Page 20

PLAN

S he didn’t know. Cas closed the door of Emryn’s room behind him and hurried up the hall to his door, hastily rushing through and closing it behind him. Emryn wasn’t a flirt, wasn’t ready for any sort of physical connection between them.

But her nightgown had been the next thing to transparent in the rising light and the way she’d been turned, he’d seen everything. The tips of her pert little breasts and the shadow of the curls at the juncture of her thighs. The curve of her waist and the swell of her hips.

His wife was a lovely creature indeed, and he knew he’d locked himself into six months of waiting with his proposal. He would not push for her. To push the physical would frighten her beyond anything, and he couldn’t do that.

Last night was more than he’d expected for some time yet.

He hadn’t expected her to come to him for affection and help, especially after she’d seen him ushering Ruby out of his rooms. So many women would have actively misunderstood that sight, and he’d thought he would have had to explain it to Emryn.

But she hadn’t even mentioned it. Seeking the comfort of his arms and telling him that she was frightened and felt alone. It was his duty to ensure that she didn’t feel alone in her new world.

He washed and dressed, calming himself down and heading back up the hall to his wife’s rooms where the porters were just finishing setting the table for breakfast.

She’d been dressed. Her gown for today was jade green and simple. Just the thing for sitting with his mother’s seamstress. He crossed the room to her where she was sitting on the edge of the bed and raised her hand to his lips.

“Good morning, Emryn, you look lovely.”

“I feel odd,” she blushed, but smiled up at him. “Robes fit differently, have a different range of motion. I just have to get used to it.”

“The gown is lovely on you.” Cas repeated, trying very hard to banish the curve of her waist from his mind. “Shall we dine?”

They were seated at the table when the door banged open and one of the palace pages dashed into the room. Emryn dropped her fork and shot to her feet.

“What is it?” She demanded in a voice wholly different.

“Lady Avery asks for your presence, Highness.” The page panted. “Her bleeding has returned.”

“Where is she?”

“Come with me,” the page turned and shot off. Cas expected Emryn to ask the page to slow down, but she just kilted up her skirts and dashed off in the page’s wake.

Cas rose and went with her. Running in her wake as she wove through the nobility in the hallways. He wasn’t sure what he could do to help, but something said he needed to be there.

The page skidded to a stop at a much less elaborate door and Emryn nodded at him and marched through without so much as knocking. Her posture was entirely different, no longer timid. This was Healer Emryn, and she was on a mission.

Cas hesitated at the door and then went in. He wouldn’t go far, just enough to support his wife.

She’d gone to the bedroom, and from the door Cas could smell the blood.

And then there was a bright blast, that light from the other day, the flame that could end them all. It wove up in a spiral and dove down, covering the woman in the bed with a bright blanket. It condensed, focusing on her belly and Cas watched Lady Avery go limp as the pains ceased.

Or at least he thought that was what was happening.

Emryn staggered a little, but recovered before he could get his feet under him to go to her. “You did too much, my lady. Until the babe is an acceptable age, I ask that you remain in bed as much as possible.”

“I will see to it,” Lord Avery took his wife’s hand and bowed to Emryn. “Our gratitude, Highness.”

“Call for me if the bleeding begins again.” Emryn smiled at Lady Avery. “We will have a healthy baby in the end.”

“Is my baby well?”

Emryn nodded. “No signs of distress, and the heartbeat is strong and steady.”

Lady Avery looked up at her husband and smiled before looking back at Emryn. “Thank you.”

“Of course,” Emryn nodded and turned. Leaving the room and nearly running headlong into Cas. “Cas?”

“I wasn’t going to let you go alone.” He said, reaching to steady her when she wobbled. “Let’s go finish breakfast.”

He took her back to her rooms and sat with her at the table. She devoured the ham and the fruit, putting both honey and jam on her biscuit.

He just smiled, healing used a vast amount of energy and he was just glad she was able to eat now.

“I need to take Brutus out,” Emryn said, rising from the table. “I let him be with Shana for a bit, but I need to take him out and figure out how to train him so he stops jumping and licking faces.”

“I will take him out,” Cas said as another page appeared at the door. “It appears it’s time for your appointment.”

Emryn nodded, rising and shaking down her skirts. “I’ll see you later?”

“We should join the court for supper.” He said after a moment. “Maybe we could go for a walk later?”

“I’d like that,” she blushed and followed the page out of the room.

Cas finished eating and went to find Brutus. Who was scampering around on the lawn in the garden under Shana’s watchful eye.

“Little maniac,” Shana said fondly. “He just wants to play.”

“He’s certainly got all the energy.” Cas said, snapping his fingers to get Brutus’ attention. The puppy raised his head and barreled over to Cas. He jumped up, but was small enough that he didn’t get very far.

Cas crouched, petting the little body, hushing the energy until Brutus calmed down a little.

“It’s time we started training, young man.” Cas smiled at the puppy and then looked up at Shana. “Emryn has gone to her meeting with mother’s seamstress. Would you send her luncheon in a few hours?”

“I will see to it.” Shana nodded. “Poor dear.”

“It’s going to pull right.” Cas rose and took a collar and leash out of his pocket, lacing the leather around Brutus’ neck and fastening it loosely.

“I will go and see to her rooms.” Shana curtsied and left Cas in the garden with Brutus who didn’t seem to know what to do with the thing around his neck, trying to bite at it.

“Let’s practice walking nicely, Brutus.” Cas said, petting him briefly before rising and attaching the leash.

They made decent progress after Brutus got used to the collar. By the time the puppy was tired out, he was walking nicely by Cas’ side unless something moved or there was a bird.