She turned to him then. “But, my husband, we must speak of this, for at Christmas, I plan to present you with a most special gift.”
He grinned. “And what can it be? There is naught that I do not have.”
She shook her head at him. “Mayhaps I should have Brother Jonathan create a mind for you from paper. It could not be of less substance than the one you now attempt to use.”
He frowned at her and then all color drained from his face, his eyes wide.
She looked down at her hands. “Please do not say you are displeased. I do not think I could bear it.”
They sat in silence for what seemed to be hours, and then Ranulf lifted her chin with his fingertips. She could almost swear that the strong, masculine hand, the hand of the Black Lion, king’s champion, trembled. His eyes held a strange expression.
“This is true? You will bear me a babe?”
She nodded, not sure what she saw in his face. He dropped his hand and stood up with lightning speed, his legs wide apart, hands on hips, and threw back his head, giving the loudest, ugliest, most terrifying war cry she had ever heard. She covered her ears against that hideous sound, which sent tremors of unknown terror through her body.
The sound carried for a long way, and those who heard also shuddered at the sound, never before given off a battlefield.
Lyonene still sat with her hands over her ears when Ranulf looked back at her. He pulled her to him to study her face and then kissed her mouth, hard.
“I may take it that the news does not cause your displeasure?”
He swung her into his arms. “No man has ever been happier.”
“You do not think of responsibilities and duties?” she teased.
“Your fun of me is at an end. I should like a son first and then a score of daughters. I will need a boy to help me protect my beautiful daughters. And I shall never allow them to marry, but keep them by me always to fetch my slippers and tend to my wine.” He paused a moment. “Of a surety, Edward will take credit for this.”
“What has the king to do with our child?”
“If it is to be born at Christmas, then it had to have been created at the Round Table.” He gave her a mocking look. “My poor brain has always been good at arithmetic, if not at women’s riddles. Edward will say it was the white wine he had me mix with your red. Of course everyone else would agree, for you had an unwholesome look on your face when I carried you from the hall.”
“You did not carry me!”
“I most assuredly did. There were great cheers and not a few suggestions as to how to proceed from there, but I fear you outdid any suggestion a mere man could create. Yes, I am sure ’twas that night that made my child.”
He laughed when her fist pelted his naked chest. “What will our boy say of a mother who beats his father?”
“He will probably join me, or it would be my good fortune to bear a braggart just like you. His first steps will no doubt be a swagger, his first words a boast.”
Ranulf laughed hard and hugged her to him. “Then you must indeed have my daughters, for who else will listen to us?”
“I am sure you will find someone.”
“That is true, but they all sit in rapture of me. No other woman makes me work so hard to make an impression or beats me when I go too far.”
She laughed with him and put her arms about his neck. “I shall bear you hundreds of whatever you wish.” They kissed, quietly, sweetly. “You are glad then, truly glad?”
He nibbled her ear. “You are hard to persuade. There is naught I can say. I look forward eagerly to my first child. Now I should like to return to my house and put you to bed and then go and brag to my men.”
“Release me and do not act such a fool. I am well, and the strength I build each day flows to the child and gives him strength.”
He set her down carefully and seemed to consider her words. “I do not know… Lucy and Kate will care for you and keep you from building too much strength, as you say. Now dress that we may return.” His eyes widened. “Should you rid
e?”
She kept her face perfectly calm. “Nay, I should walk back to the castle.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Do not grow too saucy, wench. There are ways to punish you that will not harm the babe.”