“Most likely.”
Sophie ruffled Lara’s cropped hair,her natural auburn growing out at the roots.Then she glanced atLara’s flour-covered arms, where the darker skin dye had faded, andat the balls of dough ready to be rolled out.Giving a sigh, Sophierolled up her sleeves.“Well now, there’s a supper to prepare and aking to prepare it for.Marta.”She called out to the girl carryinga pot of pitted plums.“Go find your grandmother, child, tell her Ihave news of Patience and the babe.”
“Is everything well withthem?”The memory of last night’s dream filled Lara withdread.
“The babe has dropped,”Sophie said.“It’ll be coming soon, but yes, Patience and the babeare doing well.The buck the captain left them and the cask of redwine he sent made a marked difference.”
Lara hadn’t known about the wine, yetit didn’t surprise her that he’d sent it, or that he’d nevermentioned it to her.She glanced at the king’s pavilion at the sametime Talon walked out of it and headed straight towardthem.
“Ladies.”He bowed fromhis waist up.“I’ve come with an invitation from the king to supwith him at table tonight.”
“We’d be honored.”Sophieeyed him as closely as she had Lara.
“The Midereds have beeninvited as well,” he told them.“I assume they’ll be on their bestbehavior with the king here.”
“We shall see,” Sophiesaid.
“Yes.”He gave a tick ofhis jaw.“We shall.”He met Lara’s doubtful gaze and his jaw tickedagain.“Madam,” he said to Sophie.“If I could speak with you, inprivate.”
“Of course, Captain.”Sophie gave a quick glance Lara’s way before following him insidethe hall.
Lara had two pie crusts rolled outbefore they came back out, neither giving anything away by theirexpressions as they walked back toward her.Shouting broke out, andsoldiers jumped aside as a cart pulled up.Willem jumped down andran to where Talon and Sophie joined Lara.
“Patience is in labor.”Willem panted as hard as his cart horse.“Where’sBerta?”
“Inside the kitchens,”Sophie said.
Lara was already untying her workapron as Willem ran into the kitchens, running back out with Bertaon his heels a moment later.
“What can I do?”Bertaasked Sophie.
“Stay here and feed theking.Lara and I will be with her.”Sophie turned to Talon asWillem loaded her bag onto the cart.“Please give our thanks andregrets to the king for his kind invitation to supper tonight,Captain.Unfortunately, babies come in their own sweettime.”
“I will.”Talon took Laraby the wrist.“Take the roan.You’ll get there faster, and if youneed anything or anybody from here, you can send Willem back onhim.”
Lara nodded.“I need to get my bagfrom upstairs.”
When she came back out, Talon waswaiting for her with the roan saddled and ready.
“Remember,” he said,giving her a leg up onto the saddle.“If you need anything, justsend Willem.”
“I will.”Lara fought theurge to reach out and smooth his furrowed brow.“Try not to worryso much, Captain Talon Guiscard, patron saint of strays and feylads, this is Patience’s second babe, and Sophie says she’s beendoing well.”
He nodded and folded his hand overhers as she took the reins.“What of your latest dream?”
Lara swallowed the terror she’d feltwhen she couldn’t staunch the flow of Patience’s blood in herdream, the horror of watching the life drain from her friend’sface.“Giving birth is a bloody business.I’ve had the same dreambefore every babe I’ve helped birth into this world,” shelied.
Talon said nothing, but his expressiontold her he wasn’t sure he believed her.He gave her hand asqueeze, and Lara rode off, trying not to dwell on the fact thatPatience’s babe was early, or that it was birthing her fifth childthat had killed Talon’s mother.A fact he was no doubt worryingover as well.
***
Sophie leaned back in her chair atWillem and Patience’s kitchen table and stretched her neck andshoulders, letting out a long, weary, happy sigh.
“What time do you think itis?”she asked Lara.
Lara stifled a yawn.“Close tomidnight at least.”
A lusty wail filled the little housefrom the bed loft above them, and Sophie and Lara sat grinning ateach other like two fat tabbies with bellies full ofmilk.
