Wintra was ready to protest about being left out of a discussion that concerned her when Torr took hold of her face and kissed her.
She scowled at him afterwards, knowing what he was doing.
Torr laughed. “I was wondering when your brother’s scowl would show up on your face.”
She punched him in the arm, which made him laugh even harder, and she stopped herself from rubbing her small fist, having hit hard muscle and hurting herself more than him.
Torr took her hand that remained fisted and kissed it, which irritated her all the more, since he knew she had suffered more than he, though he was trying to make amends.
“You have yet to eat, so enjoy the morning meal, and I will let you know what goes on as soon as we finish discussing the matter.”
Cree watched the exchange between the couple and was about to say something when Dawn squeezed his leg beneath the table. He turned a scowl on her that quickly faded when he looked into the tenderness in her lovely dark eyes. And then she patted his leg, though much too close to his groin, which naturally aroused him.
He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “I expect you to finish what you have just started and sooner rather than later.”
Dawn smiled and nodded most eagerly.
The two women watched their men walk off with Sloan and as soon as they were out of the room Dawn gestured to Wintra, as if she was shoveling food into her mouth, and then walked her fingers in the air.
“I should eat and then we should go for a walk?” Wintra asked.
Dawn nodded, walked her fingers in the air again, tapped her lips, and then tugged at her ear.
“We take a walk to see if we can learn anything,” Wintra said enthusiastically.
Dawn bobbed her head.
“Are you feeling well enough?”
Dawn’s face lit with a brilliant smile, and she nodded.
“I am so happy for you and my brother. He must have been thrilled when he learned he would be a father. He always wanted a large brood. He had told me that one day we would live in a keep and we would fill it with his children and my children and that there would always be laughter and happiness.” Wintra felt her stomach clench. She would not be staying here with her brother. She would be going to live at Torr’s home and while she looked forward to a life with Torr, she would miss her brother, especially since she had only been reunited with him.
Wintra chased the troubling thought away. Today she would spend time with her new sister. Wintra rushed her hand out to Dawn’s when she caught a pained look in her eyes. “What’s wrong? Are you ill?”
Dawn shook her head. She pressed her fingers to her lips, and then rested her hand over that slight bump in her stomach.
Wintra understood her worry right away. “Just because you cannot speak doesn’t mean your child will have no voice. Besides, it will not matter to my brother. He will love his child, voice or not, just as he loves you.”
Dawn appreciated her comforting words, though unfortunately found no solace in them. How did she explain that she did not wish her affliction on anyone let alone her own child? Her heart would break if her child was born and she heard no cry—not a sound—for her voice would always be trapped inside her, and it was a horrible fate to pass on to an innocent child.
Wintra squeezed her hand. “All will be well. Do not worry.” She thought it best to change the conversation and said, “What of your wedding? There is much to do and I agreed to help, so let’s start now.”
Wintra was glad to see Dawn smile as they talked more of the wedding while finishing their meal. With some decisions made for the special day and the meal done, they donned their cloaks and were out the door.
Yesterday’s gray skies and promise of more snow surprisingly never materialized. Instead, the sun was shining and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Snow was beginning to melt, though no one believed winter was about to leave just yet. Spring was a good two months away, but it was nice to see the sun, if only for a day.
“Where should we start?” Wintra asked.
Dawn gestured for her to follow, and they were soon walking up a path to a cottage. Dawn didn’t bother to knock, she simply opened the door. Wintra understood why when they entered. It housed the women who worked on the wool. They seemed a happy group, smiling and greeting them as if they were friends, but then Dawn was.
Sadness washed over Wintra. This was what she had missed all those years in the abbey—family and friends—and she didn’t want to ever be without it again.