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“I agree.”

And if that were not enough, knowing he was going to be a father would ensure he didn’t give up.

“If we can prevail on your kind hospitality for another night then, we will ride back to Bryn Glas on the morrow,” she told Lady Sheridan, who nodded.

“Of course, you can. I was about to suggest the same thing myself.”

Just then, Lord Sheridan walked into the room, followed by a man Johanna didn’t know, and Cadell. Her breath caught in her throat because, not being at home, he had not shaved that morning—and the result was stunning. Forcing herself not to stare, she took a raisin from the dish in front of her to give herself a countenance. Mm. Delicious. Her taste for all things sweet had often offered her the comfort she needed when she felt nervous or lonely, which had been happening far too often in the last years of her marriage. As a result of this indulgence, she had lost some of her youthful slenderness. But perhaps that had nothing to do with the treats, perhaps she had simply become a woman.

She had only been one and twenty summers when she had married Rhun. It now seemed incredibly young, so it was little wonder she looked different. She was no longer a girl. And, in truth, she liked being a woman better.

“We spoke to the servants we mentioned yesterday and all three agreed to go with you, as I expected,” Lord Sheridan informed her, coming to stand behind his wife.

“They were grateful for the opportunity,” Cadell added, as if to ensure she didn’t feel they had been forced. As usual, he had read her mind. She had worried about that. “And two others decided to join us as well.”

“You will need to borrow a cart, since you’re going to have to transport Richard.” Connor Hunter gestured to the tall, blond man by his side. “Leonard here will drive the cart and then bring it back once everyone has made it to Bryn Glas.”

That was a good idea, as they would have at least five people to transport, including one who could not walk or ride, but she would never have dared ask for it herself. Fortunately, the English lord was generous and pragmatic enough to have thought of everything. Johanna was humbled.

“Thank you, my lord.”

“Please ’tis nothing.” He sat down and reached to a glass cup she had been surprised to see earlier. Few noblemen in England possessed such rare and expensive objects and she had not expected to see one in Wales. “If you must know, I am relieved to know that Bryn Glas is being restored to what it should be. It’s always better to know we have strong allies around. Between Cadell to the north, Castell y Ddraig in the east, and now Bryn Glas on the other side of the hill, I feel that help will be at hand if need be.”

Johanna’s heart picked up at this. Was he worried? “Do you expect trouble?”

Lord Sheridan made a face which told her everything she needed to know. He was.

“I arrived here twenty-five years ago. For a long time, the situation was rather stable, but then old King Edward died and his son is not the king he was… Between the Scottish uprisings and the recent barons’ revolt, things are getting heated again. It’s better to be prepared and know where we can find support when the time comes.”

Johanna did know that the situation was as fraught as it had ever been. She had lost a husband because of it so she could only agree with his thinking.

“Yes,” she concluded. “It’s better to be prepared.”

As anticipated, in the morning, Richard was ready and eager to leave.

His reaction when he was told that Efa was at Bryn Glas and they could take him straight to her had brought tears to Johanna’s eyes and Cadell could not pretend not to be moved as well.

“You know where she is? It is a miracle, a sure sign that I should be with her. I need— Please, I need to go to her. She will be worried by my long absence. I thought I would be back within a couple of months but I had not anticipated that my sister would almost die in childbirth and that I would have to look after the babe while her husband came back from Scotland.”

Yes, Efa was getting worried. Not that Cadell would tell him that. He was too busy doing his best to stop him from leaving the bed without hurting him.

“Lie down, you are not to leave the bed yet. We will leave this morning, once Mistress Ann has given you her last instructions,” he promised, keeping a hand on his shoulder. “You need to listen to her, make sure you do get better in the days to come because Efa is going to need you.”

This last order was enough to convince Richard to finally lie down.

The small group was ready to depart shortly after terce. The five servants who had agreed to come settled in the cart with Richard, while Cadell and Johanna rode ahead on their respective horses. At first they remained silent, then Cadell seized the opportunity to ask a question he had been pondering upon for years.

“I’ve always wanted to ask you. Do you have ancestors from a faraway land?”

She cocked her head, as if she had been asked the question many times and was not sure of his motives for asking it. Oh hell, he had not meant to make her feel ill at ease.

“Why do you ask?”

“Because you look…”

What could he say that would not vex her? Go drapia, he should have thought this through before opening his mouth.

Stunning. Unlike any other beauty I’ve ever seen. Good enough to eat.