Highland Vengeance (The Celtic Blood Series Book 3) by Melanie Karsak

Author:Melanie Karsak [Karsak, Melanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw
Published: 2018-03-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 25

When I woke the next morning, Banquo was gone, and Lulach was laying handfuls of straw on me as if to cover me.

I laughed then sat up. Nausea swept over me, and unable to control myself, I rose and vomited.

Lulach went still. “Mum?”

“I’m all right,” I said. My body still ached, my back feeling stiff. “I’m all right.”

Once I got myself steady and cleaned up, Lulach and I headed to the house. The smells of bread and pork filled the air. My stomach growled hungrily but also heaved with nausea. Such was the way with pregnancies.

The others gathered at the table. Even Gwen was up and looking cheerful.

“How are we this morning?” I asked, taking a seat beside Banquo, who took Lulach so I could prepare some food for the boy and myself.

“He’s full of fire,” Gwen said, smiling down at her little one. “He’s a good eater.”

“Are you feeling all right?” I asked her.

She nodded. “As well as can be expected. Many thanks to you, sister.”

“I’m glad I could come.”

Ute was very silent. She picked at her food, but her color was improving.

“Will my ladies be ready to return this morning?” Banquo asked, casting a glance at Ute.

“Aye, my lord,” Ute answered absently, knowing the question was more for her than me.

I smiled and nodded. “Back to Thurso for now, but we’ll return south soon,” I told Sigurd and Gwen. “Within the month.”

Gwen smiled sadly. “We’ll miss you.”

“And I shall miss seeing little Uffe grow. And little Neda,” I said, reaching out to pat the child’s head.

She smiled at me. With her father’s red hair and her mother’s face, she was going to be a startlingly beautiful young woman.

With Gwen and the baby in good health and good spirits, we prepared to depart. My stomach rocked all day, and I barely kept down the breakfast. I hated that my pregnancy sickness was returning. Lulach and Crearwy had not been easy on me while in the womb. I had hoped Macbeth’s child would be calmer. But it seemed that would not be the case. With a promise from Ute that she was okay to travel, we headed out for Thurso.

As we rode across the countryside, the rocking of the cart made me increasingly more nauseous. I started to sweat, and more than once, I had to steady myself when black spots appeared before my eyes. The village was in sight when I swooned dizzily.

Banquo pulled the cart to a stop. “Gruoch, are you sick?”

I nodded and got out, retching at once.

“My lady,” Ute called, but she was hardly in a better state than myself.

Banquo rushed to my side, his waterskin ready for when the worst of it had passed.

“It’s just… The wee one doesn’t like the cart, I think,” I said.

Banquo rubbed my back then handed me the water.

Once I’d caught my breath, I climbed back in, and we headed off once more.

“I’ll ask Morag to come and look after you and Ute. Ute should be off her feet for few days, and you are not well.

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