Brodick sneered at her. “I’ve already dispatched a message to yer husband, woman. He needs to get home and take his estate back under his command.” He moved toward her, his sword still unsheathed. “But there’s one thing that ye had best be clear on. I’ll nae have any other but the mother of my son.”
Philipa screeched. Druce pulled her from the room as she ranted and raved.
Brodick turned then, his midnight eyes pegging Anne with a hard look. He reached up and slid his sword back into its sheath without shifting his attention away from her.
“Cullen. I want a full guard on this room.”
“Aye.”
“And keep a watch on that pair until the Earl of Warwickshire returns to take them in hand.”
Brodick froze for a moment, the tapestry catching his eye. His face softened for a moment as he stared at it. He stiffened, shooting a hard glance at her.
“Everyone else, leave.” Brodick stared at her. “I need a moment with my wife.”
Everyone left the solar, but all Anne noticed was the word wife. Brodick looked as formidable and unrelenting as he had the first time she’d laid eyes upon him. Fierce determination flickered in his eyes as he considered her.
“Good God, woman. I’m going to take to spanking you once a week.”
The bed shook as he closed the distance between them with such determination. His body was large and welcomed. She didn’t feel overwhelmed by his frame anymore. His strength gave her comfort. She caught the hint of his scent and it made her sigh. The few months away from him now felt like an eternity. She reached for him, just her fingertips making contact with his chest. A soft sigh passed her lips and he flinched.
“I swear I’ll nae be soft with ye. Murry is going to trail ye like a hungry colt and I’ll nae tell the man to give ye any peace. It’s the truth that I’m going to tell him to bring along a few other men to make sure the job of guarding ye is done.”
He suddenly scowled. “What is yer name?”
“Anne.”
He snorted, but cupped her chin. “Why did ye leave Sterling? Why did ye place yerself in harm’s way?”
He was such a proud man. Her cheeks colored as she cringed on hearing what her flight had reduced him to. By leaving Sterling, she had left him.
“Because I love you.” His large body shook. “I couldn’t steal the dowry from you. It was the only way.” She hugged the baby tightly. “The only way to keep our son from being born illegitimate.” She took a ragged breath. “Like his mother.”
She tried to look down but Brodick’s grip was solid. His eyes flickered with frustration.
“Och, I dinnae know what to do with ye, woman.”
The small bed shook as he leaned further across it, his hand sliding over her cheek and into her hair. “Tis ye I love, no matter the details of yer birth.”
“But the dowry—”
“Will still be mine.” He cupped the back of her head. “Ye are the daughter of the Earl of Warwickshire and ’twas his wife that presented ye to me and my men. Ye were pure and ye have given me a son. That’s the best definition of wife that I’ve ever seen.”
The earl was speaking, the hard authority in his voice edging his words. But his face softened and the hand resting on the back of her head softly soothed her.
“Leave the legalities to me, lass. I’m nae blind to the reason why ye fled. What I want to know is, why didn’t ye run to me?”
Need glistened in his eyes, so sharp and needy, that tears fell down her cheeks.
“I love you, Brodick. I couldn’t see you disappointed even if it meant I had to sacrifice my own heart. I love you too much for that.”
A smile appeared on his lips. The hand in her hair tightened. Pleasure shone from his eyes and she knew without a doubt that life would have been miserable without him.
She wasn’t even sure she would have survived very long.
“’Tis glad I am to hear it…Anne.”
A tiny smile graced her lips as he spoke her name.
Her name.
Their son nuzzled her breast in his sleep and a shudder shook her body. She was suddenly so tired, her eyelids felt heavy. Her arms shook around the baby.
“Take…take the baby…” Her voice shook. She couldn’t seem to stay awake, her body sinking back into the bedding. Her entire body ached now and she wanted to escape it in slumber.
Brodick lifted his son from her arms and she smiled as she surrendered to her fatigue.
Brodick had never held so tiny a babe in his life. He wasn’t even certain he’d seen one so young before.
“Cradle him, my lord, or he’ll fuss and wake my daughter. She needs rest now.”