Page 96 of Anice’s Bargain

Epilogue

April 1338

Caldrick Castle, England

The land had been good to them. In two years of crops, the rich soil of Carlisle had yielded enough to feed all its people and provide even more for sale.

It was not only the land that had been good to them. Life had been equally as good to them, perhaps more so.

Anice lifted her golden-haired babe from his cradle and curled him close in her arms. Sweet young Gavin gave a little coo of contentment and snuggled closer into her warmth on the cool spring morning. She sang softly as she swayed in that age-old way mothers do when holding their babes. Never had she imagined herself as a mother.

However, when Gavin was born, it was as though the final piece of happiness to Anice’s life had been revealed. She gazed down at her son, staring at the perfect curve of his small nose, the brilliance of his blue eyes, the delicate curve of his lips, and her heart ached with indescribable love.

Piquette’s tail thumped against Anice’s thigh, impatient for a view of the small child. Anice gently lowered her son and let Piquette give him a nuzzling sniff.

Gavin opened his mouth in a wide yawn, revealing a small tongue stained white with milk. Anice chuckled and drew him back against her. “You must be a tired boy.”

“Was it from keeping us up last eve?” James asked from the doorway. He padded into the room and put an arm around her.

“’Tis exhausting preventing one’s parents from sleeping.” Anice slid James a playful smile.

Aye, she was tired, but she was happy.

She knew Ingrith would get up with Gavin, and she knew a wet nurse would allow her to sleep through the night. But Ingrith had her own son to wake up with in the morning, as well as a full day of work ahead of her. And after Anice had nursed Gavin herself, she would never hire a wet nurse. She loved those mornings rocking him, listening to the greedy gulps as her milk let down, and the drowsy warmth of her son as he grew full and tired once more.

“Ye’re a good mother.” James smoothed a loose hair behind Anice’s ear. “I love seeing ye with our son.”

“And you’re a good father.” She smiled up at her husband. “And a good laird as well.”

It was true. He’d done everything he set out to do. Peace and prosperity had been restored to the land. His father’s death had laid to rest the dreams of sacking Werrick Castle ever again. Or at least by the Grahams who remained in Carlisle. They were content to work the land with their families, to have a home and food and safety. The ones who did not wish to follow such a life had returned to the Debatable Lands.

Everything was going exactly right in their lives.

A knock sounded at the door. “My Lady, Mistress Davidson has just arrived.”

James and Anice regarded each other curiously.

“Were ye expecting Marin?” James asked.

Anice shook her head. “Nay. Mayhap she’s here to see Gavin, although it is rather early for a visit.”

James held out his arms to hold Gavin, and Anice gave him their son. “Only until we see Marin, and then you know she’ll want to hold him,” she warned.

For as large as James was, he was the gentlest of men when it came to their son. Those powerful arms moved slow and tender as he cradled their small bairn against him and crooned soft endearments in Gaelic. Gavin stared up in adoring wonder at his father and reached a hand toward James’s beard.

Gavin did that often, gripping the wiry hair of James’s beard. But never once did James pull away or scold their son. He patiently held his head in place as Gavin’s little hands tugged. Anice led them all from the room. “Give him a bit of time and he’s going to hurt you.”

“Ach,” James said dismissively. “Unless he stabs me, I’ll be fine.” He winked at Anice and shifted Gavin in his arms as they went below stairs.

Her jaw dropped open in mock offense. “Mayhap I need to stab you again?”

He grinned. “Nay. Unless I deserve it.”

“If you continue thus, you may well.” She laughed in spite of herself and kissed James on the cheek.

They opened the door to the great hall to welcome Bran and Marin who were already sitting at a trestle with steaming mugs in front of them. Gavin gave a gurgling sound and Marin turned toward them. She got to her feet, strode several steps and went still.

Emotions played over her face, ones so raw Anice felt every one of them mirrored in her own soul. The surprise at the babe Marin already knew about, the immediate punch of hurt to her own empty womb, and then the joy for her sister. “Is this Gavin?” Marin asked in a whisper.