“There ye are, wife.” Evan walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her middle. “How’s my heir today?”
“Busy.” She turned and smiled at him. “I fear the lad or lass will run out of my womb when ’tis time. The bairn never stops kicking.”
He placed her arm in his and walked her back to the castle. “’Tis time for yer rest, lass. Moira told ye to stay off yer feet.”
“Ach. I’m not an invalid.” The words were spoken as she lumbered along, more from habit than anything else, because truthfully, she did tire easily these days. But if she gave in to everything Evan commanded, he could easily undermine her authority. Not that he would want to, but ’twas just his way.
“I ken what yer thinking, wife, and ’tis not true. I dinnae want to take away yer authority. I merely want to make sure ye don’t overtire yerself.”
He walked her up the stairs to their bedchamber, where he seated her on the bed. “I had news from Sterlingshire this day.”
Katie slipped off her shoes. “Indeed? I didn’t ken ye were in touch with anyone there.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the door. “Aye. I asked for information on Armstrong.”
“And ye’ve had some?” She hadn’t thought about the man in months.
“Aye.” He shook his head. “Not good.”
Katie gasped. “Dinnae tell me the fiend escaped? Do we have to put a guard with Gavin?”
“Nay. Calm yerself, lass. He did escape, but when they sent men after him, they found that he’d tumbled off a cliff in the darkness.”
“Dead?”
“Aye.”
“Oh!” She chewed her lip. “I dinnae like the mon and hated what he wanted to do to Gavin, but ’tis still a sad thing to hear.”
“Yer too soft, lass. The mon deserved what he got.”
She yawned and he walked back to her. “To sleep with ye now.”
“I’m not tired.” She sounded like a grumpy child.
“I know.” He helped her under the blankets and pulled them up to her chin. “Let’s just say the bairn is tired.”
“I wish.”
“Aye.” He bent and kissed her forehead and quietly left the room.
Katie shifted her bulk and placed her folded hands under her cheek. Before she drifted off to sleep, she offered a prayer for the villain’s soul.