He felt like shite for hurting her. He reached for her, but she slapped his hands away.
“I should have told you,” he said.
“Aye, ye should have, instead of making a fool of me in front of the entire clan.”
“We each had our secrets. I promise I’ll not keep things from ye again. From here forward, I want us to be honest with each other.”
“All right, then, I’ll be honest.” She planted her hand on her hip and poked his chest. “I believe that boy is your son. And you’ve no cause to deny him because his mother wouldn’t have ye.”
CHAPTER 37
Sybil took a deep breath and knocked on the door to the guest chamber. The servants had told her that Flora Grant had not left the chamber since her dramatic arrival yesterday. So long as she remained here as the chieftain’s wife and lady of the castle, she would not shirk her duties. As painful as the situation was for her, she ought to ease her guest’s discomfort if she could.
“I told ye before,” Flora called out in response to Sybil’s repeated knock, “I don’t need anything.”
When Sybil opened the door, Flora jumped to her feet. Her hair and clothes were as disheveled as when she arrived, but now her high color was gone and her eyes were red and puffy.
“I’m sorry,” Flora said, looking flustered. “I thought ye were a maidservant.”
“I’m sorry to disturb ye, but I want to speak with ye,” Sybil said. When the lass looked wildly about her as if searching for an escape, Sybil added, “If it’s any comfort, I’m uneasy about this as well, but we must talk for young Kenneth’s sake.”
Flora nodded and sat on the edge of the lone bench with her back straight as a board. Sybil sat beside her and smoothed her skirts.
“Ye do understand,” Sybil said, “that as the MacKenzie chieftain’s only son and heir, Kenneth must be raised here with his father and clan?”
Flora’s bottom lip trembled. “Aye. My father is set on it.”
“I imagine you’ve been like a mother to Kenneth since your sister died. The bond ye have with him will always be special.” Sybil laid her hand over Flora’s. “I want ye to know that you’re welcome to visit him as often as ye like.”
Flora burst into tears and wept so hard her shoulders shook. Sybil patted her back and gave Flora her handkerchief.
“Do ye mean it?” Flora asked in a voice muffled by her hands covering her face.
“I do,” Sybil said. “I want what’s best for the lad, just as you do.”
Flora startled Sybil by throwing her arms around her. The lass’s hair was such a wild mess that Sybil had to lift her chin to breathe.
“I was afraid I’d lose him forever,” Flora blubbered.
Sybil was exhausted by all the emotions of the last day, but she had one more thing she needed to say. Gently she eased Flora to sit up on her own.
“I understand that you expected to become Rory’s wife—and ye would be if not for me.” Sybil swallowed and forced herself to go on. “I am sorry for the pain and embarrassment I’ve caused ye.”
“Ye can rest easy on that account,” Flora said, waving the damp handkerchief. “While Rory MacKenzie is a verra fine looking man, I never had my heart set on him. In truth, I’m furious with him for refusing to claim Kenneth and even angrier with my father for forcing my nephew on a man who doesn’t want him.”
“Ye did appear to be aweebit upset when ye arrived.”
“A wee bit?” Flora said. “Ach, I must have been a sight!”
“I’m afraid ye were,” Sybil said, fighting a smile.
When Flora threw her head back and laughed, Sybil joined her. It felt good to share a laugh with another woman after so many days of tension and misery.
“I’m in no hurry at all to wed anyone,” Flora said. “I would have married the MacKenzie so that I could be here to protect my nephew, but I can see now that you’ll do that for me.”
“Rory would never harm Kenneth, nor any child.”
“Hmmph.” Flora gave her a skeptical sideways glance.