the consequences.