Was that what he was now—not Rannick, but my lord? The thought troubled her. Had their arrival here changed things far more than she had anticipated?
“Aye, my lord,” Bliss said.
Once in front of the keep and dismounted, Rannick took her arm to climb the few steps.
“Your mother will see your wife settled while we talk,” his father said, dismounting his horse.
“I will see my wife settled, and we will talk later, Da,” Rannick said and hurried Bliss up the steps.
“Rannick!” his mum cried out when they entered the Great Hall, and she ran to him.
He released his wife to take hold of his mum, hugging her close, and realized it was the first time he had hugged his mum in years, and it felt good to have her arms around him again. Memories returned of his father admonishing his mum for hugging him too much and her ignoring his da completely. As he grew older, he would protest, as a show for others, when he actually enjoyed his mum’s loving hugs. Then one day came when he had stepped away from her when she went to hug him. He could still see the hurt on her face and the tears that had gathered in her eyes before she turned and hurried away. He had done it for her own good, fearful if the curse realized how much his mum meant to him, death would claim her.
“I am delighted and full of joy that you have returned home and with your wife,” his mum said, her heart swelling with delight that he hugged her.
“It was necessary,” he said.
His mum’s brow scrunched as she asked, “Necessary?”
“Do not bother your mother with nonsense, son,” his father said, his strides strong as he approached his wife. “We really should speak now, Rannick. Let your mum see to your wife.”
“Lord Lochlann!”
Lochlann turned ready to reprimand whoever disturbed him.
“News that cannot wait,” Lawler said.
“Go, Da, I will find you when I am done,” Rannick said.
“See that you do,” his father ordered and left the keep with Lawler.
“Something troubles you, Rannick, what is it?” his mum asked, sudden worry deepening her scrunched brow.
“There is much that troubles me, Mum, but one more immediate problem than the others at the moment. We will talk in my bedchamber,” he said and stepped aside for his mum to precede him.
Bliss was impressed that Rannick allowed his mum to take the lead. Most men would have expected the woman to follow behind him and it reminded her just how right she was about her husband having a kind and also thoughtful heart and soul.
It was a climb to the third floor and Bliss was shocked at the size of Rannick’s bedchamber and his bed. It could sleep three people easily. The stone fireplace was sizeable enough to heat the room comfortably. Chests sat stacked on top of one another and a long bench sat in front of the hearth with small stools tucked beneath. A table that would have easily accommodated her and her sisters rested against one wall, benches shoved beneath. And the lone window’s heavy wood shutters were closed tight. Thankfully, with the fire burning brightly in the hearth and the many lit candles, the room held sufficient light.
“There is a room across from this one, small but sufficient for a lady’s solar unless,” —Rannick’s mum turned to him— “you wish it for yourself.”
“Bliss is welcomed to it,” Rannick said and wasted no time seeing that he got an answer to the question that had gnawed at him. “Lawler came to you with a request of mine, who did you go to for the mixture?”
“Is there a problem with the potion?” his mum asked.
Bliss went to explain.
“Hold your tongue, wife. I will have my mum answer,” Rannick commanded.
“Really, Rannick, this is not appropriate talk for a mother and son,” his mum scolded.
“You will answer me, Mum,” Rannick ordered.
His mum’s cheeks blossomed red. “It was given to me by our healer who your father sent away,” his mum said with a sense of regret.
“The mixture could have lost its potency,” Bliss said, though she did not believe that, but she did not wish to claim Rannick’s mum a liar.
His mum’s cheeks bloomed red once again.
Rannick’s brow shot up in question.
“I will say that I know for a fact the mixture remains potent,” his mum said. “Now I will leave you to yourselves. There will be food and drink waiting for you in the Great Hall.” She left in a flurry, her cheeks stinging red.
Bliss went to speak after Rannick’s mum shut the door, but his hand went up and he shook his head, stopping her. “I will give you the benefit of the doubt on this, wife. That you were mistaken in your judgment. And I will have your word that you will continue to take the mixture.”