Page 20 of A Plaid Case of Loving Ye
Ramsay expected the woman to respond, but instead, her lids fluttered closed. Although her expression didn’t change, he sensed…relief? He squeezed her hand gently and began to pray.
Saints above, this puir woman has gone through purgatory here on earth. Accept her into her Heavenly reward, eh? I mean, please.
So…apparently, he wasn’t the best at praying.
“The bairn…”
Ramsay’s brow shot up. Well, mayhap both brows shot up, but he’d become used to ignoring his left brow since ‘twas covered by the patch and often disinclined to follow directions.
‘Twas the first time he’d heard her mention her bairn.Ever.
“Aye, Lady Helen.” His voice cracked. “The nuns named him Relic, after a splinter of the True Cross Sister Mary Influenza once bought from a man with a full sack of finger bones, chunks of wood, and mass-produced shrouds of Turin.” Realizing he was blathering, Ramsay shook his head.“He’s a fine lad, a strong one. He’ll grow to be a fine man.”
Cradled in his palm, her fingers twitched. ‘Twas her only movement.
After a long moment, she breathed, “Promise?”
Ramsay felt a lump in his throat. This woman had every reason to abhor the child who’d killed her, who’d been conceived of hate and violence. And yet…
“I promise,” he whispered roughly. “He’ll be loved.”
“Safe. From—” The effort of speaking was draining her, ‘twas obvious. “Henry MacDonald.”
The name sent a jolt ofsomethingthrough him. Was that the bastard’s name? The man who’d tried to seduce her as a blow to her father, and when that failed, raped her so brutally?Henry MacDonald.
Why did that name mean something to him? He felt the ache returning to his temples.
“I’ll no’ allow him near Relic, milady. Dinnae fash, the lad will be safe. And loved.” He wasn’t certain why that was so important to repeat, but he did. Mayhap ‘twas for his benefit, not Lady Helen’s.
Her lids fluttered as if she was trying to open her eyes, but failed. “Ye…”
Ramsay was uncertain if she’d actually spoken the word, or if it had been merely an exhale. When he glanced at Nicola, ‘twas to see tears running down her cheeks. She was chewing on that bottom lip—Nay, no’ the time to notice that!—as if trying to maintain her expression.
She nodded encouragingly.
“Aye,” he rasped, holding Nicola’s gaze. “Aye, Lady Helen, I love him. I’ll love him as my own, I vow.”My own.
Relic was now his.
And ye cannae walk away from him.
Nicola nodded again, and this time he felt her approval. They sat on separate sides of the bed, separated by a dying woman, and hefelther approval. Knew he’d done the right thing.
Her smile was tremulous, but he couldn’t answer it.
I’ll love him as my own.
Lady Helen managed to turn her head just slightly, pulling Nicola into the conversation. “And…”
Ramsay didn’t understand, but Nicola did. She swallowed once, twice, and nodded, although the woman couldn’t see.
“Aye, Helen,” she choked out. “I’ll help him grow strong and true. I’ll love him, too.”
She said the words, spoke her vow, while holding Ramsay’s gaze.
He nodded, to show her he understood what she was feeling.
Relic wastheirs.
