Page 109 of The Knight's Pledge
“Mama, is Grandfather coming home with us?” George Thomas piped up in the midst of the laughter, from his location on Thomas’s lap. One spindly arm had been hooked around the old man’s neck since their first meeting, and already the child was mimicking every move his grandfather made.
Effie turned her head tolook at Lucan.
The room quieted, and Lucan remembered that the band was still getting used to the idea of Effie without Gorman, even though George Thomas’s father had made no pretense about his suddenly obvious interest in the exotic Kit Katey, seated at his side at the far end of the table.
The Countess Elpis spoke up loudly. “Of course, my niece will return to Mystras with me. She and her son. They will wish to take their placesin the family.”
Effie looked at once to the regal old woman. “Mystras?”
“Certainly,” Elpis said. “Your testimony shall be imperative in the trial of Caris Hargrave.”
Lucan saw Effie’s forehead crease, and he wanted to take away her uncertainty, but he knew he couldn’t. It was her right to choose to start over in a land where her own name guaranteed her freedom and power and wealth, where George Thomas’s future would be bright. Lucan couldn’t stop her—he wouldn’t stop her.
“Och,” Thomas lamented gruffly. “She canna go so very far. Not with so much of her family already here.” He reached up and stroked the little boy’s red hair and his whiskered chin flinched. “And meown grandson.”
Lucan felt everyone’s attention turn to Effie. She dabbed at her mouth with her napkin, and Lucan saw her take a deep breath,her mouth set.
Just like Thomas’s,Lucan realized.
* * * *
Effie’s heart beat heavy in her chest as the weight of her decision hung over the table. The presence of Lucan Montague at her side gave her strength—the fact that he had not at once denied the countess’s request made her love himall the more.
“Countess Elpis,” she said at last, looking at the woman directly and for a fleeting moment, again wondering if she was looking into a face like her mother’s. “I thank you for your offer. I do wish to know you more, and to come to know my mother’s family. But…” she paused, looking around the grand dining hall of the Strand house. At Gorman and Kit Katey; at the sons of Scotland, her brothers; at George, and Tommy; at the rest of her family of the Warren. And finally at Lucan.
“While perhaps it was brought about by the tragedy of my mother being stolen away to England so many years ago, I know that I am already surrounded by my family and people, for whom, like my father was willing to do, I would lay down my life. It is my duty to return to Northumberland and try to somehow help heal the barony, by starting to right the thousands of crimes committed bythe Hargraves.”
Lucan reached for her hand when she continued. “I know that, together with Padraig and Iris, we can defend Northumberland.”
Lucan spoke then. “We cannot do it without Gorman. My friend. The only one of the Warren who didn’t want to kill me at first sight.”
Gorman chuckled. “PerhapsI should have.”
Everyone laughed good naturedly, as Kit Katey beamed a proud smile at him.
“This is unacceptable,” Elpis said suddenly. “While I understand your desire to stay in the land you have given up so much for, I do feel that I cannot abandon you here with no prospects. I must have something to show for my journey, to corroborate the adventure I have known.” She frowned, her jowls like a bulldog, and then her gaze softened as she too, looked upon Gormanand Kit Katey.
“Ah, that is just it. I shall have the father of my great nephew,” she said in apleased voice.
Gorman’seyes widened.
“Yes, of course,” the countess continued. “Your own father holds a position of honor in a noble home, does he not?”
Gorman nodded. “He did. He was the longtime steward of Darlyrede House, my lady.”
“That decides it,” Elpis said. “You will be given similar status in my own household. You may return within the year with Mystras’s ambassador to visit, or to stay in England if the position does not suit. And it will be a wonderful excuse for your son to visit the palace. Greece does not keep the same rules as does England in regard to marriage—in our eyes, you shall be equal to my niece.” She looked to Kit Katey. “Perhaps you might bring a companion with you? Mystras is home to many of our friendsfrom the East.”
Gorman looked back to Effie, and she could see the uncertainty, as well as the excitement, in his eyes. Here was his chance to overcome his past in England, to fully become the man hedeserved to be.
“But what of you and George? Where will you be?”
“Roscraig, of course,” Tavish said. When everyone looked toward him, he continued. “It’s not so very far that the overseeing of the construction will be a problem. We have plenty of room and our village thrives. Padraig as well, or at least Iris, while her husband seeks to confirm his placewith the king.”
“Bah,” Lachlan said. “Young Padraig would rather spend his days in the shadow of Ben Nevis, on the sea.”
Padraig grinned. “That does sound fine, although I would make a living for my wife and child while Darlyrede is rebuilt.”
There was a beat of silence while everyone realized Padraig’s meaning, and then Margaret called for more wine to be brought to toast the announcement of Iris’s pregnancy.
