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“Aye,” Jordan said firmly, grasping the child’s hand. She looked up at her husband, daring him to challenge her. He gazed back at her with total confidence and trust.

Jordan lowered her gaze and marched passed him with Mary Alys in tow. “First we shall get ye a bath,” she was saying. “Ye look as if ye have half the bailey coated on yer little body. Then we must find ye some suitable clothes.”

Mary Alys mumbled something William didn’t catch, obviously stunned and pleased at her turn of luck. Poor little thing could not have been more than five years old. He admired his wife her generous, gentle soul. It seemed that not only did he have two sons, but he was to gain a daughter as well. The prospect did not displease him.

Jemma, still holding Troy, recognized Mary Alys as Jordan approached with her. She had not heard the exchange and was dismayed when Jordan repeated the story. She, too, demanded gently that Mary Alys come to live in the castle with them. And that repeated statement suddenly gave Jordan an idea.

“Mary Alys,” she turned to the little girl, bending down to her level. “Ye say yer mother died and that ye have no father?”

The child nodded sadly. Jordan gave a short nod. “Do ye remember my cousin, Lady Jemma Hage?”

Mary Alys looked at the pretty brown-haired lady. “Aye.”

Jordan’s voice was soft. “Lady Jemma lost her little girl not long ago. She is sad with grief, as ye are. She knows how ye feel to lose someone ye love.”

Mary Alys’ eyes were wide at Jemma, who gazed back at the child with amazing serenity. William could not ever remember that expression on Jemma’s face. He began to have suspicions as to what his wife was leading up to.

“Now she has no daughter, and ye have no parents,” Jordan went on softly. “ ’Tis sad for you both to be so lonely. How would you like to be Lady Jemma’s daughter?”

Both Jemma and Kieran looked at Jordan as if she had gone insane. But, at nearly the same time, they looked at each other as if the thought, and not a bad one at that, had not occurred to them. Jemma seemed to appear the most hesitant even as Jordan smiled encouragingly at her, very proud of her solution. When she saw Jemma’s doubt, she put her free hand on her hip.

“Well, it makes sense.” she insisted. “Besides, Mary Alys is so pretty if ye dunna take her as yer own, then I will.”

It was Kieran who finally knelt down beside Mary Alys, still clutching Scott. He gazed at the dirty little waif gently.

“My name is Kieran,” he said. “I am Lady Jemma’s husband.”

“You are a knight,” Mary Alys didn’t appear the least bit afraid of the massive man.

He smiled, “Aye, I am. Would you like to be my daughter?”

She was so cute as she looked at him innocently. “Would you love me?”

Kieran’s heart melted right then. No matter what Jemma said, he would take this child as his own. “Aye, I would.”

“So would I,” Jemma said, all of her doubt gone. She suddenly had the most amazing feeling of excitement and maternal joy. True, Bridget was gone and her heart still ached dreadfully, but that did not mean that there was no room for another daughter. Somehow the thought helped dull the pain.

Jordan was thrilled. She took Troy from Jemma’s arms. “Take yer daughter, Jemma. She’s a filthy mess and I am embarrassed that ye are so lax in yer duties as a mother.”

Jemma gently took Mary Alys’ hand, her eyes narrowing in mock outrage. “How dare ye suggest such a thing. I shall have ye know that my daughter will be the cleanest, prettiest, best-dressed bairn in all of Northwood. Come along, Mary Alys.”

Kieran handed Scott back to William. “Perhaps I can help them,” he said softly, his brown eyes finding Jordan. “Thank you.”

Jordan watched them go with tears in her eyes. William stood next to her.

“That,” he said softly, “was an amazing act of kindness, wife. God, you are remarkable.”

Jordan sniffed and blinked away her tears. “It made sense, English. They’ll be very happy, I know it.”

He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I love you.”

Jordan smiled at him, her throat too tight with emotion to reply. Silently, they took their children back into the castle.

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

That night, after the children were put down to bed, Jordan and Jemma sat in Jemma’s grand antechamber before a roaring fire, sitting in comfortable silence. It had been a long time since they had been alone together.

“How does Mary Alys like her new chamber?” Jordan asked.