The Red Drifter of the Sea (Pirates of the Isles #3) - Celeste Barclay Page 0,115

turned toward the old woman who’d accompanied the physician. She’d introduced herself as the physician’s mother and one of the town’s midwives.

“Pardon?” Moira asked as she leaned forward, her eyes darting from Kyle to the old woman. She’d felt immediately at ease when the woman arrived. She was kindly, unlike the healer Moira encountered on her way to Wicklow. The physician had set her on edge the moment he lifted her hand. Now the woman’s pronouncement made Moira nauseous all over again.

“I’d say it’s still very early, mayhap not even a month. The lass needs some meat on her bones, then a little attention from her husband. It’ll put her right as rain. A good loving always does. Granted, that’s what got you in this state,” the midwife said with confidence. She flapped her hand at the trio of disbelieving faces. “The lass is exhausted but now can’t keep food down. She says she hasn’t had her courses since she came aboard the ship, which means before she took up with him,” the midwife jerked a thumb toward Kyle. “The pennyroyal in the basket on yon table is withered and old, so clearly it’s not being used. And the way this man looks at his wife, I doubt he gives her a minute of peace. Not that how she looks at her husband is any more innocent.”

The midwife gave her son a scolding look and brushed past him. She eased Moira onto her back and pulled back the bedcovers. She raised Kyle’s leine that she wore up to her middle. The doctor turned away in scandalized disgust. The healer tsked and shook her head. “You came into the world the same as everyone else, Robby. This is why I came with you when I heard a lass needed tending.” She pressed gently against Moira’s middle, then grinned at her. “Are your breasts swollen and tender?”

Moira considered what the woman asked. Her breasts had ached when she rolled onto them, but she’d also assumed it had been from being near Kyle without being able to enjoy his touch. She pulled the neckline away from her chest and looked down the leine, her eyes widening. She nodded her head before she turned terrified eyes toward Kyle. She blinked back tears, but they streamed down her cheeks. Kyle pushed past the physician, and the midwife wisely stood back, having witnessed the same scene countless times.

“We’re going to have a bairn,” Kyle whispered with wonder. “Our own bairn.”

“You’re not angry?” Moira asked before dropping her voice so low Kyle strained to understand. “You’re not going to leave me?”

“I love you,” Kyle swore as he cupped her jaw, his fingers tunneling into her hair. He poured all of his love, wonderment, hope, and happiness into the kiss. He prayed Moira understood what he couldn’t put into words. As her hands clung to his biceps, and she returned his kiss, he was certain she did.

“Told you, Robby. A little loving would put her to rights. You and your bluidy leeches,” the midwife scolded as she and the physician slipped from the cabin. Neither Moira nor Kyle noticed.

Thirty-Six

With a diagnosis in place and excitement coursing through her, Moira improved each day. While still fatigued and queasy, Moira insisted that she needed the fresh air the midwife advised. She spent more and more time above deck as the Lady Charity and Lady Grace continued their progress north along the Irish coast. She often stood beside Kyle at the helm, and he enjoyed giving her a turn at the wheel. They hadn’t spoken about their future beyond the trips to Canna and Barra that the brothers planned. Moira was eager to see Senga and to meet Caragh. From stories Kyle shared, both women had given birth to sons only months before Moira and Kyle fatefully reunited.

The only wrinkle in their journey came when Moira was the one to sight a ship in the distance. She pointed it out to Kyle and eagerly asked if they would raid it. He’d looked at her with astonishment and asked if she’d lost any sense she ever had. He wouldn’t raid a ship while she was aboard. He would hang back, and if Keith wished to raid, he would do so. Moira made the grave error of countermanding Kyle’s decision before the crew. She’d done it on their behalf, but most of the men backed away from the arguing couple. Moira swore she would remain below deck while Kyle attacked, and Kyle cursed