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“Where are you going?”
“To throw myself into the freezing bay!” he grumbled.
Iain closed the door and marched down to the water. He was so hard he was fit to burst. Having Yesenda around him all day was messing with his senses. He needed to remind himself that she was an innocent, and he needed to proceed with care. His one consolation was that she agreed to be his wife if he could find a priest. Iain smiled to himself. The moment Yesenda said I do; she was not leaving his bed for at least a month!
When Iain returned, he warmed himself by the fire, then joined Yesenda on the bed. Her eyes were drooping, and she kept yawning. He settled himself beside her, and she snuggled into his chest. Iain breathed in her alluring scent and felt peace.
As he was drifting off to sleep, Yesenda said, “We are going toKentallen. There’s a lad there. His name is Edmund, and I am duty bound to protect him.”
Iain gave her arm a small squeeze and kissed the top of her forehead. He heard Yesenda sigh.
“Get some sleep, love,” he said. Iain understood the gravity of the moment and the gift Yesenda gave him.Her trust.
***
The Cottages, Kentallen
Iain and Yesenda finally arrived at their destination. Yesenda led them down a narrow pathway lined with trees. Iain saw two cottages in the distance.
“The first cottage is where Edmund lives with his parents. The one further up is where we will stay. It has two rooms and backs onto the bay.”
As they neared the house, a young lad came outside and waved. A man and woman were behind him. They too smiled in greeting.
They dismounted, and Yesenda did the introductions.
“Edmund, this is Iain Henderson. He will stay with us.”
“Is he your man?” Edmund asked, sizing up Iain.
Iain remained silent, letting Yesenda decide what he was to her. His heart warmed when she said, “Aye. He is.”
“Is he going to eat all our food? He’s huge.”
Iain started chuckling. “I brought my own.”
“Good then. I dinnae mind if he stays,” Edmund said to Yesenda.
Gideon and Sienna just shook their heads.
“These are Edmund’s parents.”
Iain shook hands and greeted them.
Sienna took Yesenda to the back cottage so she could unload their things and Gideon showed Iain the stable so he could attend to the horses. Later, they gathered for a meal in the main cottage.
“How have things been?” Yesenda asked.
“Very quiet,” Gideon replied. “Have you heard any news?”
“Aye, Brother Mateo says we are all to remain here until further notice.”
Edmund said, “I dinnae mind it here. I’ve made some friends; we go fishing sometimes,”
“They’re a local family. Their boys are the same age. They have been good company for the lad,” Gideon said.
Yesenda smiled, but she could not help but wonder what friends Edmund would have if he were growing up a duke’s son. Edmund did not know his lineage. Abbess Murdina said the less a child knows, the less information they’re likely to let slip. But Murdina had the records of his parents, their marriage and his birth should Edmund choose to claim his birthright in the future. In the meantime, Gideon trained Edmund to fight and hunting skills while Sienna tutored him in scholastic lessons.
Sienna was a member of theOrderand when called upon to fulfil a duty, Gideon joined her as well. Gideon loved Sienna and inadvertently married into the Order. They were all part of Murdina’s intricate network of people. Yesenda watched the couple as they interacted with Edmund and wondered if Iain would do the same for her someday.
