“I planned on sending word, Mother,” Brogan said, though it was not until his visit was near at an end that he intended to do so.
“Have you any news of an heir yet?” Lady Faline asked.
Brogan saw his father roll his eyes as he had seen him do so often throughout the years.
“That is not a question to be asked at the moment, Faline,” Brogan’s father reprimanded.
“When do I ask him?” Lady Faline snapped. “He barely visits with us and besides, he has a duty and if his wife cannot fulfill it—”
“Enough, Faline, this is not the place for such talk,” Lord Balloch warned.
“Brogan is your reason for your visit here?” Rannick asked, an abruptness to his tone.
Lady Faline lifted her chin in annoyance. “That is how you welcome a guest?”
“We would be better prepared to welcome a guest if the guest sent prior knowledge of her visit,” Lady Helice said as she hurried down the steps, her husband close behind her.
“Balloch, it is good to see you. It has been too long,” Lord Lochlann said, extending his hand when he reached the man.
“It has, Lochlann, and the blame is mine for not sending notice of our visit, but my wife finally agreed it was time to apologize for her unmannerly behavior the last time she was here,” Lord Balloch said. “And I also was eager to see my son, since he rarely is home anymore.”
Rannick glanced back to where his wife sat and saw Odran assisting Elysia to her feet while Annis struggled to get Bliss on her feet, and he hurried to her. His hands went under her arms to easily hoist her to her feet.
Annis narrowed her eyes at him, and he waited for her to tell him she had needed no help in assisting her sister, so her words surprised him.
“What is she doing here?” Annis demanded, her focus on her mother-in-law.
“Supposedly, she is here to apologize,” Rannick said, his wife leaning on him a sure sign she was fatigued. It still worried him that she would be delivering Elysia’s bairn since she had tired easily in the last week.
“Not likely,” Annis said.
“She is a thorn in your side?” Odran asked with concern.
“More like a dagger that she twists and turns,” Annis said, turning her clenched fist as if to demonstrate. “You will see it for yourself, for she is sure to berate me for not being round with child like my sisters, then she will claim I am barren and make reference to a new wife for Brogan.”
“Brogan will not stand for that,” Odran said in defense of his friend.
“Nay, he does not, and it is the reason he barely visits his parents, though his father has visited more with us of late,” Annis said.
“Come with us, Annis,” Odran ordered. “Rannick and I will protect you from her verbal arrows.”
“I do not need either of you to protect me. I am not afraid of the witch.” Annis shook her head. “I insult the witch saying that since she is a far better person than Lady Faline.” She lifted the hem of her garments and marched off.
“Hurry!” Elysia urged. “We must keep pace and warn her to mind her tongue.”
“That is Brogan’s problem now, wife,” Odran said, and he and Rannick laughed.
Elysia and Bliss did not. They hooked arms and hurried off as quick as their rounded stomachs would let them, their husbands shaking their heads while keeping pace behind them.
“You have to admit, Annis,” Elysia said. “Lady Faline did give a heartfelt apology last night at supper and was even quite pleasant this morning to everyone.”
“She didn’t mean a word of what she said,” Annis said, reaching for another honey cake on the table. “I have seen her be perfectly nice one minute and a complete demon the next. I do not trust her. I never will.” She waved the honey cake in the air. “I really like this healing cottage of yours, Bliss. It reminds me of the cottage the three of us shared, though it is bigger.”
“I agree with Annis,” Elysia said. “It feels like the way it used with us around the table talking, and it brings back many good memories.” Her eyes went wide, and her hand rushed to her stomach. “That was quite a pain.”
Annis jumped to her feet. “The bairn comes.”
“Easy, Annis,” Bliss cautioned. “Let’s make sure before we alert anyone.”
It took less than an hour and Annis pacing back and forth to confirm the bairn was on the way.
Bliss went to Elysia to help her to her feet. “I am going to get Elysia to the keep. You go find Odran and also get Damia and tell her Elysia’s time has come. She will know what to do.”
Annis nodded. “You don’t want me to get Odran to help Elysia to the keep?”