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“Aye, my lord,” Deinwald said, moving from the room. William turned to Kieran.

“I want to speak with the messenger from Northwood and find out exactly what we will be dealing with, including the current state of Langton. I need to find out the state of the Scot forces.”

Kieran nodded, his armor clanging as he moved for the door. He appeared almost forced in his manner, wanting to get his mind off his sorrow. Jordan watched him with a great deal of sadness as he disappeared into the antechamber.

“He is devastated, English,” she whispered to her husband. “Be easy on him.”

William gazed down at her, so lovely in her flowing white dressing gown. His heart was being squeezed at the thought of leaving her yet again.

“He is a knight, Jordan,” he said. “I cannot afford him anymore consideration than anyone else, less so because he is my second. He is a strong man.”

She pursed her lips, regretfully thinking on his words. “So ye’ll be leaving me once more, will ye?” She shook her head. “Seems we just come together and ye are riding off again.”

He stood before her, watching the sunlight from the window play on her hair. “I am sorry. But at least I was here when you needed me most.”

“Which brings me to my next subject,” she said thoughtfully. “The priest will be christening the babes in a few days. We havena discussed names yet.”

He shrugged. “Whatever you decide is fine with me,” he told her. As much as he would like to help her select names, he had more pressing things on his mind.

“Then I have already selected the names,” she announced bravely.

It was as if she had been waiting for him to leave the naming to her. By the tone of her voice, she had apparently decided a while ago. He fought off a smile.

“Is that so?” he put his hands on his hips stubbornly. “Then tell me so that I may approve.”

He saw a flash of stubbornness in her eyes. “Approve or not, ’tis what I want,” she told him. “I have decided that our firstborn will bear the name of Scott, in honor of my clan and of my father. Our second son will bear the name of Troy, in honor of yer best friend and captain of Northwood for going above and beyond the call of duty during my months of pregnancy. He was a godsend to me, English, and I would like to honor him.”

“Scott and Troy?” he repeated thoughtfully. “Hmmm. I do not get a child named for me? I am, after all, their father.”

“They bear the name de Wolfe, and that is yer name, is it not?” she said slyly, watching him snort at the technicality. “But I have thought of ye and yer father as well. Scott’s full name will be Scott William Edward de Wolfe. Troy’s full name will be Troy Paris Richard de Wolfe, for Paris and his father.”

William was immensely pleased. He scowled at her, however, in feigned outrage. “Let Paris name his own sons after himself. Why does my son need to bear his name?”

She rose stiffly, knowing he was not truly outraged. “Because, English, he did ye a great service by watching over me and ye bloody well know it,” she said. “And, furthermore, ye have served with him for many years and ye….”

He cut her off by pulling her against him. “Fine, fine, I agree with you,” he said, hugging her. “Christen my sons Scott and Troy.”

She smiled happily at him. “Thank ye for ye approval, husband.”

He raised his eyebrows. “As if I had a choice.”

She continued to gaze up at him when suddenly her eyes turned misty.

“What’s wrong?” his brows drew together.

She was trying not to cry. “Langton,” she said softly. “Oh, English, what has become of my Da? My family?”

“I do not know, love,” he replied, rubbing her arms comfortingly. “But I will find out, I swear it. I shall take care of your family.”

She sniffed and blinked. “I know ye will. But I dunna know if they will take kindly to The Wolf.”

“They have no choice,” he said sternly. “Since I am the father of two new kinsmen.”

She smiled through her tears. “My Da will be so pleased to finally have sons,” she said. “Do be gentle when ye tell him his daughter married the most feared Sassenach warrior on the border. He is likely to burst a vein.”

“Better than him bursting my head open with a mace,” he said grinning, and pushed a stray lock of hair from her face. “Do not worry, love. The Wolf is returning to his home. Everything will be as it should be.”

She reached up and touched his patch. “Can ye fight all right now? I know how hard ye’ve been practicing.”