"I'm afraid so."
"Colin must be incredibly worried. He's close to his father."
"'Tis true," Anna said. "There is something else I wish to speak to you about."
"Aye?"
"Did something happen that I should know about?" Anna sat down on Kristina's bed by her hip.
Surely she could not know about the intimacy she and Colin had shared. Had he told Neacal or someone? "What are you talking about?"
Anna sighed. "Very well. I'll just say it. This morn, the maid found a bloody smock beside your bed. Since I haven't seen any cuts on you, I have to assume one of two things. Either it isn't yours or you lost your virginity."
Good heavens, she'd completely forgotten about the smock Colin had removed from her last night. She lay down and placed a hand against her stomach. "'Tis my courses, and it is rather heavy this month. My belly pains me terribly. That's why I'm still abed."
Anna was silent for a long moment. Did she believe the lie? Kristina had to admit she rarely lied and was probably terrible at it.
"I asked the maid about this," Anna went on. "She said you did not ask for any cloths to absorb the flow, and that the bleeding has apparently stopped."
The maid did uncover her while she was half asleep, urging her to get up and break her fast. Yanking the covers up again, Kristina had told her she planned to sleep in.
"My courses are always brief," Kristina said.
"One night? If only we could all be so lucky."
"Indeed, I am lucky."
"I don't believe you."
Kristina blew out an annoyed breath. "Very well, then," she snapped. "If you must know… I did share an amazing experience with Colin. But I didn't want anyone to find out."
Anna gasped. "Even me?"
"You won't approve."
"I'm not judging you, sister." Anna took her hand. "I but want to help you. Was it your choice?"
"Of course. I knew I might never get to experience passion if it wasn't with Colin."
"Do you love him?" Anna asked softly.
Certainly she did, but did everyone need to know this? She shrugged, bitterness converging upon her. "What does it matter? I have no illusions about love and marriage. I know I cannot marry a future chief."
"Why not?"
"Anna, in case you haven't noticed, I'm blind and hideously scarred. Can you imagine someone of prominence taking me to meet his father, a chief, and his mother? He would be a laughingstock." Disappointment tightened Kristina's throat.
"You're talking nonsense. Your vision has naught to do with your suitability in being a wife. Nor does your scar, of course."
"As you already know, I'm a burden to anyone I live with."
"You are not. I love you, wee sister. I want you by my side always, but if you can find happiness with Colin, I will wish you well. You have so much love to give."
Kristina could not imagine how she would perform all the necessary duties. Having been blind for two years, she well knew what she couldn't do now that she could previously. "How would I…?"
"What?"
"If we had children, how would I care for them?"
