Dragon's Daughter

скачать книгу бесплатно


Christian threw back the furs in frustration. Going into the cottage, he bade Rowena and Nina, “Good morrow.”

Rowena barely glanced in his direction, seeming as agitated as the previous evening.

He was distracted from his contemplation of the stiff line of her slender back by Nina, who replied, “Good morrow, good sir.” The young mother, who lay against the pillows in bed, glanced down at the child sleeping against her breast. She then looked up at Christian with a smile beaming with gratitude, though her cheeks were still quite pale. “I have no words to thank you for all you have—”

Christian held up a hand, forestalling her. “Your thanks are well met, though in all honesty ’twas nature and Rowena who accomplished the important tasks.” He reached out his arms. “May I?”

Nina lifted the sleeping infant toward him.

He looked down into the tiny face, which seemed to have become so much more defined even over the course of a night. His heart swelled with gratitude that all had indeed gone well for this tiny being.

“Nonsense, you are to be commended for doing what you did. Many would have gone for help before even trying.” Though Rowena’s words were spoken stiffly, their content was approving.

While he could not deny a certain amount of pride as well as pleasure at her compliment, Christian gave a rueful laugh. “Had I felt that there was any choice, I would have done so. And quite gladly.”

She looked from him to the child, those green eyes unreadable as they held his for a long moment before she turned away. He watched Rowena bustle about the cottage, the weight of the babe in his arms awakening a strange sort of yearning he could not explain.

A noise from without heralded Sean’s arrival only minutes later. Through the open door Christian saw that he was riding in a small cart pulled by a donkey.

When Rowena swung around, saying, “Thank you for coming so quickly, my friend,” Christian realized that she must have asked him to come while he himself was still sleeping.

The young man frowned as he entered the cottage, watching Christian as if he were a leper.

Immediately Rowena said, “I am nearly finished readying Nina and the child for the journey.”

“What is this you say?” Christian questioned.

Rowena barely glanced at him as she said, “Nina insists on going home, where she can be near the babe’s father. Sean has agreed to take her in his cart. They must go before the tide rises, for it will block the way to her village.” She moved to hold out her arms for the infant, as if that action would prevent any argument.

It did not. Relinquishing the babe reluctantly, Christian scowled. “But she is too weak—”

It was Nina who interrupted. “They only do as I have asked. I want—need to be with my child’s father. Surely now he will see that he must be with me.” Her gaze was distant and determined.

Christian realized that she would not be swayed. He also saw the worry on Rowena’s face. It was clear she would have insisted Nina stay longer if she thought there was any hope of her complying.

Seeming unaware of Christian at the moment, Rowena looked toward Sean. “You will see her safely to her home? Make certain the child’s father is willing to care for them before you leave her?”

Sean bowed, his eyes lighting up when she smiled at him with gratitude. “Anything you ask of me, Rowena.”

The response seemed overeager, to Christian’s ears. Rowena always referred to the young man as a friend, but that did not mean he felt the same. Christian told himself that the tightening in his belly was due to the fact that a budding romance would only complicate his task. Now it was he who watched Sean carefully as the young man went about helping Rowena to prepare her charges for their journey.

The two friends spoke easily, as those of long acquaintance were wont to do. Their interaction gave nothing more away.

There was a lull as Sean awaited his next instructions from Rowena, who was dressing the child in tiny woolen garments. With a tense expression, he approached Christian, who was studying them from the bench against the wall, having taken the position when his own offer of aid was declined.

With determination, the dark-haired young man asked, “When were ye thinking to leave Ashcroft?”

Christian shrugged and replied to this unexpected question as casually as he could, considering the regret he felt at the idea. “Soon enough.” He knew that he must indeed go ere much more time passed, if he was not able to gain any ground here.

Sean frowned. “Mither says ye are looking for someone. A woman named Rosalind.”

Christian said, “I am.”

“Ye have been told that she isna hereabouts.”

He resisted casting a glance at Rowena. “Aye, I have been told. I cannot remain much longer. I have been away too long as it is, for I did tell my sister, Aislynn, that I would be home weeks ago. She and my father are…” He halted, not wanting to speak of his relationship with his family, nor wishing to reveal the guilt that rose at every thought of them.

In the silence that followed, Christian looked up and saw that Rowena had paused in the act of setting the swaddled babe into his mother’s waiting arms. Their eyes met.

She watched him with an intensity that both shocked and inexplicably drew him as she said, “You are leaving soon?”

“Aye.” The word hung in the air between them. Was she, somehow, in some part of herself that she was not yet willing to acknowledge, beginning to understand that his presence here was of great import to her?

Time seemed to lengthen and stretch in an immeasurable way, until finally she turned away. He could read nothing in her tone as she said, “’Tis best to wait a bit longer after your recent illness. Just to make certain that you are fully recovered.”

Christian was left with no opportunity to consider her words. For when she moved toward the table and began to place small pouches into a larger one with studied concentration, Sean let out a barely audible groan. Christian turned to him, seeing his yearning eyes fixed on Rowena.

As if sensing Christian’s attention, Sean turned to him with resentment. “Why did ye look at her that way?” Angry color rode his cheeks.

He was indeed in love with Rowena.

Christian did not know what to say, for the other man obviously saw him as a rival. This was as far from the actual situation as possible.

Yet Christian had no intention of revealing his true interest in Rowena.

Sean spoke again before Christian could even think of forming a reply. “I will pray that yer family is not long awaiting yer return, English knight. Their peace will be mine.”

Christian felt a momentary flash of guilt that when he left he might be taking away what Sean held most dear. He quickly brushed it aside. He felt sympathy for the young man, but could not allow that to make him hesitate in taking Rowena with him if she would come. If she was Rosalind, her place was at Dragonwick.

“Sean?” It was Rowena’s voice.

He swung about without another word, and moved to her side.

“If you will take this to the cart?” She held up a woolen bag. “It contains clean clothes for the babe.”

Stiffly he took the bag and went out without so much as glancing toward Christian again.

Christian then watched as Rowena turned and helped Nina to stand. The babe lay upon the bed as she gingerly wriggled to the edge. Rowena reached out to place a steadying hand beneath her arm as she took a deep breath and rose to her feet. Her weakness was clear, for she buckled almost instantly.

Without asking permission, Christian rose and went to lean over her. “You should not travel this day.”

He could feel the tension in Rowena’s slender body as she agreed. “He is right. You are not strong enough.”

Nina’s lips thinned obstinately. “I mun go home.”

He gave a grunt of exasperation, bending down to sweep her into his arms. Neither she nor Rowena made any protest as he carried her to the cart.

As he set her on the narrow wooden seat beside a frowning Sean, Rowena appeared with the babe in a basket. Carefully she placed the sleeping child on the floor before them. “He will sleep for a time.” Her gaze caught Nina’s. “You must not forget to take the medicaments I put in the bag for you. They will help you to regain your strength more quickly.”

The girl blinked back tears. “I willna forget.” Her appreciative gaze included Christian, who had stepped back to allow them to talk. “I thank ye both. I…ye saved our lives and I kin niver…” She halted, wiping a tear on the sleeve of the clean gown Rowena had given her.

Christian nodded, unable to speak past the lump in his own throat as Rowena whispered, “Just look after the babe. And remember, if you ever need anything…”

The girl nodded and looked to Sean. “We mun away or we shall miss the tide.”

Rowena stepped back beside Christian as Sean cast one more disapproving glance at them. Rowena seemed intent on wiping moisture from the corner of her own eyes.