“He left for a meeting in Rome the day after I delivered your letter. I must say, the timing was ideal.”
Her throat closed. Could she finally hope? “To think at last I’ll be free.”
“Aye, lass.” Eoin bounced the bairn on his knee. “But you must remain hidden. John warned the Pope rarely approves an annulment when petitioned by the wife.”
Helen didn’t care for the sound of that. “Dear Lord. I will stay tucked away in this cottage for the rest of my life if His Holiness doesn’t grant it.” She clutched her hand around her throat. “After you left, Aleck interned me into the dungeon.”
“’Tis criminal.” He stopped rocking and his expression grew dark. “Mr. Keith mentioned as much when he met me at Tabert. I still cannot understand MacIain’s brutality toward you.”
She nodded and swiped a tear away. “For days I sat locked in the cold dark cavern. My crime? Asking Mary to tend the pigs and the chickens whilst Aleck charged to Sunart with the clansmen.”
Maggie whimpered and Eoin resumed bouncing. “First he abandons you with a handful of aging guards, and then he punishes you for taking charge?”
“I’m afraid so.” Helen nodded. “Worse, Glenda said she overheard him tell Mary that I would perish right there in the dungeon whilst birthing a bairn.”
“God’s teeth.” Eoin looked toward the window, a tic twitching in his jaw. “A-are you with child?” he whispered with cutting tension in his voice.
Her stomach twisted. How poorly I must appraise in his eyes. “That is what I cannot understand. Aleck hasn’t visited my bedchamber since I conceived Maggie.”
“Christ.” Eoin lowered his gaze and stared at Maggie for a moment. “What in God’s name was he scheming?”
“Deep in my heart, I know he was planning my death.” She drew in a stuttered breath. “He told me he’d been in love with Mary even before our wedding. She was his leman the entire time I lived at Mingary.”
He simply shook his head. “How awful for you.”
Helen’s problems came flooding back tenfold as silence cut through the cottage with the weight of five hundred stone.
Her whole sordid marriage looked like a farce performed by players at the king’s court. But still, now the ugliness was in the open, Helen desperately needed to confess her deepest secret—the one no one knew.
Licking her lips, she wrung her hands. “He didn’t visit my bedchamber often and when he did it was insufferable.”
Eoin again looked away, his face unreadable. Helen was well aware that a lady shouldn’t speak of such matters to anyone. But Aleck’s behavior had always confused her. She’d seen couples in love before. Invariably, they acted as if they were mad for one another.
I’ll wager Sir Eoin now thinks me frigid just as Aleck did.
Helen cringed and returned her attention to the hearth. I shouldn’t have told him. Her palms moist with perspiration, she reached for a cloth and folded it over. Then she used it to lift the lid from the kettle scones. “These are ready,” she said softly.
Food was a nice diversion from their present conversation.
“Smells delicious.”
Helen kept her gaze lowered as she set the table and scooped the scones onto a trencher.
“Is Maggie eating with us?” he asked, running his palm over the sleepy bairn’s crown.
“Nay. She’s already supped.” Helen held out her arms. “I’ll put her down, she missed her afternoon nap.”
Eoin strolled in behind Helen and looked at the makeshift crate. “Now that’s clever.”
With a chuckle, she placed Maggie inside and covered her with a soft blanket. “’Tis the only thing I could find to suffice for a cradle.”
“It appears as if she hasn’t noticed the difference.”
“I daresay she hasn’t.” Helen gazed upon her daughter. The babe sighed and closed her eyes. Indeed, she was ready for sleep.
Eoin pointed to a jug on the table. “Is that wine?”
“Aye.”
“I’ll pour us some.”
Helen served up the pottage as Eoin collected two wooden cups from the shelf beside the hearth. There weren’t many dishes, but enough to make do. “What news of the rebellion?” Helen asked.
He filled her cup and then his. “We’ll be sailing into battle soon, I’ve no doubt.”
She hated the idea of Eoin being embroiled in more fighting. “Why is the king waiting?”
“They are outfitting all the galleys with cannons, but the work’s nearly done.”
She pressed her hand to her abdomen. “You’ll be expected back soon, then?”
“Aye.” He gave her a sheepish grimace. “Actually, no one kens I’ve left aside from my men, and they are awaiting me