Saving Grace

Gabriel didn't blink an eye over his wife's lie. "That is correct," he a

"But I'm wanting to know, Laird, if you stand with me on the marriage issue," MacKay muttered. "Will you demand the soldier responsible for disgracing Clare marry her?"

"I will."

MacKay looked satisfied. The priest hurried over to the entrance and pulled the door open. Laird MacKay gave his daughter an awkward pat on her shoulder and then turned to leave. Gabriel gave Joha

"You took my daughter in, MacBain, protected her, too, and your wife has shown her compassion. I won't be warring against you if a marriage comes about. We could have us a fair alliance…"

Father MacKechnie pulled the door closed, cutting off Laird MacKay's remarks.

Joha

"You may open your eyes now, Clare."

"What are we going to do, Joha

Joha

"At least now we know you won't be sent back to the MacI

"I love him, too," Clare whispered. "I didn't mean it when I said I hated him. I was… angry. Oh, what a mess I've made. I don't know what Father will do when he finds out I'm not carrying."

Long minutes passed in silence. Then Joha

"I know," Clare said, guessing Joha

Joha

"I what?"

"Don't look so stu

"Who would have me? I'm supposed to be carrying, remember?"

"We're clever enough to think of a solution," Joha

"I don't want to get married."

"Are you being stubborn or sincere?"

"Both, I think," she admitted. "The thought of marrying anyone remotely like Robert MacI

"Of course it does, but if we can find someone who realizes your value and treats you with respect, then wouldn't you be happy to marry him?"

"Such a man does not exist."

"My husband is such a man."

Clare smiled. "He's already married."

"Aye, he is," Joha

"You are so fortunate, Joha

"Why is that, Clare?"

"You love your husband."

Joha

"I do love him."

The wonder in her voice made Clare smile. "Have you only just realized it?"

Joha

The sound of her laughter filled the chamber. It was filled with such joy, Clare found herself laughing, too.

"I assume you've never told him how you feel," Clare remarked.

"No," Joha

"Then what do you say when he tells you he loves you?"

"Oh, Gabriel has never told me he loves me," she explained. "He doesn't realize it, you see, at least not yet. Eventually he'll acknowledge he loves me, but I doubt he'll ever tell me."

She paused to laugh again. "My husband is so unlike the barons in England, and I thank God for that blessing. The men I knew there would sing sweet ballads to the ladies they held in esteem. They hired others to write down poetic words of love for them to recite. The men were quite flowery in their pretty speeches. Most of it was nonsense, of course, and certainly insincere, but the barons believed they were chivalrous. They all held courtly love in high regard."

Clare's curiosity had been caught, and she asked Joha

"Now that your father has seen you, do let Glynis trim your hair."

Clare agreed. Joha

"Will you tell your husband the truth about me?" Clare asked.

"Yes," Joha

"What will he do?"

Joha

Hilda was coming down the hallway with a tray of food for her patient. Joha

"Laird MacKay left," Hilda a

Hilda placed the tray on Clare's lap. "You, lass, are going to eat every morsel, and I'm going to stand here to see that you do. You need to regain your strength," she added with a nod.

Joha

Hilda and Clare both demanded to know what the surprise was. Joha

Joha

"Hurry and shut the door," she ordered.

"What for?" Alex asked.

He didn't seem to want an explanation. He didn't notice anything different about her plaid either. The little boy ran over to his bed, lifted the mat, and pulled out a long wooden sword.

"Auggie's going to show me how to fence," he a

"Have you had your supper?" Joha

"I ate with Auggie," Alex answered as he ran for the door.

"One minute, please."

He slid to a halt. "Come and kiss me good-bye," she ordered.

"I don't want you to go away."

He fairly shouted his worry. Joha

Alex wasn't convinced. He dropped his wooden sword and ran to her. He threw himself into her arms and held tight.

"I don't want you to go away," he repeated.

Lord, what had she started? "Alex, now that I'm your mother, I wish for you to kiss me every now and again when you leave. Do you understand? You told me you were going with Auggie, and that is why I asked for a kiss before you left."

It took her another ten minutes to convince the child. She stroked his back until he was ready to let go of her.

"I'm not going away," he said then. "I'm just going outside."

"You're still leaving," she replied. "And so I ask you again for a kiss."

She leaned down close to Alex. He stretched up and gave her a wet kiss on her cheek.

Alex picked up his sword and ran for the door. "You're supposed to sit by the fire and sew, Mama. Papa said so."

"Is that right?"

Alex opened the door. "It is so," he answered. "Papa said."

"What else did your father say?"

Alex turned and pointed at her. "You're supposed to stay where he puts you. Don't you remember?"

She was going to have to have a talk with Gabriel about the outrageous things he was telling their child.