Page 158 of Laird of Steel
“Gellir?” she whispered, easing up on her elbow to look down at him.
“Mm?” His eyes were still closed.
“Remember Beltane? The night we first made love?”
He smiled. “Mm-hmm.”
“I think…somethin’…might have happened that night.”
“You fell in love with me?”
She smirked. “Ye goose, I fell in love with ye four years ago. Nay, somethin’ else.”
“What?”
“Well… They say a bairn conceived on Beltane is blessed.”
His eyes flew open. “Are you…?”
She nodded.
She knew he’d be happy. She didn’t realize he’d be so overjoyed that he’d run naked to the window and shout the news to the world.
But she supposed she couldn’t blame him. Especially when she heard all the cheers from the courtyard.
By winter, Grim Gellir Cameliard would be the proud father of the next child of the Rivenloch clan. And Merraid would have just enough time to get into shape for the grand spring tournament at Rivenoch.
Epilogue
“Merraid! Merraid! Merraid!”
From the solar, Merraid could hear Isabel calling all the way up the spiraling steps. She exchanged an arched brow with Gellir. It had taken Merraid a while to grow accustomed to Isabel’s enthusiastic nature. But after four months, she knew there was probably no cause for alarm.
By the time Isabel reached her, the lass was breathless. Grinning with excitement, she barged into the chamber, holding a sealed parchment in her hand.
“A missive!” she gushed.
Gellir pushed himself up from the chair.
Merraid remained seated. She was grateful for Isabel’s energy. In her current condition, clambering down the stairs would have been exhausting. Even standing was too much effort.
She’d been out of sorts for a fortnight now. She’d grown too unwieldy to perform hertaijiquanwith her usual grace. Laird Deirdre had finally banned her from the tiltyard. And Gellir treated her like a queen, waiting on her, hand and foot.
Resigned to reading and embroidery and strolling through the dying fall garden, she was bored and restless. A mysterious missive was welcome.
Gellir reached out a hand for it.
Isabel pulled it back. “’Tis for Merraid,” she announced smugly, handing it to her. But that didn’t mean she didn’t want to know what it said. She clasped her hands under her chin, eager to hear the news.
Merraid broke the seal and unfurled the parchment. She glanced at the bottom.
“’Tis from Lady Carenza.”
Isabel squealed and clapped her hands together.
Gellir sat back down. “Is she well?”
Merraid scanned the missive. “I think so.”
