“Roger’s young brother, a crippled, shy boy who fell in love with Mary. When Brian told Roger he planned to marry Mary, Roger got drunk and climbed in bed with Mary. You know what Mary did. Brian brought her body back to us.”
“And now Miles has Elizabeth,” Alyx said. “Raine is outlawed. Roger has lost his family and his wealth and now Miles’s life may be in danger. Is there no way to stop this hatred? What if Roger kills Miles? What will happen then? Who will be next? Will any of us ever be safe again? Will our children grow up to hate Chatworths? Will my child fight Roger’s?”
“Quiet, Alyx,” Judith said softly, pulling Alyx into her arms. “Gavin has gone to warn Miles and he will be safe. Besides, Bronwyn is there with her men, and even if Chatworth were to raise an army, he won’t be able to fight the MacArrans.”
“I hope you’re right. And Raine will be safe in the forest.”
“Let’s go and write letters to Raine now. We’ll send a messenger tonight.”
“Yes,” Alyx said, sitting up, brushing tears away. “As soon as Raine knows the truth I’m sure he’ll forgive me.”
Chapter Eighteen
RAINE RETURNED ALYX’S letters unopened. Although he read Judith’s explanation of what had happened, he made no comment in the verbal messages he sent back. He had no squire now, so Judith had to be careful to send only messengers who could read.
Alyx seemed to accept all that was happening stoically, yet each morning her eyes were red and her appetite was all but gone.
When Gavin returned from Scotland, he gasped at the sight of Alyx, nearly skin and bones except for her stomach sticking out in front.
“What is your news?” Judith asked before he could say anything about Alyx’s appearance.
“We found Chatworth and detained him for a while, but he escaped.”
“Did you harm him?” Judith asked.
“Not one hair!” Gavin snapped. “When he was gone we went to Scotland, but he hadn’t appeared there. My guess is Chatworth went to King Henry.”
“Did you see Miles?”
Gavin nodded his head in frustration. “He has always been stubborn, but now he goes too far. He refuses to release Elizabeth, and nothing anyone could say made him see reason.”
“And what about Elizabeth?”
“She fights him constantly. They would argue over the color of the sky, but sometimes I see her looking at him with something besides hate. Now, how is Alyx?”
“Raine returns her letters unopened and I’ve had no mention of her, although my letters plead with him to listen. The messenger says Raine has him skip the passages dealing with Alyx.”
Gavin’s frown said a great deal. “My brother would forgive a triple murderer, but if he thinks his honor is besmirched he is remorseless. I’ll write to him and tell him of Alyx’s condition. When’s the child due?”
“In a few weeks.”
Raine did not answer Gavin?
?s words about Alyx either.
In November, Alyx was delivered of a large, healthy baby girl who smiled seconds after her birth and showed that she had Raine’s dimples. “Catherine,” Alyx whispered before falling asleep.
But in the next weeks, the child was not so happy. Catherine cried constantly.
“She cries for her father,” Alyx said bleakly, and Judith almost shook her.
“If I didn’t know better,” Judith said, “I’d think she was hungry.”
Judith’s words were prophetic because as soon as a wet nurse was found, Catherine quieted.
“What good am I?” Alyx wailed.
Judith did shake her. “Listen to me! You have to think of your child. Perhaps you can’t feed her, but there are other things you can do. And if the child isn’t enough, I can find work for you to do.”