Page 278 of Wicked Highland Heroes

Rhoslyn smiled. “Aye, of course. Have you eaten, are ye thirsty? How long will you stay?”

She laughed. “I see you have not changed. I would no’ mind food and drink. As for how long I can stay, a day or two. Will that do?”

“A day or two? How wonderful,” Rhoslyn cried. “Come, sit with me in my private solar. I will have food and drink brought up.” Rhoslyn turned to see women crowding the doorway of the kitchen, staring. She laughed. “Will you greet my ladies? I believe they are anxious to meet you.”

“Of course,” Beatrice replied.

The abbess insisted on entering the kitchen, instead of having the women pay attendance to her while she sat on the bench in the hall. Once Rhoslyn finally tore her from the kitchen, they settled in the solar near the fire, with a banquet set out before them.

“You must wonder why I am here,” the abbess said.

“I left the convent so suddenly that we had no chance to speak,” Rhoslyn said. “I assume you came to see how I fare?”

The abbess took a bite of roasted chicken and nodded. “You look well.” Beatrice gave her a penetrating glance. “Marriage agrees with you.”

Rhoslyn suspected she meant, ‘marriage has salved your hurt.’

Was that true? She thought back to her visit to Dougal’s grave. Had going there been any easier because she now enjoyed the protection of a new husband or because she was to have a child that would replace him? Seeing the grave hadn’t been easy, but yes, she realized with a start, her grief had lessened a bit.

“God works in mysterious says,” Abbess Beatrice said.

Rhoslyn looked sharply at her.

Beatrice laughed. “Your face is an open book. Now, how do you like your new husband?”

Her stomach did a flip with the memory of how St. Claire had touched her last night. The desires of the flesh were not something a nun would understand, and wasn’t what the abbess wanted to know.

“I see he pleases you,” Beatrice said.

Rhoslyn started. “I-he is adequate,” she stuttered.

Beatrice laughed. “From the look on your face, I would say he is more than adequate.”

Shame washed over her and Rhoslyn dropped her eyes.

“You have no need to be ashamed,” the abbess said. “God intended a man and woman to enjoy one another. The babe growing in your belly is one very good reason why.”

Rhoslyn nodded while sending up a fervent prayer that the nun hadn’t heard the rumors involving Dayton. But when the older woman said, “All things are God’s will, Rhoslyn,” she knew the abbess had heard of the kidnapping and assumed the worst.

“Is your husband pleased you are to have a child so soon?” Beatrice asked.

She meant, ‘has he accepted the child as his own?’ Rhoslyn thought, and said, “He is pleased.”

Pleasure filled the older woman’s eyes. “I knew he would be.”

“You did? But how?”

Her expression softened. “I know such things.”

Did God speak to the abbess? Was God finally answering her prayers? Was their child to be a blessing? Guilt washed over her. Weren’t all children blessings? Wasn’t it the parents who tainted them with their anger and hatred?

The sins of the fathers...

“You can be thankful that St. Claire isna’ like his brother.” Amusement sparkled the abbess’ eyes. “At least when St. Claire kidnapped you, he was only kidnapping his wife.”

Rhoslyn started before realizing the abbess would have heard of how St. Claire intercepted her on the way to marry another man. Thankfully, Beatrice didn’t wait for a reply, but said, “I understand there is even more reason to celebrate.”

Rhoslyn frowned. “There is?”