Behind them, Alec heard the coach groan as Eynsford alighted from the conveyance and then rushed past to take Cait’s arm. “I’ve never known you to get travel sick, angel.”
The marquess caressed his wife’s cheek. “Is there anything I can do?”
Alec towed Sorcha closer to the carriage and lowered his voice. “And the argument?”
Sorcha shrugged. “That’s how we always talk ta each other. Ye should ken that, Alec.”
Oh, he knew it. “Worse than sisters,” he agreed.
Sorcha’s brown eyes twinkled with joy. “That’s how ye ken we love each other. We only get worked up because we care.”
“And is that why you argue with me too?” He couldn’t help but ask, though he bit his cheek as he waited to hear her answer.
She nodded emphatically. “Of course. I’ve cared about ye my whole life, Alec.”
Her admission warmed him from the inside out, and he softly pressed his lips to hers. “The feeling’s mutual, Sorch.”
Somewhere behind them, Eynsford grumbled, “If I have to watch that the whole way to Edinburgh, I’ll be travel sick myself.”
“Hush,” his wife complained. “I think young love is adorable.”
Alec almost took a step back. Young love? He couldn’t love Sorcha. He adored her; he cherished her; and he wanted her beside him always. But he couldn’t love her. He didn’t have a heart anymore.
Sorcha blushed a bit, but thankfully, she didn’t seem to notice Alec’s distress as she stepped from his arms toward their traveling companions. “After watchin’ ye moon over Cait, I think ye’re the last person who gets ta complain, my lord. Now, where is my green travelin’ valise?”
“Should be with MacQuarrie’s coach,” Eynsford replied.
Sorcha glanced up and down the road. “Are they in front or behind us?”
“Why does it matter?” the marquess asked.
“Because,” Sorcha turned to stare at the man as though he was an imbecile, “I have my herbs in there. A bit of ginger will help settle Cait’s stomach.”
“Ginger would be just the thing,” Cait agreed.
“Renshaw!” Eynsford barked, stalking to the coach with newfound purpose.
“Yes, sir?” The coachman spun in his box to answer his employer.
“Has MacQuarrie’s coach passed us?”
“Not yet, sir.”
“Very good.” Eynsford turned back to the small group.
“Then why don’t we wait for them here? We’ll snatch your little valise up and keep it with us from now on. How does that sound?”
Sorcha agreed with a nod. “Perfect, my lord.Thank ye.”
“No thanks necessary. Just help her, lass.”
“I may no’ be as good as Elspeth at this sort of thing, but I’m better than Blaire or Rhiannon. So if ye canna have El, ye’re very fortunate ta have me along for this journey.”
Cait snorted. “I’d rather have ye instead. El doesna go anywhere without that annoyin’ lapdog of hers anymore.”
Eynsford coughed in surprise. “Caitie!” He gestured to his person, as though reminding her she’d married a man of the same breed as Ben Westfield.
“I would never say such a thing about ye, my love. But Benjamin canna help but get on my very last nerve with all the hoverin’ and dotin’ and—”
“He’s much better,” Sorcha began, “ever since Rose was born. Now he dotes on the little bairn like…” Then her face nearly turned scarlet and she turned away from the group.
What was that about? Why should talk of Ben and his daughter cause such a reaction in Sorcha? Alec glanced from Cait to Eynsford, wondering if his fiancée’s response made any sense to either of them. And that’s when it hit him.
Cait was expecting. He could see it in her bluer than blue eyes.
The travel sickness. Sorcha’s instant embarrassment at the mention of a bairn. A slip of the tongue, obviously. Still Eynsford didn’t seem to have figured it out. His concern for Cait might as well have been etched across his brow for all the notice he paid to Sorcha’s words.
So Cait was to be a mother. Would she birth a little witch or a litter of Lycans? He discovered it didn’t really bother him either way. If he’d stumbled upon this news a month earlier, it would have sent him into a downward spiral of self-pity and anger he was sure; now he was simply happy for her. After all, this life was apparently what she wanted.
Alec followed Sorcha toward a line of trees so they would be closer to Alec’s coach when it approached. He tapped her shoulder, and she nearly leapt out of her skin.
“Oh!” She spun around and then smiled when she saw it was him. “I thought ye were Cait.”