Mother Therese shrugged. “That which has happened to so many other women,” she said. “She was not the first and will not be the last. Her fragile body simply could not bear the strain.”
Edward sighed faintly. “Was she brave?”
“Braver than thou has ever been, Edward.”
He had expected that reply and both comforted him and devastated him. “She was a brave woman,” he said quietly. “I wish… I wish I had been able to see her.”
“She loved thee until the end,” Mother Therese said, lifting her faded eyebrows. “Thee has a son from this brave woman, Edward. A child of Welsh and English heritage. He bears royal blood on both sides and should be kept safe.”
Reminded of his new son, a hint of hope came to his face. “A son,” he repeated. “He is in good health?”
“He is.”
“Where is he?”
The old nun gestured behind her, somewhere in the bowels of that great, mysterious nunnery. “Inside,” she said. “He has been well-fed and well-tended by women who will never have children of their own. The child has been loved and coddled beyond measure.”
“He cannot stay here.”
“I know,” the old nun said. “I knew what thou would say. But do not take him now. Wait until he is older and stronger. I would assume thou intends to take him back to London?”
Edward sighed faintly. A fragile infant on a long journey would not be the wisest. Moreover, it would not be prudent to bring his bastard to London. It would be best if he could send him somewhere nearby, some place where he would be safe. As he thought on where, exactly, that might be, he caught a glimpse of de Lara in his periphery. He turned to look at the man.
That gave him an idea.
“Your holdings are close,” he said. “Just over the border into England.”
Rory nodded. “About a four-day ride from here, Sire.”
“Your wife has recently given birth to a son, has she not?”
“She has, Sire.”
“One more child will not tax her.”
Rory began to realize why he was asking. “Another… child, Sire?” he said. “But… surely you cannot…”
“You are the best choice for this,” Edward said, not giving the man the opportunity to refute him. “Your holdings are just a few days away. You are my most trusted man, Rory. I cannot take the child to London with me—you know this. He must be raised by agreat family and trained properly. You are the perfect father for him.”
The more Edward spoke, the more adverse Rory became. “I already have a son,” he said. “My wife bore Liam several months ago. To take on another infant would be…”
“It would mean very much to me,” Edward said, interrupting him. Reaching out, he gripped Rory’s arm. “Please, Rory. This child was conceived in love, born through no fault of his own. He is a son of royal bloodlines, including Welsh bloodlines, and I must place him with someone I trust. I trustyou, my friend. Please do not deny this request. It is of the utmost importance.”
Rory knew he could not refuse. It wasn’t that he wasn’t willing to take on another son, but this child… his bloodlines alone would bring a curse. Curse of the Welsh, curse of the English. And that curse would come right to his doorstep. The more he thought on it, the angrier he became.
“If the Welsh know about this child, they will come for him and try to claim him,” he hissed. “If the English know about him, they will come for him and try to kill him.”
Edward knew that, more than Rory did. “He will be in danger, I know,” he said. “That is why you must watch over him. He deserves your protection.”
He was trying to make it sound like this task was an honor when it wasn’t. It was a tremendous burden and they both knew it, but Rory was cornered with no way out.
The decision had been made.
“Very well,” he said, struggling not to lash out. “If I take this child, no one can know who he really is. He must bemyson and not yours. He bears my name and not yours. Do you understand what I am telling you?”
Edward nodded, feeling the man’s fear and anger. “I understand,” he assured him. “I know I am asking a good deal of you, but if it were not important, I would not ask it. Though it isa moment of heartbreak for me, I will surrender him to you, in every way. Raise him correctly. Love him as your own. But tell him who his true father is when he comes of age. He must know his great legacy. And he must protect it.”
That was very true. The child was the son of a king, the grandson of a prince. His legacy would be more than any man could ever claim.