Page 55 of Highland Flame

“I suppose no’.”

“Ye probably should let the others ken as well.”

“I will. Eventually,” said Yvaine, feeling now as if she should have told Cam before they ever got intimate together that she was carrying a baby. He wasn’t going to be happy that she kept this important information from him. Then again, she was sure his reaction to the news would be a lot less severe than if he ever found out her other deep and dark secret.

*

“So, how arethings goin’ for ye here at the priory?” Gavin asked as he and Cam headed into the infirmary. “Tired of it yet?”

“I was tired of it before I even got here,” said Cam. “I dinna like all the prayer sessions, the unbearable silence, and also all the hard work. However, I am gettin’ to ken Yvaine, and I think I am startin’ to have feelin’s for the lass. Although, I am no’ sure she returns those feelin’s for me.”

“How well are ye gettin’ to ken her?” asked Gavin with a lifted brow.

“We’ve made love, if that’s what ye’re askin’.”

“Blethers, Cam, I canna believe ye.” Gavin chuckled and shook his head.

“What do ye mean?”

“I canna believe ye’d go to bed with someone like her.”

“She might be a new widow but, honestly, I think I am startin’ to fall in love with her. This has never happened to me before.”

“Really.” Gavin looked at him like Cam had two heads.

“Why are ye givin’ me that look?”

“I just find it amusin’ that the first lass ye ever start to fall for is a bairned one.”

“Bairned?” This took Cam by surprise that his good friend should say this. “Nay, Gavin, ye’re wrong. She’s no’ pregnant. I mean, I dinna think so. We just made love, and it is too soon to even ken for sure what our union might have brought about. Why would ye even say that?”

“I’m no’ talkin’ about ye, ye fool. I’m talkin’ about Yvaine bein’ pregnant with her late husband’s bairn.”

“Oh?” Cam’s heart raced. “Why do ye say such things?”

“I dinna say anythin’ that isna true.”

“How do ye ken this?”

“Davita told me. Her little brathair overheard Yvaine’s brathair and one of the tavern whores talkin’ about it. It’s the whole reason why Davita wanted to be here for Yvaine. She thought a pregnant widow in a priory would need a friend. Or at least need another woman who isna a nun to talk to about her condition.”

“Bid the devil,” whispered Cam, staring off into space. “I suspected she might be pregnant at first, but she denied it.”

“She did? Are ye sure? Why would she do such a thing?”

The more Cam thought about it, the more he realized she hadn’t denied it, just never gave him an answer. It was just like her little secret of not really becoming a nun.

Everything started to make sense now to Cam. This was the reason she had been pushing him away lately. She must have felt guilty for making love when she was pregnant with another man’s child. A man who she’d yet to get over mourning for.

“Och, she didna tell ye?” asked Gavin.

“Nay. She must have forgotten that bit of information before she lured me to her bed.”

“Lured ye?” Gavin chuckled again. “Come, now, Cam. Ye are the one who always does the lurin’ where the lassies are concerned.”

“No’ in this case. I might have lusted after her, but couplin’ was her idea. Mostly, anyway.”

“Why would she do that? I mean, before tellin’ ye about her condition?” asked Gavin.