Page 21 of A Second Chance for Carys
James, alerted by instinct, had suspected Matthew would come to regret his cowardice and want to know where to find his true father when he finally found the courage to speak to him. He’d befriended Richard and taken it upon himself to ask where he was residing. And indeed, less than a month later, the information had come in useful. Connor had summoned the carpenter all the way to Esgyrn Castle in Wales.
Thanks to James, father and son had been able not only to meet, but also to start to build a relationship. Without him, they might not have found each other again, and Richard would not now be living at Sheridan Manor. Matthew, who was a good man, would not forget what he owed the steward, just because his wife was about to give birth. On the contrary, becoming a father would show him all he owed to the man who had raised him as his.
“You have nothing to fear,” she concluded. “This babe will be your grandchild as much as he will be mine.”
James swallowed. Carys’ words of reassurance meant everything to him but just as important was the fact that she had seemed to get over her new shyness in front of him. For days she’d gone out of her way to avoid being alone with him and he’d hated it.
But she had just taken him by the hand and was smiling the radiant smile that never failed to clutch at his heart. Relief almost floored him. He had so dreaded to see her withdraw from him after their encounter on the beach. It would have been his fault if she had, and it would have been well deserved. Lost to his desire for her, he had been rather scandalous. At the time he’d had the impression that she had loved everything he’d done but the fact remained. He had taken liberties he should not have taken, and allowed his desire to overwhelm him. Never had he tasted a woman in such a scandalous manner before, but it had been unstoppable, delicious. He’d wanted to devour her whole, make her his in every way he could.
He still did.
The urge was more than a little frightening, because only last month he had thought to be done with women. When Margaret had tried, not so subtly, to make him understand she would be amenable to an arrangement between them, he had balked at the idea. He was too settled in his ways for the headache this would create, too old to even want to attempt something of the sort, too wary of the pain it could bring. Hope and lust were all well and good when you were a young lad eager to start a family, but a man his age should know better and be able to be satisfied with a more sensible arrangement. There was always an accommodating woman or two to be found in the village when his body demanded release and surely that was all he needed?
At least that was what he’d thought for years.
Now he was wondering if the issue had not been with the women offering to give him a second chance. None had capturedhis interest, they had only stirred his senses long enough for him to ease the tension in his body. But now…What had seemed unthinkable with Margaret didn’t frighten him half as much with Carys. Perhaps with a woman like her, he could find both pleasure in bedandcontentment outside of it.
Yes. Perhaps. On principle.
Because in actual fact, he knew it would never happen. He was still too scared, and he didn’t see how that would change.
Years later he still remembered the awful, gut-wrenching pain of being handed a stillborn baby, or worse, of holding the dead body of a child you had rocked to sleep, learned to love and hoped to see grow one day into a man. Nothing would convince him to risk such a thing again.
No.
It was best to carry on like he had for years—and forget all about his unfortunate desire for delightful Welsh women.
Chapter Six
“Aletter from Esgyrn Castle, my lord.”
The rider bowed to the people assembled around the table before handing the missive to Matthew, who smiled his thanks and instructed him to go to the kitchen for some food and ale. The dusty man went gratefully.
“This will be news of Esyllt and the babe. I expect she will be safely delivered by now. This second baby followed his sister Gwenllian rather quickly, but I don’t think anyone was surprised, given how devoted to one another my brother and his wife are.” He threw a quick glance at the letter and let out a burst of laughter. “Well, it appears my dear sister-in-law has given birth to a boy this time, if you would believe it! Little Rhys. My brother finally has a son. Miracles do happen, or it would seem.”
James smiled to himself. He had thought exactly the same thing a year ago, when he’d received news that Matthew, whom everyone here had thought would remain unmarried, had found himself a wife. Would there be a third miracle at Sheridan Manor? One that involved him for a change?
Just then, his gaze met Carys’. She flushed. His body surged. She averted her eyes. His heart leapt. Yes, perhaps there wouldbe. Miracles came in all shapes and sizes, and the best ones came under the guise of women who brought color and excitement to men’s lives. Connor, then Matthew, and now him. Were all the men at Sheridan Manor destined to fall for Welsh women?
Washe falling of her?
No, surely what he felt wasn’t that deep?
“I am so glad for Esyllt. I must write to congratulate her, and tell her my own happy news,” Branwen said, placing a hand on her still flat stomach.
She had announced earlier that morning that she was expecting her husband’s first child. Both James and Carys had feigned ignorance of the fact, not wanting to spoil the moment for the parents-to-be. He had enjoyed sharing a secret with her. While Richard had enthused about the birth to come, the two of them had exchanged a glance full of complicity. Dear God, he was really getting old, if such looks were enough to make his heart flutter. As a young man, he would have preferred to exchange lusty looks hinting at a night of debauchery. But this had felt just as satisfying.
Once everyone had offered their congratulations, Matthew had looked at both him and Richard and declared that his son was to have the best two grandfathers he could have hoped for. James’ heart had almost burst with joy. Carys had been right the previous day. They would all be one big family here at Sheridan Manor.
Perhaps against all odds he would not end his life alone.
“Do you know, our babies will be cousins,” Branwen carried on. “Who would have thought it? Oh, I’m so happy.”
Carys smiled at her daughter. James knew what she would be thinking. Branwen had been happy since her wedding to Matthew, but she was now positively glowing.
“So am I.” Matthew took his wife’s hand and lifted it to his mouth. “You will allow me to add a note to your missive, Raven,so I can ask Esyllt to be godmother to our child. I promised her on the day of Gwenllian’s christening that she would be my first child’s godmother. I will be only too glad to honor my promise now that the time has come. Unless you object?”
A giggle. “Of course not. I want no other than her and Eirwen. And, of course, Connor will be the godfather.”
