Dawn would accept the plant but had no intention of taking it.
Elsa explained to Dawn how to brew the leaves and how often to take it. “But remember if you are already with child it will abort the babe.” Elsa took a pouch from her basket and placed it on the table. “I will bring you more next month.”
Dawn nodded.
“Think on this Dawn for any decision you make will have repercussions.”
Dawn realized then that the woman knew that she was already with child and leaving the decision to her.
“I am a healer and I heal. I cause harm to none for I am all too aware of the consequences. Think on it, Dawn, and do in your heart what you feel is right for you.”
Dawn wanted to hug the woman for giving her a choice but she didn’t. She simply nodded and pressed her hand to her chest to show her gratitude while she fought back the tears ready to spill.
Elsa squeezed her hand before she stood. “I am here if you need me.”
Dawn nodded and tried to smile but it barely reached her lips. As soon as the door closed she burst into tears. She spent the rest of the morning sitting in front of the hearth too numb to move.
When Sloan arrived telling her that Cree wanted to see her in his solar she gestured that she was sick and could not go.
“It isn’t a request,” Sloan said.
Dawn was pleased that the babe decided to protest just then and she ran to the bucket and heaved.
To her relief, Sloan left after telling her he would inform Cree that she wasn’t well.
Several hours later she heard Cree talking to the guard outside the door and she hurried into the other room, pulled her boots off, climbed under the covers, and curled into a ball. She didn’t want to see him, didn’t want to talk with him… she wanted him to leave her alone.
She heard him enter the room and walk over to the bed and lean over her.
His hand touched her brow. It was cool, his touch gentle and as always her body sparked to life but she refused to acknowledge it.
“Dawn,” he whispered.
She knew if she didn’t open her eyes that he would persist and so she fluttered them open as if she was waking.
“Are you all right?” he asked with such concern that it touched her heart but again she refused to acknowledge it.
She shook her head.
“I will send for Elsa.”
She shook her head. Placed her hands together as if in prayer and rested them to her cheek.
“You just need to rest?”
She nodded.
“If you are not better by late evening than Elsa will see to you,” he ordered and she nodded. He kissed her brow. “I will see you later.”
Dawn nodded and closed her eyes to keep her tears from falling and sighed silently when she heard the door close.
The hours wore on until she finally felt the need to get away from the cottage and not with a guard. She slipped on the wool, fur-lined cloak, and then moved the trunk to the window, relieved that Cree had not had it boarded up, but then she had not given him cause to after the last time. Now however was different, and she didn’t care about the consequences.
She eased herself out the window feet first so that she could grab hold and lower herself to the ground. She did not want to take a chance of hurting the babe by simply dropping to the ground as she did the last time.
Once out she snuck around the back of the castle. She knew where she would go… her safe place. It was where she went as a child when she wanted to escape and feel free. And she needed that now… a place to escape to and feel free if only for a short time.
Then she would return and face her fate.
Chapter Thirty-six
“What do you mean she’s not there?” Cree demanded, his head coming up to scowl at the young servant lass.
The servant trembled as she spoke. “I could find her nowhere in the cottage, my lord.”
Cree stood towering over the woman. “You looked in the other room?”
She bobbed her head. “After I called out to her and got no answer, I went in the other room to make certain she was all right, but it was empty, though the window was open.”
Cree waved the lass away and turned to Sloan. “Come with me.”
They arrived at Dawn’s cottage in no time and followed the footprints beneath the window until they dissolved into an utter mess.
“She covered her tracks well,” Sloan said.
“You sound as if you admire her,” Cree snapped.
“She does have a sharp wit.”
“Let’s see if your wit is sharper… find her!” He turned to storm away and stopped abruptly pointing to the window. “Board it.”