Chapter Twenty-Three #4
Once she left the great hall, she caught sight of Donnal a few steps behind Loki, who was desperately trying to manage an unruly Braden.
“Here, lad. I’ll handle the wee twit.” Donnal reached for Braden, but his wee protector was faster.
Loki pulled his small sword from his sheath. The weapon connected with the skin of the suitor’s hand and drew a drop of blood, causing him to yank it back. “You will remove your hand from my brother, my lord. No one touches him without my permission.”
“Why, you ungrateful cur.”
Jennie rushed up to them just as Donnal was about to wrest away Loki’s sword. “Leave him be, my lord. They are not bothering anyone.”
He spun around to glare at her. “They’re bothering me. Weans should not be heard from. They should know their place.”
Jennie nodded to Loki. “Why do you not continue and take Braden to his mama.”
“Nay, I will not leave you unprotected with this brute, Lady Jennie.” His chin came up and he squared his shoulders, just like his sire did so many times, his sword still drawn at his side. Braden had stopped crying and was staring at the stranger with wide eyes.
Jennie smiled. “My thanks, Loki, but I can handle myself.”
Loki nodded and continued on his way, tugging a whining Braden behind him, but he watched Jennie over his shoulder. Loki had grown quite a bit over the last couple of years, and he was mighty protective of his adopted family.
Once he was gone, Donnal took a step closer.
“Aye, ‘tis much better to be alone.” He reached for her and pulled her close enough so his lips could descend on hers. One quick taste of him was all Jennie could tolerate before she shoved against his chest to push him away. He didn’t give up easily, but he finally stepped back.
“You needed a taste of how wonderful our lives could be together.” He winked at her.
Quite sure Alex would support her, she made a bold move. “Forgive me, my lord, but I have no interest in you as a husband. Please feel free to spend the night at the keep to gain a restful sleep, but I would like you to leave immediately after breaking your fast on the morrow. Good eve to you.”
She had turned around to head to the great hall when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
“How dare you tell me what to do? We are not done, and I will decide if we suit, not you. Do you not understand a woman’s place?
You are to do as you are told and let the men decide your fate. You have no right to reject me.”
A booming voice echoed down the passageway.
“‘Tis where you are wrong, Boyd. Remove your hand from my sister. I expect you to do as she requested. You are welcome until the morn, but then I will expect to see the last of you. You have offended both of us. My sister will not be marrying you, and that is my final decision.”
Donnal Boyd left in a huff, heading down the passageway, his footsteps echoing on the stone.
“Jennie,” Alex’s hands settled on her shoulders. “My apologies. I should have spoken to him first.”
“My thanks for respecting my opinion, Alex. Even you must realize many men are completely different around lasses. Mayhap he would have been quite gracious with you.”
“Aye, but I will do anything to save my sister from a life of drudgery and servanthood. I believe ‘twas his plan for you.”
She hugged Alex and they ambled together toward the great hall. But her mind repeated the same expression over and over.
One down, one more to send away.
Chapter Fifteen
This pregnancy is not the same for Maddie, and Alex is undone.
Ashlyn came barreling down the stairs and ran over to her mother, Caralyn, and whispered in her ear. Caralyn got up and motioned for Jennie to follow her.
Rising so quickly he knocked his chair over, Alex bellowed, “Where are you off to? Is aught wrong with my wife?”
“Nay, Alex. We would let you know if there was. Womanly issues. Do not concern yourself.” Jennie hurried up the stairs behind Caralyn.
Maddie was carrying again, bairn number five, and she was having more trouble with this one.
Up until her departure for the abbey, Caralyn and Jennie had worked together as healers for the Grants, and they’d delivered Braden, Brodie and Celestina’s son, and Connor, Alex’s third son.
Alex was quite sensitive about anything concerning his wife.
He would move heaven and earth for Maddie, no one doubted that fact.
Once they reached the passageway, Caralyn said to Jennie, “Maddie’s cramping terribly this morn. Will you take a look for me?”
They guessed her to be about two moons away from delivery, but they didn’t know for sure. Jennie knocked on the door and walked inside to find Maddie curled up in bed, clutching her lower belly.
“Maddie, tell me what you are feeling,” she said.
“Jennie, something is not right. I have so much cramping with this bairn. How do I stop it?”
“Will you allow me to check your progress?” Jennie brushed Maddie’s hair back from her sweat drenched forehead. She knew Maddie never expressed it when she was feeling pain, so the sweat told her how difficult this was for her. Jennie had to use her best healer’s skills with Madeline.
“Aye, go ahead. Do what you must.” Maddie repositioned herself in bed to give Jennie access to do what she needed.
Once she finished her exam, Jennie covered Maddie up with several blankets.
“I don’t see any cause for the cramping.
The sac seems to be in place, and there is no blood, so you appear to be fine for now.
But I would suggest you be extra careful and stay in bed for a few days, getting up for your needs only.
“But I must talk to Cook, and then…” Maddie’s hand rubbed her forehead.
“Nay, Maddie. You’ll stay here. We’ll see to everything.” Caralyn rubbed her shoulder, attempting to soothe her.
Just then, the door flew open with a bang and Jennie and Caralyn both jumped. Alex stood in the doorway, his hands on his hips, concern etched in every line in his face. “Maddie? Why are you still abed?”
Jennie stood up and said, “Alex, Maddie will be staying abed for a few days. She’s having some womanly issues and I have recommended that she stay flat to make sure the bairn is fine.”
The color drained out of Alex’s face in an instant.
“Maddie?” He rushed over to the bed and sat on the edge, cupping Maddie’s cheek in his big, callused hand.
Jennie loved to see her brother like this.
The great swordsman of the Highlands could only be brought to his knees by one thing—his wee wife.
“Alex, I am sure I will be fine and the babe will be fine, too. I need some rest. I am tired with this one. Please take care of the lads for me? Jennie and Caralyn will watch Kyla.” She leaned her head against her pillow, and within a few moments, she was fast asleep.
“Maddie?” He leaned over and placed a tender kiss on her forehead and covered her with furs, tucking them up under her chin.
Her brother looked so lost. Maddie had been healthy as a horse for her other pregnancies—on her feet until the day she delivered and up again in less than a sennight.
He gave Jennie a look that broke her heart, but she held firm.
“Alex. Your wife has taken care of all of us for many years. It’s time for us to take care of her for a wee bit.
She’s a strong woman, but she still needs her rest.”
Alex turned and left the room with a dazed expression that Jennie guessed would not leave him for a while.
Chapter Sixteen
Oh, the storybooks. Maddie is missed by many, and Alex has to do story time for his bairns.
The group sat around the dais with a sense of loss. He (Aedan) sat on a bench at the end of the table near Jennie. Maddie was not with them, and everyone could feel Alex’s tension. At one point, their three lads, Jamie, Jake, and Connor attempted to sneak up the stairs in pursuit of their mama.
A booming, “Lads!” caught them in the midst of their journey, and all three stopped instantly.
“Papa,” Jamie whispered. “We want our mama.”
“Lads, you will not bother your mother. She is ill and abed, and you will stay here.”
Jake turned to look at his father. “But Mama reads one of her storybooks to us every eve.”
Alex pointed to the bottom of the stairs and all three of the bairns rushed back down the stairs, their hands clasped behind their backs as they gazed up at their da. Kyla strolled over and grabbed her sire’s hand. “Papa, you can read us the story tonight. Please?”
Aedan watched with bemusement. He leaned toward Jennie, “Maddie has storybooks?”
Jennie nodded. “Aye, she makes them herself, drawing pictures. They are quite beautiful. She has read from them for many, many moons. All the bairns of the clan love them.”
All of Alex Grant’s bluster had been taken out of him by his four bairns and his wife’s illness. He didn’t know what was wrong with Maddie, but this couldn’t possibly be the first time she had been abed.
Connor tipped his head back as far as he could as he stared up at his sire. “Please, Papa?” he asked in a small voice.
“Please?” Jamie added. “We do so love it when Mama reads to us.”
Jake nodded his head.
“Connor, you shall choose the book.” Alex strode over to the hearth and sat in his chair while three of his bairns followed him and Connor scampered off to choose a book. Gracie, Robbie and Caralyn’s daughter, followed with Roddy in hand, and Braden toddled over on his own.