She gave a brief smile, sighed, and pressed her head against the pillow as she curled up beneath the blankets.
Ruddock dried himself while watching his wife’s eyes drift close and drift off to sleep. He wasn’t ready for sleep yet. He was hungry. He went to the table with the food, sat, helped himself to some meat, and filled a goblet with wine. He needed to think about what obstacles he might face with claiming himself in charge of the clan.
It was obvious his father was no longer capable of ruling. He was too ill, to close to dying. Ruddock needed to see the state of the clan’s affairs and make certain all was well. And where once he would have wanted to redeem himself in the eyes of the clan, now it didn’t matter to him. He had done nothing wrong. What he had done had been forced upon him. He had been given no choice and he’d be damned if he was made to pay for it any longer.
He only hoped his clan would not treat Sorrell poorly because of him, though if anyone did, they would learn fast the consequences.
What was most important to him was finding out why an attempt was made on his wife’s life and if the attempt on his life had any connection. He intended to send Asger a message. He had left too quickly that night at the abbey and he wanted to know why.
He helped himself to cheese and bread and more meat and refilled his goblet twice. He didn’t feel as burdened as he once did even though his burdens had yet to be lifted completely. It was his wife that had brought some peace to him. Having her by his side, knowing she would always defend him, always love him, made a difference.
He swallowed the last of the wine, went to the bed, and slipped beneath the blanket to gently tuck himself around his wife. Content with her in his arms, he fell asleep soon after his head rested on the pillow.
After having breakfast with her husband the next morning, Sorrell decided to see how his father fared before she started her day. There was something amiss with Finn Northwick and the only way she could find out was to talk with him, as cranky an old man as he was. But she’d dealt with crankier men than him.
The door was open to his bedchamber when she reached his floor and she quietly went to stand behind it and listened, the voices inside loud enough to hear.
“I have no choice, Erland, I refuse to die without an heir. Son or not, Ruddock will inherit all that is mine. And with him wed, there is a good chance that she will be with child soon and the Northwick name will carry on.”
“You can still continue to rule until then. It isn’t necessary for you to turn over command of the clan to Ruddock just yet,” Erland argued. “And as far as his wife, she is but a wee thing. How will she ever birth a bairn?”
“As long as the bairn lives that’s all that matters. Ruddock can always find another wife.”
Sorrell’s temper almost had her marching in there and telling them both bluntly what she thought of them, but she wisely remained where she was and continued to listen.
“This illness has taken its toll and will eventually take my life. I will see that Ruddock is capable of leading the clan and doing right by it.”
“How can you trust him or even forgive him after what he did when you proclaimed him illegitimate?” Erland asked incredulously.
“He will answer to me for that,” Finn snapped. “You will be my eyes and ears and tell me everything he does.”
“What if—”
“I will decide his fate,” Finn said with finality. “Now go and see what my son is up to.”
Sorrell quietly moved into the shadows in case Erland closed the door and was relieved when he went straight down the stairs. She waited, not wanting Ruddock’s father to know she had heard them talking. It infuriated her that he did not trust his son and was having Erland watch him, and that Erland did not want Finn to abdicate command to Ruddock yet. What was most curious to her was Erland’s reference to something Ruddock had done that Finn should not trust or forgive. Also that Finn intended to hold him accountable. She’d find out for herself.
Feeling confident enough time had passed, she quietly made her way to the stairs, went down a few steps, and hurried up them, humming a melody so that Finn believed she had just climbed the stairs.
“How do you fare this morning, Finn?” she asked, entering the room.
“Did I request your presence? And you’ll address me properly, Lord Finn or my lord,” he scolded with a scowl.