Saving Grace

"Congratulations, m'lady. I hope you give your husband a sound boy."

Clare struggled to sit up in bed. Joha

"A girl will be just as pleasing," she remarked.

Clare shook her head. "I wouldn't want a girl. Boys have far more advantages, but girls are only used for barter. Isn't that so?"

"Yes," Joha

Clare was frowning at her. "Then why would you want one? You'll have the worry your husband will give her in marriage to some evil man, and she'll spend the rest of her life…"

"Being afraid?"

Clare nodded. "And hurt," she whispered.

"My husband would not deliberately give his daughter to a monster," she said. "Did your father know MacI

Clare shrugged. "He only cared about uniting the two clans."

Joha

"As much as any father would love a daughter," she replied.

"Girls are more clever," Joha

"They can still be beaten and humiliated. You don't realize how fortunate you are, Lady Joha

Joha

Clare didn't look like she believed Joha

"I would find a way," Joha

"Were you beaten?"

"Yes."

"How did the Englishman die? Did you kill him?"

Joha

"How did he die?"

"I was told by King John he fell from a cliff near the city on the waters. I didn't even know he'd left England."

Clare nodded. Joha

"When will my father get here?"

"We expect him this afternoon."

"I don't want my hair repaired. It used to be as long as yours until they butchered it. I want my father to see what the MacI

"What about your mother?"

"She's dead," Clare answered. "Four years now. I'm glad she isn't here now. It would break her heart to see me like this."

"The baby you're carrying… will your father…"

"I'm very weary now, m'lady. I would like to rest."

Joha

"Clare, you can't keep this up much longer," Joha

"I'm in pain, Joha

Joha

"Then please…"

"Clare," Joha

"I will not name the man."

Clare burst into tears. Joha

"It's going to be all right," she whispered. "You don't have to be afraid."

"You told me you felt trapped, and I felt the same way. I couldn't marry the bastard. I couldn't. I did something I wish now…"

"Yes?"

Clare shook her head. "It doesn't matter," she whispered. "I'll be found out soon enough. Please let me rest now. I'm not strong enough to talk about what happened."

Joha

"I'm ready to see what I can do," she a

Joha

"Do you mean all the trouble I went to searching out these scissors was for nothing, m'lady?"

"Actually no, Glynis. I could do with your services. I've been wanting to cut my hair for quite some time. Come along to my bedroom and you can use your scissors on me."

Glynis perked up. Her errand hadn't been in vain after all. She and Joha

Joha

"I'll admit you look fetching, m'lady."

"I didn't realize it would be so curly."

"The weight kept the curls out," Glynis explained.

"The weight gave me a fair-sized headache every day," Joha

"Will the MacBain throw a fit when he sees what I've done?"

Joha

"I doubt he'll even notice."

"He'll notice, all right. He notices everything about you. We all smile over the way he stares at you. He holds affection for you, m'lady."

"I pray he'll continue to feel affection for me tonight. He's sure to become irritated when I join him at the di

Glynis's curiosity was captured, of course. "What do you have pla

"I can't tell you," Joha

Glynis nagged her mistress for several more minutes before giving up. "Will you be going downstairs? I'll take hold of your arm and make certain you don't fall on the steps."

"I'm going to stay here," she replied. "Would you mind if I borrowed your scissors? I'll return them to you this evening."

"Keep them here," Glynis said. "When Clare's wanting her hair trimmed, I'll know where to look. Good day to you, m'lady."

Glynis was just reaching for the door latch when Joha

"Do all women have the same symptoms when they're carrying?"

Glynis turned around. "Most do," she answered. "Why do you ask?"

"I was just wondering," Joha

"Depends," Glynis replied. "Some show by the fourth month, others wait another month for their middles to fatten. You should be starting to lose your waist," she added. "Are you?"

"I am," Joha

She thanked Glynis again. As soon as the door closed behind the woman, Joha

Keith would probably have to take to his bed for a week when he saw what she'd done. Joha

She probably should tell her husband what she was going to do. Joha

She was yawning by the time she'd completed her task. She needed a nap. She took off her plaid, draped it over the chair with her belt, and then stretched out on the bed. She would only rest a minute or two.