Free A Gathering of Knights (The Northern Knights) by Amber Dane Page B

absently. ‘A bit of rain will not stop me from clubbing those brutes. Come here, wife.’
    ‘Nay, lord husband. We have been rude long enough by remaining much too long in this chamber. I will not have the Lady of Renald think less of me before I even meet her. Bad enough that her husband has a scowl almost as fierce as yours.’
    Aric chuckled. He shrugged. ‘I beg to differ. His is far worse.’
    She shot him a look of incredulity. Danielle knew he was teasing her, but she was not any less convinced. The man they called the beast had indeed been pleasant and smiled often during their brief meeting last night. The ill-healed and puckered gouge near his mouth and the dangerous air which hovered over him had made her nervous at first. And a bit guilty for she knew all too well what scars had done for her.
    A black-haired blue-eyed giant. Though her husband had told her a few things about him over the months leading up to this visit, she had still been taken aback. Still, she felt better with Aric near. She was sure she would be fine once she met the woman behind the supposedly changed man.
    Danielle let out a sigh when Aric came and wrapped his arms around her, his warm lips nuzzling her neck.
    ‘Worry not. She will like you, Danielle. My sister loves you, does she not?’
    She had let her thoughts escape her again. She rubbed his forearms, the dark hairs tickling her palms. ‘Aye and I adore Liza as well. You know I worry much about these things.’
    ‘Mmmm. I can help you afore we meet the others and the babe wakes. You have been a bit neglectful of your duties of late.’
    ‘Nay.’ She stepped out of his arms and walked over to the wooden deep bed where their son lay and slept soundly. His cherubic cheeks and red lips made him look even more like the angel he was. The black unruly waves on his head had grown in length, but Danielle was reluctant to cut his hair just yet.
    ‘Those not be the duties of which I mean or speak, wife.’ Aric’s voice, softer now, came next to her over her shoulder.
    ‘What-‘she began, turning to look at him.
    ‘Your wifely duties,’ he interrupted a devilish grin upon his handsome face. He planted a quick kiss near the beauty mole next to her mouth.
    ‘You are wicked.’ She whispered, flushing from his meaning. ‘Little Aric will be up soon and there is no time for that.’
    ‘This is why you have brought two maids with us, is it not? Poor Edie was not happy having to stay behind.’ Aric reminded her even though he stared at his son. One large hand touched the brow of his son. Danielle watched his expression morph into that heavenly expression it always did when he gazed upon Little Aric and she waited. The deep breath of awe escaped his parted lips as he smiled down at their ten month old son. She knew what he was feeling for she felt the same every time she looked, held and played with their babe.
    ‘Neither was Balwain. But the midwife’s orders for Edie must be followed. Come along before you wake him for I shall never forgive you for another delay.’
    The two maids came into the room as soon as Danielle opened the chamber door. Aric waited for his wife out in the hall.
     
    Later after Laur had left, Caroline took a few deep calming breaths near the window to settle the anxiety building in her stomach. Her head hurt from the tightly woven headdress Laur had woven around her crown and she slipped her fingers under the ribbons to loosen them. The headache that plagued her she knew was not just from the activity of this week alone, ‘twas from her lack of sleep.
    Turning at the sound near the door, she watched Darc as he strode in and shut the door behind him. She flashed a ready smile at him. She grew weak in the knees and knew sleep had naught to do with that. This feeling belonged all to her husband.
    ‘Who has come now?’ she asked him when his eyes narrowed upon her suspiciously.
    He stepped away from the door, his eyes never leaving her. ‘Rourke and his lady