Page 69 of An Outlaw’s Desire

Warmed by several goblets of wine and the heat of the fire, Blythe sat in a chair by the great hall’s hearth. Clarine sat curled up in her lap. With careful movements, Blythe tucked in the woolen blanket covering the child.

Opposite them, Rosetta read from the tome Blythe had borrowed. Justin crouched on one side of her chair and Fenton on the other. The boys, fascinated by word spreading about the castle of Lord Worrell being discovered in a wall, had wanted to hear about his ghost. Blythe had overheard them whispering about sneaking about the fortress in the middle of the night, in hopes of seeing Worrell’s spirit.

Clarine, listening to the tale as well, shivered, and Blythe kissed the crown of the girl’s hair. At bedtime tonight, Blythe might need to reassure Clarine that Lord Worrell was not likely to wander into her chamber. At least Blythe had a while to come up with a good story.

Her gaze strayed to the wooden landing that led to the lord’s solar. After returning to the great hall, Lord Montgomery, Harlow, and Pitt had retired with Ash to his lordship’s chamber, where they were no doubt enjoying some of his lordship’s finest liquor while settling any outstanding matters. With Rosetta and Lady Montgomery’s help, Blythe and Clarine had finished decorating the hall with garland and wreaths and birds. Contentment wove through Blythe, because with her friends around her and her Christmas wish to see Pitt having been granted, she couldn’t have asked for more.

Well, almost.

Regret tugged at her, for if she only knew what would become of her and Pitt. For whatever reason, her wish to see him again had been granted, but that didn’t mean he’d be hers forever.

Voices and footfalls sounded from the direction of the solar. Ash emerged on the landing, with Pitt a couple of steps behind. Both men were smiling.

“The meeting must have gone well,” Rosetta said, drawing Blythe’s gaze.

“It appears so.”

Justin rose, motioning for Fenton to do so as well.

“You are off to cause trouble?” Rosetta asked before ruffling the lad’s hair.

The boy laughed. “Stop. I want to show Fenton my bow and arrows.”

“All right. If you two go outside, be sure to put cloaks on.”

Justin rolled his eyes. “Aye.”

As the lads hurried off, Rosetta chuckled and closed the book. “I think Fenton and Justin are going to be good friends.”

Blythe grinned. “As do I.”

Pitt and Ash approached. Ash leaned down to kiss Rosetta—a slow, tender brush of his lips that conveyed so much love. Envy gnawed at Blythe and she looked down at Clarine.

Pitt touched her shoulder. “All is well?”

Blythe smiled up at him. “’Tis. And with you?”

“Aye. May I speak with Clarine for a moment?”

Wide-eyed, the little girl sat up, clinging to her toy. “Me?”

“Aye, milady. I wish to ask you about your bird ornaments.”

Clarine smiled and slid off Blythe’s lap. “Would you like to make one? I can show you how.”

“Later, mayhap. There is another matter we must discuss now.”

He motioned for the child to follow him and together, they crossed the hall to a spot near the dais. Pitt dropped to one knee on the rush-strewn floor and spoke in hushed tones.

Blythe frowned. “Whatever is Pitt discussing with her?”

“He could be thanking her for alerting the guards last night,” Ash said.

“I suppose, although he thanked her for such earlier.” Doubt gnawed at Blythe. “I suspect ’tis another matter entirely.”

“A secret,” Ash murmured.

As he set his hand on Rosetta’s shoulder, she clasped his fingers and studied him. “Do you know of this secret, Husband?”