Lady Dani’s eyes narrowed as she leaned closer. “You mean to tell me there’s some selfish bastard waltzing around this castle who got you pregnant and then refused to marry you when he found out about it? That just makes my blood boil.”
“Oh no, it’s no at all like that. Eri—” Jeanne caught herself and started again. “The real father never knew I carried his child. I refused to tell him. He is a good and loyal man.”
“But you said . . .” Lady Dani’s words trailed off, her expression clearly confused.
“I said he refused to marry me. If he dinna want a life with me, I’d no wish to complicate the issue with a child. I was such a child, and the resentment that filled my home was not what I wanted for a babe of my own. Eymer agreed. Eventually.”
Though he had nagged her about it for months before . . . before it was no longer an issue. Looking away from her companion, Jeanne willed herself not to delve into those still-raw memories.
“So, if I’m hearing you correctly, Eymer wanted the real father to know the truth. Didn’t he think that would be a problem down the line when the two of you had children of your own?”
Jeanne took a deep breath, readying herself to reveal yet another secret she’d thought never to share.
“Eymer and I would never have children of our own. From the beginning, he had confided that he was not interested in the charms I had to offer. In truth, he had no interest in the charms any woman had to offer.”
Though she had been slow to believe him on that count. Out of a sense of duty as the man’s wife, she had tried. But Eymer’s honesty had matched his kindness. Women did not appeal to him and soon she had realized the truth in his claim that her child would be his only chance at keeping the Horvesson name alive.
“Well then. Where is this child now?”
The unexpected question pierced Jeanne’s heart like an arrow, drawing tears she couldn’t hide. “The babe was born too early. He dinna survive.”
“Oh, Jeanne.” Lady Dani’s eyes filled with tears as she leaned close to clasp her arms around Jeanne. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”
“Few did, my lady.” It had been best that way.
They held the embrace for several minutes before Lady Dani sat back in her seat and cast a watery smile at Jeanne as she wiped her hands down her cheeks.
“Very well,” she murmured. “You said that in his last request, Eymer specifically insisted that Captain MacNicol accompany you to send him off to his afterlife?”
Jeanne nodded. In spite of all her protests, in spite of her arguments that fulfilling such a vow with Eric MacNicol at her side would be sheer hell for her, Eymer would not be swayed on that point.
Lady Dani asked, “Did you love that man, the father of your child?”
“With all my heart.”
“And Eymer knew how you felt about that man?”
“Aye. But I made it clear that part of my life was behind me.”
“I see.” Lady Dani nodded once more. “Would I be correct in guessing that Eric MacNicol is the man we’re talking about?”
Jeanne swept her gaze to the floor, hoping the flush heating her cheeks wouldn’t give her away.
“It’s all right, Jeanne. You don’t have to answer that.”
“Will you help me?” Lady Danielle was her last hope.
“Yes. I’ll make sure Malcolm sees the importance of your keeping your oath to Eymer.”