Quest of the Highlander (Crowns & Kilts #5) - Cynthia Wright Page 0,27

the king’s lion,” Grant replied casually. “I think it’s outrageous, but there’s no time to speak of that now.” He led her to a low wooden bench against one wall. When they were seated side by side, Grant tore off a large chunk of rough trencher bread and handed it to her. “It’s still warm.”

Lately, the thought of food had made Nora sick. Everything made her feel sick, in fact, which was part of the reason she felt anxious, night and day. This bread, however, felt comforting. She took a little bite and sighed. “It’s delicious. Thank you.”

Grant stuffed a piece of bread the size of her fist into his mouth and chewed. “Lennox told me how to charm the kitchen maids,” he confided, grinning. “They give me lots of things.”

“I don’t doubt it.” She smiled but felt an odd pang when she thought of Lennox.

“Aye, I’m growing up.” Grant swallowed and leaned closer. “Will ye tell me what’s amiss? Ye are like a different lass.”

Of course, Nora could not tell him the real truth, so she said, “The castle tapisier wants to relegate me to caring for the embroidered cloths rather than weaving at the side of my father and the other men.”

“I do not think ye would be daunted by such a challenge, Nora.” He watched her. “What is truly bothering you?”

His plain-spoken question caught her off guard. “Some things…a lady cannot discuss.”

“Why not? I am your true friend.”

Nora began to weep and found she could not stop. “I… Oh, Grant, you are right. My problems are much bigger than anything to do with weaving.” She couldn’t look at him. “I fear my life is ruined!”

Awkwardly, he gathered her near and patted her back. “How can that be? Whatever it is will pass, will it not? Now, ye must tell me what has happened.” After a brief pause, Grant added, “I give ye my word that I will keep your confidence.”

Drawing a deep breath, she felt a surge of relief. There was no one else to talk to, and she couldn’t keep her terrible problem inside any longer. “You will find this very shocking.”

“Nay. Nothing ye could do would shock me.”

“I—” She could scarcely say the words aloud. “I believe I am with child.”

“How can that be?” Grant’s eyes were round with disbelief. “Are ye saying that ye have lain with a man?” His expression told her that he believed this was impossible.

Determined to pull herself together, Nora straightened her shoulders and dried her eyes, but her chest ached as she told her terrible story. She had reached the part where Slater escorted her to her chamber and then helped her to her bed when Grant looked as if he were in the grip of a wild fury.

“Ye are about to say that he took you by force!” he cried, his cheeks red with emotion. “I will find him and murder him!”

Nora lay a hand on the boy’s arm. “It wasn’t truly like that. Part of the confusion for me is that I am not completely certain what happened. I grew ill. The floor kept moving. I couldn’t gather my thoughts. Perhaps the wine affected me, and I said something to him that was misunderstood?”

“Nay! Damn his eyes, he is no gentleman or this could not have happened!”

“I want to think you are right.” She drew a ragged sigh. “But perhaps he is used to lying with women who are carried off by his fine looks, his wealth, his position at court…and thought he was doing me a favor.”

“I will not listen to one more excuse ye might make for that jackass!”

“Believe me, I do not wish to excuse him. In truth, I hope to never see him again. I wish I could put it all out of my mind now, but I deeply fear that my life will never be the same.” She twisted her fingers together until they hurt.

“How can ye know it—know that he’s made you with child?”

Nora thought of the semen Sir Raymond Slater had left between her legs, the tangy scent of it, the way it felt when she touched it and tried to wash it away. He had put his seed in her, and if her monthly flow did not commence soon, she would be forever ruined.

“It is the way of life,” she said sadly. “Men do the dishonoring, and women are left behind to pay the price.” Tears slipped from her eyes. “Perhaps I wanted too much. My dreams…may have been