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“Have you had pains before this?” Zia asked, remaining by the open door.
“A good healer and friend told me what to expect. I do not need another opinion,” Alyce said coldly.
“Zia is—”
“Going to leave you to enjoy your bath and rest,” Zia finished. “If you have a question or care to talk I’m here for you.”
“That was rude,” Lachlan said as soon as Zia closed the door behind her.
“I don’t need, nor want their help,” Alyce said, guilt stabbing at her. Zia seemed like a good woman as did the others, and she knew she was being prickly but she was annoyed.
“You’re not even giving this a chance,” Lachlan accused. “I understand your anger and that you miss your home, but it’s time to create a new home for you, me, and our babe.”
“That’s easy for you to say when you have your family around you.”
Lachlan rubbed the back of his neck. “Give my family a chance. You may find you like them.”
He was right. Alyce knew he was right and yet she would continue to argue with him if she didn’t hold her tongue. The need to lash out remained strong, though she knew it would do little good. She should simply accept her fate…
She shook her head and almost screamed aloud. She had forged a different life for herself and one she favored. She loved Lachlan, but how could she be someone she wasn’t? What now was she to do with her days?
“Go away!” she yelled at him.
“Let me help—”
Alyce groaned, grabbing the sides of her skirt. “Don’t you understand I don’t want your help? I beg of you. Go away and leave me in peace.”
“You are my wife—”
“Not tonight,” she said bluntly. “Tonight I sleep alone.”
Chapter 26
Lachlan paced in front of the fireplace in the great hall. A fire kept the chill and dampness out, the weather still proving temperamental, though the rain had stopped leaving behind overcast skies.
He had shared breakfast with his family, having intended to see if Alyce would join them, but Zia advised against it. She cautioned that Alyce needed rest after such a strenuous journey.
He heeded her advice and now waited for her to wake, everyone having left him to go about their daily duties.
Champion suddenly pounded in the room followed by his dog Princess, though her entrance was more of a royal prance. Addie followed them in.
Lachlan bent down to what most masters would expect, an exuberant welcome. Not so Princess, she sat regally in front of him expecting him to welcome her, which of course he did.
“Where was she yesterday, Mother?” Lachlan asked.
“Hiding from the storm,” Addie explained. “You know how she hates storms.”
As if Princess knew they discussed her, she raised her chin as though annoyed that he hadn’t realized that.
“It appears that I have two females in my life who want things their way,” Lachlan said, rubbing beneath her chin, just where he knew she favored. “Or is that all females, Mother?”
Addie pointed to Princess who had inched closer to Lachlan and was now cuddled against him as he continued to stroke her. “I’d say you have a way with knowing exactly what a woman wants and will soon have her melting to your touch.”
“I was always confident of that until…”
“You fell in love?” his mother asked.
Lachlan nodded. “Love changes everything.”
“It certainly does,” his mother agreed.
“You do things you don’t expect to do. Act a fool. Worry endlessly. Argue senselessly and yet…” He shook his head.
“You wouldn’t do without each other for a moment,” Addie said.
“Not one moment do I want to spend without Alyce,” Lachlan admitted. “Though you probably wonder why when she was not very pleasant to you or the others yesterday.”
“Love does not always come easy or gently. Sometimes we deny it, or fear it for reasons we don’t understand ourselves, but in the end love conquers even the most foolish heart.”
Lachlan stood and hugged his mother. “You always know what I need to hear.”
“More of a reminder,” Addie said with a smile. “What are your plans for the day?”
“I thought to show Alyce our cottage.”
“I think she would like that,” Addie said. “You and she need time together.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Lachlan said and suddenly looked forward to the day.
Alyce obstinately kept her joy to herself. She was thrilled with the cottage that Lachlan had made ready for them. It was much larger than she had expected with a separate room off the common room and a loft, and a garden plot right alongside the house. And it was far enough removed from the keep to afford them privacy, something she yearned for at the moment.
“It will do,” she said when truly she wished to throw herself in Lachlan’s arms and thank him for this gift.
“I’m glad you like it,” he said cheerfully. “It gives us room for a large family of our own, and of course I can always enlarge it if necessary.”
