Finn knew then that if she had found out his true parentage, she would have killed him in his cradle.
Later that day, he watched the Gordon warriors lead her in chains down to the boat that would carry her to Edinburgh for trial. Isabel had made his childhood a misery and never shown him a bit of affection. She murdered her husband’s kin, a couple who had done nothing against her, while a guest in their home.
And yet Finn felt nothing but sadness as he watched her go. Her evil design to murder her nephew and his parents had led her to kill her own son. Finn watched until long after the boat disappeared on the horizon.
###
It was late in the day before Una sent word that Margaret was awake and asking for him. The old woman was waiting for him outside the chamber door.
“She’s had no bleeding, God be praised,” Una said, patting his hand.
“No bleeding?” His pulse jumped. “What’s wrong with her?”
“She’s a strong lass,” Una said. “Stronger than she looks, for certain.”
Her words only made Finn more worried. What was Una hiding from him?
You’ve every reason to hope for a healthy babe.”
Margaret was with child? Finn suddenly felt lightheaded and had to rest his hand against the wall. He had known it was possible, but that was not the same as knowing for certain. The thought that she couldsuffer another miscarriage—and it was his fault—hit him like a punch in the gut.
Finn had not only left her at the mercy of a murderer, he did this to her.
When he went into the bedchamber, he found Margaret sitting up in the bed stitching. She set her needlework aside and gave him a warm smile.
“How are ye feeling?” he asked, taking her hands. It pained him to see the scratches on them.
“Remarkably well once Una brought me food,” she said. “Ye should have seen how much I ate.”
“Why did ye not tell me you’re with child?” he asked.
“I didn’t know for certain myself until Una told me,” Margaret said.
“I’m so sorry,” he said in a choked voice. “I know ye didn’t want to go through this again.”
“This time will be different, I know it,” she said, squeezing his hands. “If I didn’t lose the babe last night, I don’t believe I will.”
Despite the scratches and bruises, she did have a glow about her. Still, Finn could not forget the sadness in her eyes when she told him about her miscarriage.
“Can’t ye see?” she said. “I’m happy to be carrying your child.”
“Ye want a child withme?” he asked.
“Of course I do,” she said, blinking back tears.
He pulled her into his arms and held her. God knew he was not fit to be a father. But if by some miracle Margaret had the child, he would try his best. And if she lost the babe, he would be there to comfort her. He needed to be with her, no matter what came.
###
“Ye came and found me,” Margaret said, leaning back to look into Finn’s eyes, “even though I told ye I was going to leave ye.”
“I had to be sure ye were safe,” he said.
Finn would never know what that meant to her, after the men of her family and her former husband had valued her so little.
“I never truly wanted to go to my sister’s,” she said. “I was afraid of so many things. Afraid to love you. Afraid you’d desert me when I needed ye most.”
There was only one thing she was still afraid of.