Page 194 of Historical Hotties
He pulled off a glove and tenderly grasped her face. “There is no use in worrying about it until the time comes.” He let go of her face and hunted around for her cloak. Finding it across a chair, he held it up for her. “Come along, love. Let us to go the great hall and await the visitors.”
Sniffling, she allowed him to help her into her heavy woolen cloak with the fur lining. He fastened the ties and pulled her hood on, securing it around her sweet face. Letting Stanton know he was confiscating the baby sitter, he took her out into the snowy ward.
The wind was kicking up something fierce as he took her into the inner bailey and directly to the great hall. Once inside the entry, the heat from the roaring fire was like a slap in the face. It was almost too warm. Creed pulled off his gauntlets and helped Carington remove her cloak.
“Now,” he took her gently by the elbow. “Go and sit by the fire and I shall return with our visitor.”
She gazed up at him, her lovely little face round and rosy-cheeked. “I’m scared for ye,” she clutched at him. “What if… what if we hide and tell Laird Richard to tell the church that we ran off months ago? They’ll not know where to find ye.”
He put his cold hands on her face, leaning down to kiss both cheeks. “Wife, you worry overly,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. “Moreover, it could be good news. If we run, we will never know.”
She was not convinced but took a seat at the table with her back facing the fire. It was warm and wonderful and as her belly brushed up against the old oak table, she could feel the babe moving within her. Creed was just putting his gloves back on when she motioned urgently to him.
“English, come here!” she called excitedly. “Hurry if ye want to feel yer son move about.”
Creed would take any opportunity for that. He tucked his gloves under one arm and went to her, putting both of his enormous hands on her belly. His hands were so big that they swallowed up the entire bulge. He waited with anticipation for a moment, finally rewarded with strong kicking and a few rolls against her flesh. He grinned as their eyes met.
“He is active today,” he said with pride. “He will be a very strong lad.”
She smiled in return, putting her small hands over his. There was such intimate joy in their delight, something that meant the world to the two of them. The baby kicked and rolled a few more times, causing Creed to laugh softly.
“I do not believe he is content in there,” he told her. “He wants to be born and serve with his father.”
She pursed her lips at him. “Ye’ll not rush him into battle,” she told him. “I would keep him with me for as long as I can.”
With a smirk, he cocked an eyebrow at her to let her know how ridiculous he thought her statement was. They haddiscussed fostering, once, and she had ended up in tears. She did not like the idea of sending her child away. Leaning down to kiss her belly, he stood up and resumed pulling his gloves on.
“I will see to our visitors now,” he told her. “I shall return.”
Carington’s smile faded but she nodded, rubbing her belly as he quit the hall. Trepidation filled her once more as she sat in the quiet room, her imagination running wild with a myriad of horrible scenarios. But Creed had seemed unconcerned. Perhaps she should be as well.
Out in the snow-blown inner bailey, Creed made his way to the outer bailey just as the great gates began to crank open. The wood was frozen and the ropes sodden, making it difficult to move. He could see several soldiers trying to strong arm the gates. As he continued to make his way to the gate, the frozen panels finally jerked open. As they yawned wide, a small party bearing icy banners of the yellow papal cross entered. It took another two dozen men to shut the gates behind them.
The snow was past Creed’s ankles and getting deeper as he made his way to the escort party. There was a small carriage in the center of the group and just as he reached it, the door popped open and a familiar face appeared.
It was Massimo. Creed felt his stomach lurch a little at the sight of the man but he greeted him pleasantly. If the man was traveling in weather such as this, all the way from London no less, then the news must indeed be serious. He was glad that Carington was inside the hall and away from this scene for the moment.
“Your Grace,” he said, helping the man from the carriage and into the snow. “You picked fine weather to travel in.”
Massimo’s young face was bundled up in woolen scarves. His dark eyes fixed on Creed. “It was not by choice, I assure you,” he said. “I have come with dreadful news and there is no time to waste.”
Creed’s stomach lurched a little more. “What news?”
Massimo put his hand on Creed’s arm. “Take me into some place warm before I freeze to death and I will tell you.”
Creed began to lead the man towards the great hall, wrought with dread as they walked. “Tell me what has happened that would have you traveling in such foul weather?”
Massimo wiped snow from his face. “The queen’s child was born three months ago,” he told him. “The child was early and did not survive. But it was born with a crown of black hair and, I am told, dark blue eyes. Like yours.”
Creed cleared his throat softly. “Be that as it may, it was not mine. And Isabella has black hair.”
“I understand,” Massimo nodded. “But the fact remains that the king went mad with fury and grief and has been demanding your head ever since. He knew that the church has been in contact with you and he further knew that we advocate your innocence in all things. We have made that clear. When I left London six weeks ago to deliver the news to you, we were followed. A small army of the king’s men is not a day’s ride behind me.”
Creed froze and looked at him. “You led them to Prudhoe?”
Massimo’s cold face was lined with guilt and sorrow. “It was a mistake, I assure you,” he said quietly. “We had no idea we were being followed until we were almost to Leeds. By then, the best I could do was proceed as quickly as I could to warn you.”
Creed just stared at him. “You could have veered away and led them to Manchester or York, for God’s sake. As it is, you led them right to me.”
