Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 95326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“We make a perfect pair,” he said and stretched out on his side next to her in bed.
“Aye,” she said and sighed softly. “And we will have the most beautiful children.”
“Many, many children,” he teased, nipping playfully at her neck, and causing her to giggle.
She loved his playful side, it kept her worries at bay and kept her smiling, something she had not done often.
His mouth returned to her lips, his hand to her breast to cup and squeeze gently, and—
“I am sorry to disturb,” came the voice along with the sharp rap at the door.
“May?” Elsie asked, thinking it was the healer but not sure.
“Aye. I am sorry, mistress, but your da is agitated and insisting on seeing you. I fear he may undo all the good he has gained if he does not calm down.”
“I will be right there, May.”
“I will be in his bedchamber,” May said.
Elsie went to look at her husband, but he was already getting out of bed, and she worried he was upset with her. “I am sorry—”
“There is no reason to be,” he said, offering her his hand to help her out of bed. “I cannot say I am not disappointed, but the night would not have gone well if we ignored the summons. We do what we must. Our time together will come soon enough.”
“I am lucky to have you as my husband,” Elsie said as she took his hand, and he tugged her out of the bed.
“Aye, you are wife,” he said with a playful wink and gave her a quick kiss.
Elsie ached to return to bed with him and make love, but as he said, they do what they must, what duty calls for. She was just glad she had her husband by her side now, so she no longer saw to her duty alone.
Once they donned their garments, they hurried to her da’s bedchamber. He was waving his hands, insisting Elsie be summoned.
“I am here, Da,” she said and hurried to the side of his bed to sit.
“Elsie,” he said, his eyes wide with worry as he reached his hand out to her, and she quickly took hold of it. “I cannot recall if it was a dream or you actually spoke to me about it. Did you say that Brother Kendrick was no longer at the abbey?”
May shook her head at Elsie, warning her not to further upset her da.
Elsie hesitated. They needed information from her da to be able to help her sisters, but his well-being was at risk as well.
Cavell stepped around his wife to stand at her side. “Brother Kendrick has passed, Norris, but another brother took his place, and I am sure Brother Kendrick passed on any information you shared with him.”
Her da’s face lost some of its worry. “True. True. Brother Kendrick was a kind soul and would make sure he informed his successor of things that might come to pass. And I did secure my daughters’ safety. They would be collected from the abbey and protected.” He shook his head and waved his hands once again. “No one must know, not ever. Not ever.” He chuckled. “A tale that is all it is… a tale.” His chuckle died and his glance fell on Elsie. “I promised your mum and I never ever broke a promise to your mum.” Tears pooled in his eyes. “I miss her so much. I wish I could be with her again.” He rubbed his eyes to chase away the unshed tears. “We need to talk, Cavell,” her da said seriously. “There is much you need to know. Go, Elsie, this is between your husband and me.”
Cavell nodded at his wife. “Go and get some sleep, Elsie. We will talk.”
Elsie was reluctant to leave but understood this might be an opportunity for them to learn something that could help her sisters.
“Aye, husband,” she said, standing.
Cavell gave her hand a squeeze and ordered softly, “Get some sleep.”
“I will wait for you,” she whispered, and he shook his head but smiled.
Elsie woke the next morning, not sure how long she had slept and disappointed to find herself alone in bed. She hurried to dress, freshen her face with a splash of water, and her mouth with dried mint, then rushed from the room to find her husband and see what he learned from her da if anything.
She stopped at her da’s bedchamber to see if he could still be there, but her da was fast asleep and alone.
Elsie entered the Great Hall to see servants huddled in hush conversations. She headed toward Alda as soon as she spotted her. She did not have to ask what was wrong, Alda hurried to offer the news.
“A body has been found in the woods, not far from the village. Chieftain Cavell and Melvin went there. The dead man is unfamiliar to the men who found him. The clan worries what it might mean with rogue mercenaries in the area.”