Page 312 of Historical Hotties
Thor smiled at his father. “I know,” he said. “Your help with Madam Madonna meant a good deal to her. But those who have sinned against Callie in the past are largely gone now—de Tosni, Rotri and Domnall de Wylde, and now Madam Madonna. If there was anyone else, she hasn’t told me. I think living the life we have for the past eight years has eased the memories of the horrors and has also tamed her wild streak. No more wandering, no more taverns or inns or drinking. All of that has stopped. We only look ahead these days. We do not look back.”
Gage put his hand on Thor’s shoulder. “Wise words, lad,” he said. “But what about Gomorrah?”
“What about it?”
“That was her favorite place, once. Does she ever talk about it?”
Thor shook his head. “She does not because I told her that if she so much as entertained the idea of ever returning, I would burn the place to ash,” he said firmly. “She promised me she would never go back. But then she laughed, so I do not know if she was serious or not.”
Gage chuckled. “You married a headstrong woman, lad,” he said. “I would be on my guard, always.”
Thor joined in his father’s laughter, but before he could reply, Jane suddenly appeared. Tall and elegant, with her mother’s white hair and dark green eyes, she took one look at Thor and broke out into a smile that nearly split her face in two.
“The baby is here,” she announced happily. “It is a girl!”
Thor broke down laughing. He was so happy that he simply couldn’t help it. “Finally,” he said as his father slapped him on the back. “A lass after all of those boys. How is your mother? Is she well?”
Jane rushed forward, grasping him by the hand and pulling him to his feet. “Mother is very well,” she said. “She says that you must come right away and see your black-haired daughter.”
Grinning, Thor and Gage followed Jane to the master’s chamber on the top level of Edingale’s keep, a vast and lavish chamber that seemed to be full of people. There were midwives, a physic, and servants milling about. Thor also caught sight of his mother over near the bed, fawning over a small bundle in Caledonia’s arms. When Caledonia looked up and saw her husband, the smiles of love and adoration that passed between them were tangible.
Thor had eyes only for his wife.
“My love,” he said as he came to the bed and kissed her gently on the mouth. “Are you well? How do you feel?”
“Exhausted,” Caledonia admitted. “Your daughter did not want to come forth. She was quite happy in my belly.”
Thor could see a little face and tufts of dark hair peeking out from the swaddling. He tried to reach for her but realized that Jane was still holding his hand. She hadn’t let him go. He smiled at the young woman he very much considered his daughter and gave her hand a squeeze.
“Have you held your sister?” he asked her.
Jane shook her head, but her gaze was on the baby. “Nay,” she said. “Mother said you must hold her first. She promised I can hold her next.”
Thor had to pry his hand out of Jane’s so he could collect the infant from his wife’s arms. He held the baby with a good deal of confidence, cradling her against his chest as Jane tried to get a look. He finally peeled back the swaddling so she could see the infant. The big sister was quite thrilled with her.
“Well?” Caledonia said, smiling wearily at her husband and eldest daughter. “We had planned on a lad, but I do not wish to name my daughter Lance. What shall we name her?”
Thor shrugged, looking at Jane. “Do you have any suggestions?”
Jane nodded hesitantly. “I must confess something,” she said, looking between her parents. “I prayed for a sister. I love my brothers, but I did not want them to outnumber the girls, so I prayed very hard for a sister.”
Caledonia chuckled. “God heard your prayer,” she said. “It seems to me that since you prayed for this child, you should name her.”
“I agree.” Wynter, Lady Ashington, spoke up. Standing on the other side of the bed, the beautiful woman with the red hair was watching the touching scene with a great deal of delight. “Janie, what name shall the baby have?”
Jane’s gaze moved to the infant, who was starting to squirm. “I… I like the name Julianna,” she said. She looked up at Thor. “Do you like the name? Julianna?”
“I love the name,” he said. “Well done, Janie. Would you like to hold Julianna now?”
Thrilled that her parents liked the name, Jane nodded eagerly and rushed to sit down next to her mother on the bed. Thor placed the baby carefully in her arms, and Jane gazed at the baby for a moment before bursting into quiet tears. As Caledonia and Wynter comforted the emotional young woman, Thor stood back by his father, watching the tender scene.
“Sometimes I have trouble believing just how rich my life really is,” Thor murmured. “Do you remember that moment, years ago, when Henry forced me into this marriage?”
“Well I do.”
Thor looked at him. “I never had the chance to thank him before he died,” he said. “I have always regretted that.”
A smile played on Gage’s lips. “He went to his grave thinking we were both angry with him.”
