The Scot’s Reckless Claim – Extended Epilogue
Isla was lying in bed, feeling terribly nauseous again when there was a light tapping at the door.
“Come in, Deidra,” she called, recognizing her sister-in-law’s way of knocking immediately.
The door opened and Deidra’s pale, beautiful face appeared around the corner. “Can I come in? I heard ye’re ill again. Is there anythin’ I can dae fer ye?”
“Aye, come in,” Isla told her, waving her over to the bed. “Come and keep me company fer a while, ye might take me mind of feelin’ so awful.”
Deidra came and sat on the edge of the bed, her large, dark brown eyes, so like Ewan’s it was almost uncanny, full of worry. “Is it the same sickness as before?” she asked sympathetically, patting Isla’s hand. She and Isla had formed a close bond, and Isla regarded her as the sister she never had had but wished for. Since marrying Ewan, she felt she had finally gained the loving family she had dreamed of. It was no longer just her and Gregory.
Isla nodded tiredly in answer to her question, still feeling queasy. “Aye, I just wantae be sick as soon as I wake. It must be somethin’ I’m eatin’ that daesnae agree with me, I think. I’ve never had anythin’ like this in me life before.”
“’Tis very curious,” Deidra said. “I think we should ask the healer tae drop in on ye today, tae give ye a wee look over. She may be able tae help.”
“Aye, maybe. I usually feel better after an hour or two, so I feel a bit of a fraud callin’ her out when she’s so busy with her real patients,” Isla admitted.
Deidra laughed her tinkling little laugh that always made Isla smile. “Well, that’s just silly, Isla. Ye’re the lady of the castle. Ye can call out the healer whenever ye wish tae, and I think it would be wise tae dae so if this carries on much longer.”
“Aye, ye’re probably right. I’m sure Ewan will make sure I consult her soon enough anyway. Ye ken what he’s like.” She smiled fondly to think what good care he took of her.
Deidra’s sweet face split into a merry grin. “Nae doubt about that. Why, he fusses over ye like a mother hen. It makes a nice change that ’tis nae always me on the receivin’ end of it any longer. Why, I couldnae get away with the slightest thing without him actin’ like an old granny!” she joked.
Isla laughed and immediately felt sick again. She groped for the basin on the nightstand and threw up… nothing. “Sorry about that,” she apologized to Deidra as she dabbed her lips with a cloth.
“Dinnae fash yersel’, ’tis only natural,” Deidra said kindly. She suddenly brightened. “Och, I have an idea what might settle yer stomach, some ginger tea. I had some once when I was ill, and it really worked.” She got up. “I’ll go and order a pot fer ye and bring it up tae ye right away.”
“Thank ye, Deidra, that’s very kind of ye,” Isla told her, hoping it might do the trick.
“I willnae be long,” her new sister assured her and hurried from the room.
Isla lay back against her pillows to rest, but then the urge to be sick came once more, and she had to go through the whole unpleasant performance with the bowl again before she felt a little better.
About a quarter of an hour later, Deidra reappeared with the pot of ginger tea on a tray. When she came in, Isla noticed her usually pale cheeks were pink, and she seemed excited. She hurried over with the tray and set it down on a table, pouring some of the steaming liquid from the pot into a delicate china cup and bringing it over to Isla to drink.
“Ye’ll never guess what, Isla,” she said, handing her the cup, her eyes dancing and her smile bright. “I’ve just been talking tae Nancy in the kitchen, and I think I might ken what ails ye.” Nancy was one of the cooks, a cheerful, busty matron with few teeth left due to birthing a tribe of children.
Isla blew across her tea to cool it and sipped at the spicy concoction. Its warmth soothed her aching belly almost at once. “What’s that?” she asked, interested to know Nancy’s opinion, for the woman was not only a splendid cook, but she also had a good, sensible head on her shoulders and was known to be a fount of knowledge on any number of things.
“Well, let me ask ye some questions first,” Deidra said, clearly relishing the prospect.
“Aye, go ahead then.”
“Ye said ye’re ye sick only in the mornin’s when ye wake, that ye feel better off later on the day, is that right?”
“Aye, that’s right.
“And how long has this been goin’ on?”
“Um, almost three weeks.”
“Three weeks, eh? Hmm. And have ye had yer courses this month?”
“I’m nae due fer another few days.”
“Oh? And have ye noticed that yer breasts are tender, and ye have a sort of heavy feelin’ in yer belly at times?”
Isla thought about it for a few moments and then nodded. “Aye, I have noticed that.” To her surprise, Deidra suddenly jumped up from the bed, her face glowing. She clapped her hands gleefully like an excited child.
“Deidra, what is the matter with ye,” Isla asked, laughing at her strange antics. “Have ye gone mad?”
“I’m nae mad, but accordin’ tae Nancy, ye’re almost certainly… with child!” she declared, jumping up and down on the spot. “Och, I’m gonnae be an auntie!”
Isla was so shocked, she almost dropped her cup. With child? Am I… d’ye really think I could be… so quickly…” She trailed off, speechless, amazed, elated to think she might be expecting her and Ewan’s first child. It seemed like a miracle! Not that they had been exactly stinting themselves when it came to enjoying the pleasures of the marriage bed. And even well before that, she remembered, a slight blush coming to her cheeks.
“Och, I’m so excited,” Deidra cried, positively bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. “What d’ye think Ewan’s gonnae say when he finds out? I bet he’s gonnae be so delighted!” she crowed.
“But please dinnae tell him yet, Deidra, I’d like tae tell him meself if ye dinnae mind,” Isla said, picturing his face as she gave him the news. “’’Tis nae certain ye anyway.”
“Oh, I think it is,” Deidra countered. “Nancy’s never wrong about such things. And, of course, ye must tell Ewan yersel’. He’s gonnae be over the moon at the thought of bein’ a faither. And he’ll make a grand one too.”
“Aye, he will that,” Isla agreed with a smile, sipping her ginger tea and feeling suddenly a whole lot better than she did before. “It’ll be worth feelin’ like this every morning fer a while just tae see his face when I tell him.”
***
Later that evening, when they had eaten their supper, Isla put her hand on Ewan’s and said, “Can we go fer a walk on the beach? I need some fresh air.”
“Wild horses wouldnae stop me wife,” he replied, and rose to take her arm and escort her gallantly from the hall. They left by a side door and went down the gravely path lined with sea grasses and time-smoothed rocks, to the sandy shore. The scent of thyme carried on the air. Dusk had fallen, but the last vestiges of the sunset lingered in the sky to the west, casting bright lozenges of light across the waves. On the other side of the sky hung a brilliant half-moon, illuminating everything in its path with its silvery light and making the waters sparkle.
“Och, ’tis so beautiful here at night, and the air is nice and fresh,” she said as they wrapped their arms around each other’s waists and strolled slowly along the strand, the waves lapping at their feet. She leaned her head against Ewan’s arm.
“Aye, ‘tis. I told ye once how it was the only thing that truly calmed me. Now, I have ye fer that as well, of course, but ’tis still very soothin’. Water holds a special meanin’ fer us, eh?” Ewan reminded her with a smile. “Remember the pond?”
She chuckled. “I’ll never forget it. And what about the waterfall? That was very memorable too, was it nae?” She shot him a mischievous glance.
“Mmm, keep lookin’ at me like that and I’ll be draggin’ ye behind the rocks over there tae revisit old times,” he told her, waggling his eyebrows.
“Oooh, promises, promises,” she teased him back. “But I’d come of me own accord fer I dinnae think it would be a good idea tae drag me anywhere just now.”
He glanced down at her with puzzlement in his eyes. “Oh? That’s a very mysterious thing tae say. Are ye gonnae explain?”
“Aye. I didnae just bring ye down here fer the fresh air. I have some news tae tell ye.”
“I’m all ears.”
“I think I’m with child.”
He stopped them dead in their tracks and turned to face her, his hands resting on her shoulders. “Can ye say that again, please? I’m nae sure me ears are workin’ properly.”
“I said, I think I’m with child.”
“Are ye sure?”
“Pretty sure, aye. That’s why I’ve been so sick in the mornings apparently.
“Omigod, Isla! Ye mean ye could be carryin’ me bairn in there?” He stooped and pressed his ear against her belly, making her laugh. “I cannae hear anythin’ except yer supper goin’ down.”
“What d’ye think ye’re gonnae hear, ye foolish man? The baby’s the size of a pea, ’tis nae gonnae be in there playin’ the bagpipes, is it?”
He stood up, a huge grin splitting his face, his eyes glowing in the moonlight. He looked so handsome and delighted, it filled her with joy to think he was her husband and loved her above all others. And now, they were going to have a baby, their first child, together.
“Tae think ye have a wee bairn inside, me bairn, that we made together. Och, this is the best news I’ve had since ye told me ye’d marry me. I’m gonnae be a da!” He cuddled her close as if he would never let her go. “I thought I’d never be any happier, but this, this is incredible. What a gift ye are tae me, Isla. I must have done somethin’ right tae deserve ye,” he gabbled excitedly.
“Och, I’m so glad ye’re happy, Ewan. I was a bit worried ye’d think it a bit too soon. I mean, we’ve only been wed two months.”
“Are ye jestin’? I’m-I’m over the moon, me bonny wee lassie, I dinnae have words fer what I feel,” he told her, tenderly stroking her hair from her face and peppering her with kisses. “I’m gonnae take good care of ye, make sure ye have everythin’ ye want and need. And when the the wee one gets here, I’m gonna be the best da ever, ye’ll see.”
“I dinnae doubt it fer one second, me love,” she assured him, planting a loving kiss on his lips.
He suddenly picked her up. “Ye must take it easy from now on until the bairn’s born. Ye mustnae dae anythin’ strenuous. And ye must eat right, plenty of porridge tae build the wee one up.”
“What, are ye gonnae carry me everywhere then?” she asked laughingly as she hugged his neck.
“That’s nae a bad idea.” He set off down the beach back the way they had come.
“Where are ye goin’?”
“I’m taking ye back inside. ’Tis getting’ cold out here. Ye must stay in the warm from now on,” he insisted, striding along. “We cannae risk anythin’ happenin’ tae ye or the bairn.”
“I’m with child, nae dyin’,” she told him as he hurried her back to the castle.
“Ye cannae be too careful. Now, what about names? Have ye thought of any yet?”
“Of course I havenae. I only found out today,” she exclaimed.
“What if ’tis a lad?”
“What d’ye think? Me faither’s name was Ross.”
“Me faither’s name was Rowan. Ross Rowan. Rowan Ross, Hmm, it has somethin’ tae it. We’ll think on that. But what if ‘tis a girl?”
“Rowena? That’s pretty. Rosena?” she suggested. They had reached the path to the castle now. “Are ye gonnae let me down. I can walk, ye ken?”
“I certainly am nae! I’m carryin’ ye all the way,” he insisted. “Ach, I have it, the perfect name fer our daughter,” he declared triumphantly as he marched them the path.
“What is it?” she asked, laughing at his antics. She had never seen him so excited.
“Why, Annie, of course. What else? Aye, Annie Ballentine. Perfect. She’ll be clever and brave and a ravin’ beauty, just like her ma.” He paused at the top of the path and looked into her eyes. “God, I never thought I could feel like this. I love ye so much, Isla, and I love ye more every day. I’m gonnae look after ye both and make ye so happy!”
“How could I be anythin’ but happy when I’m with ye, Ewan? Ye’re the love of me life, and I’ll always be by yer side, as long as I live.”
They sealed their happiness with a tender, lingering kiss beneath the moonlight before Ewan finally carried a laughing Isla indoors.
The End.
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