Page 132 of Boudicca

“But babes cause worry—oftentimes needless worry,” said Rhan.

And then we all smiled as Enfys and Ceri galloped past us, their two grown wolves running at their horses’ sides.

“I’m going after those two,” said Cadoc. “We’re getting too close to the Romans for them to be dashing ahead of the army.”

I nodded, and Cadoc kicked his horse into a gallop, chasing after my daughters.

“I wonder how they escaped Briallen,” I said.

“I saw her not long ago.” Rhan jerked her chin back behind usand to the right. “By your leave I’ll go to her and let her know her charges are being corralled by Cadoc.”

I smiled. “You definitely have my leave.”

As Rhan galloped away, I could feel Maldwyn’s eyes on me. “I’ve been too busy with the scouts and the herd today and haven’t seen you since this morning, my queen,” said Maldwyn as he kneed his horse around so that we rode so close together that our legs almost touched. Some nights Rhan warmed my bed, others Maldwyn did—and some nights I did not care to share my bed at all. There was no jealousy between Maldwyn and Rhan. A deep friendship had developed between the two of them that brought peace and laughter as well as passion to my campfire. It was because of the two of them that I wasn’t simply content but was truly happy. “You didn’t get sick this morning.” Maldwyn’s deep voice broke into my pleasant thoughts.

I smiled at him. “No, I didn’t. It was the same with Enfys and Ceri. As my stomach swelled I stopped being sick and was filled with energy until very close to the end. It was only when I was heavy with child that I became awkward. I was grateful then for the ease with which I carry my babes. I am doubly grateful for it now, though I cannot help but long for the comforts of Tasceni.”

Maldwyn took my hand. “We will vanquish the Romans and be home long before harvest. You’ll give birth to our daughter in your lodge surrounded by your women.”

Just the thought had my shoulders relaxing. “Home...” I sighed happily. “It will be a wondrous thing to return to Tasceni.”

“Indeed.” His smile was slow and intimate. “You look like yourself again.” His gaze slid down my body from my breasts to my abdomen. “Well, except for some small changes.”

I laughed. “Which won’t remain small.”

“And you still believe she’ll be born near Samhain in the fall?”

Maldwyn had asked me versions of this question over and over, though I did not tire of answering. I enjoyed seeing the light in his cornflower eyes as he spoke of the babe. “Yes, though I’m not as sure as you that the child is a girl.”

Maldwyn deepened his voice and scratched his chin like an elder dispensing wisdom. “Fathers know such things.”

I laughed. “Well, Enfys and Ceri say daughters know such things, too, and they insist I carry their baby brother.”

“When they are disappointed byherbirth, we shall simply have to try again for that brother for which they long.” He cleared his throat and added, “I do not say it enough, but the thought of being a father fills me with joy.” Maldwyn’s face flushed, which reminded me of our early days together.

I reached out and stroked his cheek. “You will be a wonderful father.”

His eyes trapped mine. “When you first loved me I did not think anything could make me happier, but now this.” Maldwyn paused and his gaze flicked down to the little mound under my hand. He looked away then, blinking rapidly. “This babe has completed my life.” Maldwyn met my eyes again. “You and she are my world.”

I pulled Tân up then, raising my arm and signaling for the army to halt. “Dreda!” I called to the tall Queen’s Guard member who rode not far behind me at the head of my guard.

She clucked to her horse and joined us. “Yes, my queen?”

“We’ll take a short break here before marching to tonight’s campsite,” I said.

“As you ask, so will I do.”

As Dreda began calling down the wide, thick line of warriors to halt for a break, I raised a brow and grinned at Maldwyn. “I need an escort, Horse Master.” I didn’t wait for his response but kicked Tân into a gallop and turned her toward a distant cluster of willows.

I arrived at the trees ahead of Maldwyn—something that wouldn’t have happened had he been riding Ennis. As I expected, the willows’ long, tight line framed the bank of a lazy little stream. When Maldwyn joined me I smiled at him. “Help me down?”

His eyes widened with happy surprise at my request. As a warrior queen I rarely asked for help dismounting, but my horse master was more than willing to assist me. I dropped from Tân’s back, allowing my body to slide intimately against his. When my feet touched groundI did not move away. Instead I wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders and kissed him. My tongue teased his and Maldwyn responded enthusiastically, breaking our embrace only long enough to take off his travel cloak and lay it across the mossy ground under the willows. While he watched, I slowly, seductively took off my clothes. On his knees, he kissed the swell of my belly and whispered words of love to his child, and then those words were mine as I straddled him, bringing us to an intense climax so quickly that we collapsed together, sweaty, breathing hard, and laughing softly.

I was tucked against his shoulder and smiling happily when Maldwyn said, “What will you name her?”

I decided to indulge his insistence that the babe was a girl. “I shall call her Arianell.”

He propped himself up on his elbow so he could gaze down at me. “Yes. That is perfect.” His lips trailed down my neck and over my breasts to my not-so-flat stomach. Maldwyn kissed the slight mound gently and whispered, “My Arianell, my beloved.”