Page 141 of Laird of Flint
“Who else knows?” he asked.
“No one. But I won’t lie to Gellir.”
Hew understood that. A marriage couldn’t begin with deceit. “You won’t have to.”
Hew knew something about Gellir that Carenza didn’t.
More than anything, his cousin was a man of morals. Without principles, without virtue, he was nothing. He would rather die than sacrifice his honor.
Even if she tried to hide it, Gellir would never be fooled into believing the bairn was his. He’d always know the child was not his true heir. He’d always know his bride had not come to his bed a virgin. While chivalry might prevent Gellir from interrogating Carenza, that knowledge would haunt him. He would be miserable in their marriage. As miserable as Carenza.
The clan would count the months. They’d assume either Gellir had planted his seed long before their marriage or Carenza had taken a lover before him.
Either assumption would be a blow to Gellir’s pride. A stain on his spotless reputation. And that was something the illustrious Sir Gellir Cameliard of Rivenloch could not abide.
But Hew?
He wasn’t the heir to Rivenloch.
He wasn’t a tournament champion.
He wasn’t a paragon of virtue.
Indeed, most people thought he was a philandering wastrel.
He had nothing to lose.
Suddenly inspired, he dug in his satchel and pulled out the wee parcel he’d been saving for months. He opened her palm, placing on it the gold ring he’d bought from the goldsmith’s widow.
“Keep this until your wedding day.”
“What?”
“Don’t say anything to Gellir. Not yet.”
“But—”
“I might have a remedy.”
It took all his will not to sweep her up in his arms and bellow in triumph. But the fear that he might fail, that the odds were against him, that his efforts might be for naught, kept him from celebrating prematurely.
“Promise me,” he begged. “Promise me you won’t breathe a word to Gellir.”
“If ye don’t return before the wedding…”
He would. But he understood her reticence.
“If I don’t return by your wedding day, then do as you must.”
“Because I don’t want him to get hurt,” she explained. “Or disgraced. Or caught off-guard.”
His heart melted. Carenza was so kindhearted and considerate. She’d already admitted she didn’t love Gellir. Yet she was compassionate enough to want to keep him from harm.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll look after him.”
Gellir would be grateful to be spared the humiliation.
Hew wished he could linger at Darragh. With the Beltane fires burning outside, he and Carenza had the castle all to themselves. He yearned to make love to her again. To feel their hearts beat together. To let their moans mingle on the air. To run his hands over her belly, imagining the new life growing inside her.
