“Ye heard her,” Violet said softly. “He is well.”
“Aye.” Moira kissed John’s head. “I heard.”
She carried him after the healer, leaving Connor and Violet alone.
“Why did ye pay her as if she saved the Kingdom?” Violet asked, a furrow between her eyebrows.
Connor closed the door. “Well, she did.”
“I was unaware I had become sovereign territory.”
“Ye have always behaved as if ye are.”
Violet opened her mouth. But before she could speak, Connor crossed the room and kissed her. His hands found her waist, and the rigid line of his shoulders softened only when she wrapped her arms around him.
He kissed her slowly, then took her hands and pressed his thumbs into her warm palms.
“I am well,” she whispered.
“Aye.”
“John is well.”
“Aye.”
“Ye may stop acting like we are delicate now.”
“I wasnae doing that before.”
Before Violet could respond, Connor kissed her again, holding her as though relief was another precious thing he meant to keep.
Connor was still holding her against him when she brushed back the hair she had disturbed near his temple.
“I am being serious now, Connor. Yer healer may purchase a small estate with what ye paid her,” she said.
“Then she will remain nearby when ye need her.”
Violet straightened his collar. “That was yer plan?”
Connor shrugged. “Is it that surprising that I always have a plan?”
“That explains why most of them become me problem.”
A knock interrupted his answer, and his mouth tightened.
Violet recognized Moira’s knock, later that evening, followed by a small complaint from the passage.
“Come in,” she called.
Moira entered, carrying John. “Someone has decided sleep is unnecessary. He heard Lady Moore’s voice and refused to settle.”
Violet reached for him, but Connor took him first, settling him against his chest with practiced hands. John caught his collar and pulled with determined concentration.
“Traitor,” Violet huffed. “I was the one he demanded.”
“What can I say? He chose the safer parent,” Connor teased.
Moira smiled as Violet stepped close. John turned toward her voice and released Connor’s collar to reach for her face. Violet adjusted the blanket at his side.
