Chapter 15
Sorcha did not know what she was going to say to her husband. Sitting on their bed, she held her stomach and watched the fire, knowing that he must know by now what was wrong.
What she had hidden from him.
Curse this pregnancy sickness! She thought she could move through the meal without concern, her stomach actually allowing her to take pieces of bread and some ale without difficulty earlier.
But the smell of the roast had proved to be too much.
Well, that and Liam’s hand on her knee. He had touched her with such gentleness, clearly proud that she was allowing him to accompany his warriors.
She knew that his need to not be cooped up in the keep was great, and she was not going to be the wife that demanded he do anything he did not wish to do.
Sorcha would only wish that he would feel the same about her, not forcing her to do anything she did not wish to do. But the moment he found out about this bairn, Sorcha knew she would become a prisoner in the keep.
She could not allow that to happen.
There was a knock at the door and Sorcha stiffened. It was time for her to confess her knowledge and hope he would not leave her.
“Come in.”
Instead of her husband, Agnes stood there, a concerned look on her face. “Oh, ye poor dear!”
Sorcha promptly burst into tears and soon the other woman had her gathered in her arms, patting her back.
“I didnae mean for this tae happen!”
“Of course, ye didnae,” Agnes replied evenly. “But when ye are rutting like rabbits, I dinnae know what ye thought would happen.”
Sorcha choked on a laugh, resting her cheek against the woman’s shoulder. She and Liam had in fact been rutting like rabbits these days, without cause to prevent a pregnancy.
“I cannae keep anything down.”
Agnes pulled back, smoothing the hair out of Sorcha’s face. “Och, that is a hazard of carrying a bairn, mah love. I can appeal tae the healer to make ye some herbs that will help soothe yer nausea, and we will prepare bland meals for ye until this passes.”
“Does it pass?” she asked. “Mah sister was never sick.”
Agnes patted her cheek. “Then she was a lucky one. Ye will get through this.”
Sorcha swallowed. “What did he say?”
Agnes’s expression softened. “He’s going tae be happy for ye, and I believe he will be happy for himself as well. This is a second chance for him and if mah nephew has any smarts about him, he will see it as such.”
Sorcha smoothed her hand over her stomach.
She had worried about the way that Liam would react to her pregnancy, not wanting to ruin the happiness they had just found with each other.
Every day she could feel her love growing for her husband, and wondered if he was happy with her and the turn that their marriage had taken.
“Give him time,” Agnes continued. “Perhaps his journey is good timing. ’Tis will give him some time to think.”
Perhaps it was. Sorcha drew in a breath. “Tell me one thing. Did he wish for bairns with Nelia?”
“Och lass, ye dinnae need tae worry about the past,” the older woman replied, sadness in her eyes. “’Tis will only make ye live there. Of course, he did. ’Tis part of his duty as a laird. Now he has a duty tae ye as a laird and a husband tae raise this bairn. Liam wilnae let ye down.”
So, she was going to be a duty. It did not make Sorcha feel any better.
“Come,” Agnes said as she stood, “let’s get ye comfortable in bed and I will fetch something for ye tae eat that will agree with ye.”
Sorcha allowed the woman to do so, only because she was so exhausted and longed for her bed.
After a meager meal of bread and mashed potatoes, Agnes tucked her under the furs.
“I am happy for ye,” the older woman said, patting her cheek.
“I hope ye know what a boon ye have given all of us, including Liam. We have longed for children in this keep, longed for the sound of laughter, and ye are bringing that tae this family again.”
Tears gathered in Sorcha’s eyes as she reached up and squeezed the woman’s weathered hand. “Thank ye.”
“’Tis nothing I wouldnae do for family,” Agnes replied before straightening. “Get some sleep, mah dear. Everything is going tae be just fine.”
Sorcha didn’t respond, instead watching Agnes as she quit the room, closing the door softly behind her. Surely, Liam had guessed by now what was wrong with her. Surely, he was contemplating his next course of action.
And whether or not he wanted to remain with her.
Biting her lip, Sorcha refused to shed any more tears. She was with child, and now there was nothing to do but to care for it.
Liam came in a little while later and Sorcha shut her eyes, listening to her husband move about their chamber and undress.
Her heart hammered in her chest as he climbed into bed next to her, rustling the furs until his warm body was pressed up against hers, the heat radiating off his skin.
As much as she wished to turn into his warmth, she remained completely still, hoping that he would not ask her what the truth of her illness was.
When he turned away from her, Sorcha let out a slow breath. There would be a time that they would have to discuss what seemed like a boulder between them now, words that were left unsaid.
Words that would likely have to be spoken in time.
Sorcha turned on her back as well, staring at the wall for a bit. As she finally closed her eyes, she hoped that this would not ruin the happiness they had found with each other.
It was before dawn when Sorcha awoke suddenly, finding her husband curled around her body, his warmth far more than what the furs could provide.
His hand rested on her stomach, and for a moment, Sorcha allowed herself to breathe.
It was stolen moments such as these that she was grateful that she had come to this keep and married the man lying beside her.
Now she understood the feelings between her sisters and their husbands.
Now she knew what it meant to love another so fiercely that it felt like your heart was going to burst out of your chest.
Those were the feelings she had for Liam.
He stirred, his arm tightening around her. “Good morning, Wife.”
She turned in his arm, facing him in the darkness. His eyes were still closed, and his cheek jerked under her hand as she cupped it, the bristles on his cheek rough against her palm.
“Good morning, Husband.”
“I am leaving today,” he said softly, opening one eye. “But I will only be gone for as long as needed.”
Sorcha swallowed. “I shall miss ye then.”
His expression softened. “I shall miss ye tae, Wife.”
Sorcha’s throat closed with emotion as she positioned herself on top of her husband, feeling the length of him at her center.
“Sorcha,” he groaned as she lowered herself onto him, gasping herself.
His hands went to her hips and she started to move, allowing her heart to pour out through her movements.
Within seconds she was crying out his name, feeling the clench of his fingers on her hips as he drove into her.
Her body trembled with the passion that he was able to grow but she allowed him to take her higher, wanting to give him everything.
Including her heart.
When he finally had his release, Sorcha collapsed on his broad chest, her breathing coming in short gasps. This was what had been completely and utterly not in the plans when they had decided upon their union. She had never expected to have such a connection with her husband.
Or to love him so.
Liam’s hand slid up and down her back, his chest rising and falling under her cheek. Sorcha felt the rhythmic sound of his heart in his chest and sighed, wishing they could remain just as they were, without a care or worry about what was beyond the door.
“I will be thinking of this morn tae keep mah bones warm,” Liam said after a few moments. “Know that, Sorcha.”
She reluctantly peeled herself off her husband, cuddling to his side instead.
His hand rested on her hip and they lay there until he drew in a heavy breath and threw aside the furs, letting the cold into their cocoon.
Sorcha propped her head up on her hand and watched as Liam stoked the fire naked, his broad frame illuminated by the light.
Even with the scars on his skin, Sorcha thought that her husband was far handsome than any other man she had ever met.
And he was hers.
After dressing, Liam finally strapped on the sword that he had moved into the chamber, and turned to look at Sorcha.
“There’s a dagger under the mattress and my bow is underneath the bed.”
Sorcha sat up, letting the furs fall off her upper half. Liam’s nostrils flared at the sight of her bare chest and she shivered under the intensity of his stare. “I can defend mahself, Husband.”
“I know!” he bit out, thrusting a hand through his hair. “Bloody hell Sorcha, I know.”
Sorcha was surprised at the fervor in his voice. Was he truly worried about leaving her? “Go,” she told him. “But make certain that ye come home in one piece.”
He glanced at the window, where the dawn was starting to lighten the sky, rising behind the clouds that still lashed out the snow. “Are ye certain ye are well enough?”
“I’m fine,” Sorcha grated out, rising from the bed, wrapping one of the furs around her body. “Nothing but a bout of food poisoning that has me ill.”
He eyed her, unbelieving in her claim, but Sorcha lifted her chin.
She did not want to have this discussion before he left her.
Let him believe that she was just ill and not with child, though Sorcha figured he probably knew the truth.
She was not ready to hear how he would want her to quit everything to stay in this chamber until their bairn was born.
Given his past, Sorcha knew he would take everything away from her to ensure her safety and that of the bairn’s.
So instead, she lifted onto her toes and brushed her lips against his, her hand on his chest, right at his heart. He growled and pulled her close, his clothing scratching her naked body. “Why do ye tease me so?” he asked against her lips.
She laughed softly as his hand roamed over her arse. “I want ye tae remember what’s waiting.”
He nipped at her chin. “I wilnae forget, I swear on mah life.”
Sorcha climbed back into the bed, covering herself with the furs.
Liam leaned down and gave her one last kiss before he walked out, shutting the door behind him.
She stared at the door far longer than she should, the room becoming warm from the fire that he had stoked in both the fireplace and in her heart.
When he returns, I will tell him the truth, Sorcha decided. She would not be able to hide it from him much longer anyway, if she were even doing so now.
Sighing, she turned on her side, tucking her hand under her head.
The chamber suddenly seemed empty without Liam here, and she knew her heart would feel the same until she could see him again.
Rhynald would protect his laird at all costs—Sorcha knew as much—but she would count the days until Liam was safe and sound.