Her heart ached horribly. This man she trusted and loved—loved? Did he truly love her or had he made that claim knowing he had no choice? He was as stuck in this marriage as she was. So did he love her out of duty? Each thought made her heart ache more and more.
Owen continued to argue and press for proof of the King’s decree, and suddenly Wintra wanted to be anyplace but here. She wished she could suddenly vanish and be alone with her thoughts.
A hand sliding in to hers startled her, and she turned. A woman, taller than her by several inches stood beside her. She had plain, though lovely features and dark, straight red hair that hung past her shoulder.
She smiled at Wintra and gave a nod as if to follow her.
Wintra realized than that it was Dawn, and she immediately asked, “Are you feeling well?”
Dawn nodded and tugged her hand.
Wintra did not hesitate, she went along with Dawn. No one seemed to pay them mind since the argument had grown heated, and Cree’s warriors had maneuvered past them to surround him and Torr while several of Owen’s warriors hurried into the Great Hall to do the same for Owen.
Wintra was relieved that they left unnoticed, Torr most likely expecting her to stay put until he finished, and then offer her an explanation. Or would he? Would he and Cree expect her to simply accept what the King had decreed? She almost laughed aloud, for again she realized she had no choice. The decision had been made.
They reached the bottom of the keep steps and Dawn hurried her around the side of the keep to a cottage. A woman, stooped from age and with an abundance of wrinkles to prove it, stood in front of the cottage door.
“I had the feeling you needed me?” the old woman said to Dawn.
Dawn nodded and pointed to her lips, and then to Wintra.
She nodded to Dawn and turned to Wintra. “You must be Wintra, Cree’s sister. I’m called Old Mary and Dawn would like me to interpret as she speaks.”
Wintra nodded, still feeling as if she was dreaming, though now she did not feel so much in a nightmare.
They entered the cottage, a blast of warmth hitting them.
Dawn turned to Wintra and smiled, then patted her own chest before reaching out and patting Wintra’s.
“Dawn is very happy to meet you.” Old Mary continued interpreting as Dawn continued motioning. “She is happy to have you as a sister and is thrilled that you are here at last. Please sit while she makes a hot brew and she will talk with you.”
“Thank you for your kind welcome,” Wintra said. “My homecoming is not what I expected, but I am so pleased to meet you.”
Dawn smiled and motioned her to take a seat, and Wintra did.
Wintra watched Dawn bustle around the room as if it was familiar to her and perhaps the look on Wintra’s face betrayed her thoughts since Old Mary addressed her silent musing.
“Dawn lived here for a while. The sleeping quarters are beyond that curtain,” Old Mary said with a nod in that direction.
Dawn stopped, gestured, and Old Mary nodded. “She says that there are clothes in the chest at the foot of the bed, yours to use if you would like.”
“Thank you and thank you for bringing me here. It is a welcoming and comfortable cottage,” Wintra said, wishing she could reside here away from everyone. She was used to solitude, had learned a great deal about it while at the abbey, though it had been a forced lesson. She had even come to enjoy it at times. So it would be no hardship to have this lovely place all to herself.
“May I help with something?” Wintra offered. “After all you did faint and probably should be resting.”
“You fainted?” Old Mary said with a chuckle that surprised Wintra, though her next words explained her reaction. “How did the mighty Cree take it? Bet he was mad as hell that he couldn’t do anything about it. He probably threatened you to wake. And no doubt he would rain hell down on heaven itself if you hadn’t.” She chuckled again and looked to Wintra. “That brother of yours loves Dawn to death. And I do not know how he will ever survive her birthing his babe.”
Wintra stared wide-eyed at Dawn. “You carry my brother’s child?”
Dawn eyes widened with alarm and her hands started gesturing.
Old Mary reached out, laying her hands over Dawn’s. “Dawn is upset that you should find out this way, but it is my fault for not considering that you might not know yet.”
“No, it’s all right. It’s just—” she couldn’t seem to finish. It was as if the words stuck in her throat.
Dawn could see the hurt in Wintra’s eyes and her heart went out to her. She rested her hand over Wintra’s and with her other hand tapped her chest and pointed to her.