“Oh ’twould be wondrous,” Mairin breathed.
After settling the babe in her cradle, Keeley helped Mairin sit up on the edge of the bed. She efficiently stripped the other woman down and helped her wash. Once Mairin was dressed in a clean, sweet-smelling gown, Keeley braced herself and helped the other woman to her feet.
“ ’Tis not so bad,” Mairin said in triumph. “I don’t feel weak at all.”
“Wife, ’tis clear I’m going to have to post a guard on you at all times to make sure you stay where you belong,” Ewan said from the door.
Keeley grabbed the startled Mairin and then turned to scowl at the laird. “Come in or go out, but shut the door and keep your voice down. The babe is sleeping.”
Ewan didn’t look happy to be ordered about, but he complied with Keeley’s order and then returned to stand a few feet away from Mairin, his arms crossed over his chest.
“Oh, do quit standing there frowning,” Keeley said in exasperation. “Help her to the chair by the fire. She’d like to feed your daughter in comfort.”
“She should be abed resting,” Ewan said gruffly.
But he gathered Mairin gently to his side and eased her into the chair a short distance away. Keeley fussed around making sure Mairin was adequately covered, and then she went to fetch the baby and settled her into Mairin’s arms.
“Do stop frowning, husband,” Mairin said, echoing Keeley’s order. “I’m perfectly fit. If I had to spend one more day in that bed, I was going to go mad.”
“I just worry for you,” he said. “I want you and Isabel to be hale and hearty.”
Mairin smiled and patted Ewan’s arm. “We are both perfectly well.”
Ewan sat on the edge of the bed and watched as Mairin nursed Isabel. His expression was slightly awed and his eyes glowed with love. ’Twas a heart-squeezing sight to behold.
“You nearly made me forget what I came up to tell you,” Ewan reproached. “Seeing you out of bed made me lose my purpose.”
Mairin grinned. “ ’Tis not often you lose your purpose, husband.”
He shot her a quelling stare. “The king arrives in two days’ time. My messenger intercepted him with the news of Isabel’s birth. He is most pleased to celebrate Alaric’s wedding and the sealing of our alliance as well as to bestow the legacy of Neamh Álainn on our daughter.”
Keeley froze but continued the task of collecting Mairin’s soiled linens.
“I can’t still be abed when the king arrives,” Mairin wailed.
“You’ll not overtax yourself,” Ewan said sternly.
“I’ll not miss Alaric’s wedding. I don’t care if you must carry me belowstairs. ’Tis ridiculous that I’ve been stuck in this bed for so many days.”
“You should have no difficulty going belowstairs for a short time, provided you rest in the meantime,” Keeley interjected.
Ewan shot Mairin a smug look. Mairin turned to glare at Keeley. “Traitor,” she whispered.
A knock sounded at the chamber door and Ewan rose with a frown. When he opened it, Rionna McDonald stood in the hallway. Keeley stiffened and looked away, though it was stupid. It wasn’t as if Rionna couldn’t see her.
“Your pardon, Laird McCabe,” Rionna said formally. “I’d hoped to see Lady McCabe and her babe, if they are up to having visitors.”
Mairin shot Ewan a helpless look and then glanced sideways at Keeley in apology.
“I’m quite finished with my duties,” Keeley said loudly. “I’ll be in to check on you later, my lady.” She bowed to Laird McCabe and hurried past Rionna.
Rionna reached out to touch Keeley’s arm. “Please, Keeley. I would speak to you later.”
Keeley smiled brightly. “ ’Tis no need. There is nothing to discuss. I hear the king arrives in two days’ time. Congratulations on your marriage. I’m sure you must be breathless with excitement.”
She turned and hurried down the hall, Rionna’s troubled gaze following her the entire way.
Alaric swung his sword in a wide arc and sent his opponent’s shield flying through the air. ’Twas the fourth man he’d dispatched in as many minutes, and he whirled, looking for his next adversary.
His men stood at a wary distance, none stepping up to challenge.
Then Caelen stepped in front of him, flipping his sword in a casual manner that was blatantly mocking—and challenging.
“You’re spoiling for a fight, brother. ’Tis the truth so I’m more than willing to oblige you.”
Alaric scowled. “I’m in no mood for your baiting.”
Caelen lifted an eyebrow. “Baiting? We both want the same thing. Quit wasting time and raise your sword.”
Without pausing to wonder why Caelen was spoiling for a fight, Alaric lunged and swung his sword. Caelen easily danced out of the way and thrust his sword down to parry Alaric’s thrust.
The clang of metal rang out over the courtyard and in a matter of moments an excited murmur rose. Both McCabe and McDonald men surged forward to form a circle around the two brothers.
At first Alaric took it easy, pacing himself and measuring his blows, but it quickly became obvious that Caelen had no patience for a simple sparring.
Rage glittered in his brother’s eyes and his jaw was set in a line so tight that it bulged with every thrust of his sword.
With a savage sound of satisfaction, Alaric threw himself into the battle. All the frustration that had mounted over the last weeks came boiling out, and he took it out on his younger brother.
He needn’t have worried. Whatever had Caelen so furious, it was fueling his strength, and the two men were snarling gladiators.
Their battle quickly became a matter of wagering, as sides were decided upon and shouts of encouragement rose above the clash of metal and the loud grunts of the two opponents.
A short distance away, Ewan watched the battle in silence. He made no effort to intervene. He wasn’t a stupid man. His two brothers had blood in their eyes. He had every faith that they wouldn’t actually kill each other. How badly they injured themselves was another matter entirely. But he wasn’t about to step into the fray and risk a severed limb or broken bone.
He wasn’t entirely certain what was driving Caelen’s rage. But he’d find out.
The hour was late and most of the keep was solidly abed by now, and yet Keeley lay in her bed wide awake as the events of the day caught up to her. It had been an exhausting time and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could hold up under the strain without cracking.