She no sooner sat down beside him than Artair asked, “What did Cavan say to you that upset you?”
She reached for the pitcher of cider, but he brushed her hand away and filled her tankard. She flavored her bowl of porridge with a drizzle of honey before answering. “He didn’t upset me. He surprised me.”
“Why was that?”
“He told me to use witchcraft if it would help save his wife and child.”
Artair was struck silent.
“He spoke out of fear, not reason,” she said.
“I never would expect him to say such a thing,” Artair admitted.
“Would you use witchcraft if you feared I would die?” she asked, or was he too sensible to believe it even possible?
“I would do whatever was necessary to save you.”
“Even believe in witches?” she asked, amazed, for he had made it known that he did not believe in such nonsense.
“I would believe for you,” he said, and stole a teasing kiss, not giving her a chance to respond.
She placed her cool hand to his cheek, and the warmth of his flesh sent tingles rushing up her arm. “You really do love me.”
“You doubted?” he asked, alarmed.
“No, I’m startled by the depth of your love. It makes it so very real.”
“More real than I ever thought possible,” he said, and kissed the palm of her hand.
She shivered from the pleasurable tingles that continued to race through her. “You always excite me.”
“If only we had time,” he whispered.
“I must stay with Honora.”
“I know, but know I will be waiting for you,” he said, nuzzling her neck.
She giggled. “Believe me, I won’t forget.”
By mid-afternoon Honora’s pains had subsided, and it worried Zia. She feared it would only prove to be a long laborious time for Honora until the babes were finally ready. And of course she worried too that perhaps there might be something wrong with the babes.
Only time would tell, and she had plenty of that…or at least she thought she did.
Addie entered the bedchamber, having gone to see how her sons were doing, and returned with a look of concern.
“What is it?” Zia asked, her heart already sensing something was seriously wrong. “Has something happened to Artair?”
“Is Cavan all right?” Honora asked frantically.
Addie looked to Zia. “Bishop Aleatus arrives by nightfall and requests to meet with you immediately.”
Chapter 29
Artair and Cavan climbed the stairs to speak with Zia, while Lachlan and several clansmen were sent to escort the bishop’s caravan the remainder of the way to the keep.
“We need the cleric’s signature and official seal for this to work,” Cavan said, shaking his head. “And he’s still about two days away.”
“One and a half if he didn’t stop to rest,” Artair said, hoping the man just might think the same, after all the message sent to him spoke of the immediacy of the situation.
“We’ll have to find a way—” Cavan stopped, almost bumping into his mother as he turned a curve on the stair.
“Oh dear,” Addie said, and laid a hand on his shoulder.
“What’s—”
The agonizing scream reverberated down the stairs, causing everyone to say a silent prayer for Honora.
Cavan rushed past his mother, though she remained close on his heels yelling, “Wait! Wait!”
Artair came up behind them and, entering the bedchamber, almost collided with Cavan, who had stopped abruptly. Zia and Honora were laughing.
“What goes on here?” Cavan demanded, going straight to his wife.
“I’ve come up with the solution to the problem,” Honora said proudly. “I intend to scream loud enough for the bishop to realize my dire circumstances, and to force him to see the wisdom in delaying his talk with Zia.”
“I was just about to go down another level to see if her scream was loud enough when I bumped into you,” Addie said to her son, then turned to Honora. “It was perfect.”
“I’d say so, since it scared the hell out of me,” Cavan complained, though he smiled at Honora. “Good idea, wife.”
“Is it feasible?” Artair asked Zia.
“Women can sometimes take days to birth a babe, often due to complications, which I’m certain any woman asked will confirm,” she said.
“But Honora is all right? She’ll deliver the babe sooner than a few days, right?” Cavan asked cautiously.
Honora took his hand. “The babes.”
“Babes?” Cavan and Artair said in unison.
“Oh my, I didn’t mean to tell you just yet,” Honora said, though she grinned happily. “I will give you two children.”