“I did not think so.”
Will’s gaze lingered on her. “You feel well enough, don’t you?”
She nodded. “I do,” she said. “Just tired. Quite tired. And I’ve been having the same odd pains that I had with Atticus.”
“What pains?”
She shrugged. “Little stabbing pains that are quickly gone,” she said. “Sometimes my back aches. But I had the same thing with Atticus, so I am not concerned.”
“What does the midwife say?”
“That it is simply the body adjusting to the child.”
Will nodded, though he wasn’t terribly comfortable with her aches and pains. Even though this was their fourth child, pregnancy and childbirth still scared him. “I wonder if it has anything to do with the fall you suffered a few weeks ago,” he said. “When you slipped in the kitchen yard? You fell right on your backside in the mud.”
She was growing irritated with him. “It has nothing to do with that,” she said. “I told you – I had the same pains with Atticus. It is perfectly normal.”
He wasn’t so sure. “Mayhap I should send for the physic,” he said. “Just to make sure all is well.”
Lily shook her head, exasperated. “If you are speaking of Tarraby, then I doubt he knows more than the midwife does,” she said. “The man is a surgeon, Will. He tends the soldiers, removes arrows, sews up wounds. Childbirth is not something he does often and I do not want him poking around.”
Will held up a hand to back off before it turned into an argument, which it did fairly easily between them. “He is the most competent physic I’ve ever seen,” he said. “But if you do not wish to see him, that is your decision. It was merely a suggestion. I came to tell you that I’m having Marcellus bring out the heavy carriage and prepare it properly so that you and Atticus will have something comfortable to ride in. I will try to make this journey as easy as possible for you.”
Lily wasn’t thrilled about the carriage because she didn’t want to go, but she didn’t fight about it. She simply waved him off.
“I hope Poppy appreciates that I am doing this for him,” she said, disgruntled. Then she pointed to the bed where Adria was standing over neat piles of fabric. “Adie is going to make him a tunic as a gift. He will like that, don’t you think?”
Will wasn’t entirely sure that clothing was appropriate for a man’s gift, but he didn’t say anything. He just nodded his head.
“That is kind of you, Adria,” he said politely. “Thank you.”
Adria smiled in return. She genuinely liked Will, a kind and compassionate man. He had always been nice to her.
“I am honored to do it,” she said. “I thought I might make a sash for your grandmother out of the leftover fabric. That way, they can match one another.”
“Good idea,” Lily said, answering for him. “Use Will as a dummy. He is bigger than his grandfather, but you can adjust accordingly.”
Adria looked at Will, who rolled his eyes because Lily wasn’t looking at him. He hated being pulled into female schemes. She bit off a grin and turned back to the material.
“At your convenience, my lord, but I must get started soon if I am to have it done in time,” she said. “Mayhap I can measure you before sup?”
“Of course you can,” Lily answered again. “Come back before we eat, Will.”
He sighed faintly, with no way to get out of it. “As you wish.”
“Thank you,” Lily said. “Now, where’s Atticus? Wasn’t he with you earlier?”
Will nodded. “He was heading for the kitchen yard last I saw him,” he said. “He is playing with Bradford, I assume. Do you want me to fetch him for you?”
“Please.”
With his marching orders, Will left without another word and shut the door softly behind him. As they heard his footsteps fade down the steps, Lily looked at Adria.
“We’ll be lucky if he returns,” she muttered. “He thinks the tunic is a foolish gift for a man of the earl’s stature. I can just see it in his face. He hates the idea.”
Adria’s eyes glimmered. “Shall I run after him and beg him?”
Lily nodded, grinning. “Go,” she said. “You know he cannot resist you. When he becomes angry with me, he tells me he is going to sell me to the pirates and marry you instead.”
Adria laughed softly. That was an old theme with them and she was used to it. It was purely a jest because everyone knew how dedicated Will was to Lily, although most thought it was simply out of honor. They got along for the most part, but those close to them – like Adria – had seen the love go out of the marriage a long time ago and that was simply the way it was. Two people, married quite young, who had outgrown one another.
It was a little sad, in that sense, but Adria knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that Will really wouldn’t sell Lily to the pirates and marry her instead. More than likely, Lily would run off with the pirates and leave Will behind.
But that was only private speculation.
“He has been saying that for years,” Adria said after a moment. “I have yet to see him try. Besides – who says I will marry him, anyway?”
“What is wrong with him?”
“Nothing except that he is your husband. I do not want your leavings.”
Lily burst out laughing. “He’s not so bad as far as husbands go,” she said. “Well, sometimes. In any case, you will run after him and make sure he comes to you before sup so you can fit the tunic. If he does not, there will be consequences. Tell him I said so.”
Chuckling, Adria did as she was told. Setting aside the fabric, she slipped from the chamber.
They were on the top floor of Carlisle’s heavily fortified keep and Adria took the narrow spiral stairs quickly, finally catching up with Will about the time he came off the stairs and into the great hall.
“My lord?” she called after him softly. “My lord, please wait.”
Will came to a halt, turning to face her. His hazel eyes settled on her dubiously. “What does my wife want now?”
She cocked a well-shaped eyebrow. “How do you know she wants something?”
He fought off a grin. “Because she always sends you to beg for her,” he said. “She still has to come to Castle Questing, so if she’s sent you to plead on her behalf, you can go back and tell her I’ll not change my mind. My parents and grandparents would be disappointed not to see her.”
“It’s not that,” she said. “She wants to make sure you will come to us before sup so that I may measure you for your grandfather’s gift.”
“I told you I would.”
“I beg your pardon, my lord, but you may forget.”
He scowled. “Did she say that?”
Adria shook her head. “Not in so many words, but she sent me to make sure you were going to come. If you do not, there will be consequences. That is a direct quote.”
Will made a face. He was a master at making faces to suit his mood or his reaction – long faces, pursed lips, rolling eyes – anything that got his point across. It was really quite comical at times and Adria tried not to smile as the man stuck his jaw out, baring his teeth in a gesture of frustration.