Page 169 of Bride of Fire
Morgan scowled. “What the devil?”
They didn’t bother getting fully dressed. They stole out of the bedchamber door as they were and crept to the nursery.
Bethac greeted them at the crack of the nursery door. She was grinning from ear to ear.
“Congratulations,” she said with a wink. “Though it took ye long enough.”
Jenefer sighed. How much had the maidservant heard? They’d have to be certain to close the shutters from now on when they were grappling…either with words or under the bedsheets.
Then Bethac swung the door wide to reveal the guests crowded into the nursery.
Jenefer was mortified.
Her aunt Deirdre was holding Miles, smiling gently down at the wee lad.
Hallie sat on the bed beside her, looking on in cool, quiet reflection.
Cicilia was closing the shutters. When she turned, her face was alight with pleasure.
Feiyan and her mother Miriel were warming their hands at the hearth, looking both satisfied and conspiratorial.
Her mother Helena stood with her arms crossed. Her expression was grave, but a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
“What are you doing here?” Jenefer blurted.
“We did give you a sennight,” Deirdre said, tickling the babe in her arms. “Didn’t we, Miles?”
Her Aunt Miriel shrugged. “We figured if it didn’t happen today…”
“We might have to intervene,” Feiyan finished.
“If what didn’t happen?” Morgan asked.
Miriel didn’t answer him, speaking to her sisters instead. “I told you they wouldn’t read the document.”
Deirdre nodded. “You were right. And it turns out ’twas for the best.”
“The document?” Jenefer asked, growing annoyed with her aunts.
Feiyan answered. “The document from the king.”
Helena stepped forward, eyeing Morgan up. “We decided to wait for a sennight. If by then the two of you weren’t wed or dead, we’d return to prod things along.”
Morgan’s brow had clouded. He probably didn’t like the way her mother had said “prod,” as if she meant to jab him with her sword.
Jenefer wasn’t happy about her kin’s interference either. “What about the document?”
Hallie rose from the bed. There was a sad wistfulness in her voice as she said, “The important thing is you’ve chosen to wed.”
Cicilia couldn’t contain her glee. “Now wee Miles will have a mother!”
Bethac joined in. “And we can all stay here at Creagor, aye?”
Her mother’s eyes gleamed. “Think of the fighting force you’ll have, combining your two armies.”
Bethac clasped her hands in delight. “And the brood o’ wee bairns ye’ll make to carry on the clan name.”
Even Miles voiced his opinion, cooing from Deirdre’s lap.
