“She is certain, which is what matters.”
“Nay, I mean are ye certain ’tis yours?”
Rohr flushed again. “It can be no one else’s. She is in love wi’ me!”
Da shot a look at Deathan that said much his lips did not. He gave a heavy sigh. “Ye will ha’ to provide for the lass, to be sure, and for the bairn. Still and all, it maun be kept quiet—”
“I will provide for her by marrying her.”
“Son, ye canna.”
“The child is my heir. That duty is already fulfilled.”
“If ’tis a wee lad. The powers grant it is a lass, and saves us all a lot o’ grief.”
Rohr squared himself. “Ye ask me to put Caragh aside? To break my promise to her?”
“Better than breaking faith wi’ the king.”
“And marrying instead that—that—”
“Careful of wha’ ye call yer future wife,” Da said.
“I will no’.”
Da rose back to his feet. “Ye will.”
“And wha’ am I to tell Caragh?”
“Tell her ye love her, if ye will. I ken fine a man canna always choose where he places his heart. But there is nay choice in this duty, and at times duty maun come before love.”
Rohr swore low and bitterly.
“List to me, son.” Da sounded a whit more sympathetic. “There is naught to say ye canna see Caragh on the side. Later. Once ye ha’ wed the princess and some time has passed. Once Darlei has your babe in her belly.”
“Ye bid him prove untrue? To the princess?” Deathan asked, the words torn from him.
“It happens,” Da said regretfully.
“And she is no’ a princess,” Rohr growled, “save as those savages have set her up to be. Wha’ do I owe her, compared to what I owe Caragh?”
Nothing, Deathan supposed. For true commitment stemmed from the heart.
“Caragh will insist on marriage,” Rohr declared. “Because o’ the babe.”
“A marriage can be arranged for her.” Da said. “One o’ our clansmen, perhaps a widower—”
Rohr’s eyes narrowed. “Ye would ha’ me stand aside and see her marry someone else?”
A hard fate, indeed.
“Your wedding wi’ Princess Darlei is to tak’ place tomorrow,” Father said. “What if I meet wi’ King Caerdoc, suggest it should be put off a few more days.” He made a face. “To be sure, that means we will ha’ the Caledonians here a that much longer. They are to leave directly after the ceremony.”
Rohr stared at him. “Wha’ good will a few more days do?”
“’Twill gi’ ye time to speak to yer young woman. That she may resign hersel’ to what must be.”
“I will not see her wed off to someone else.”
