The king gritted his teeth and wanted to loudly vent his rage, but he calmed himself and then whispered, "You will not see him, he is a coward or he would have contacted Kevin directly. Can Kevin protect her?"
"We love her and we will all protect her with our lives."
"Does she know English?"
"Aye, we teach all the children at least enough to…"
"Go on."
"...to understand, should the English ever think to attack us."
That made him smile again. "It will not happen in my lifetime, you know. I was once in love with Kevin's mother."
"Were you?"
"We sometimes met in this very clearing. I would have stolen her from the Highlander had I not feared a war with them." The king got a whimsical look in his eye. "I have not loved a woman that much since. I think she loved me too, but she always went back to Kevin's father. I think she was happy there and I know she loved her children."
"And that is how you knew you could trust Kevin with your gift?"
"Aye, your husband has her blood." He stood up and helped Anna rise. "I will send word if I find the man and you do the same."
"We will." Anna started to curtsey, but the king took hold of her hand. "I would not allow your mother to curtsey to me nor will I allow you to. 'Tis I who owes you the honor. Tell me one last thing. What is her name?"
Anna leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Charlet."
"'Tis a good name. Tell your husband he has done well."
"I will. By the way, Athena taught me how to break a man's arm."
The king caught the gleam in her eye, watched her join her guard and then disappear into the forest. He grinned, "Athena. Now there was a woman I would have liked in my bed."
*
Charlet was so bored she thought she would die. Her face was healing nicely and the black and blue around her eye was fading. She had been inside the cottage most of the time for days, helped with the meals, played with the child and strummed her fingers on the table. Blair went outside often and she wanted to go with him, but he always said no. He was a stubborn, mule-headed…
Blair stuck his head in the door and smiled. "Would you like to go for a swim?"
"Do not taunt me."
"As you wish." He closed the door in her face.
That made her mad. She charged out, ran down the hill, kicked off her shoes and hurried into the loch with all her clothes on. A little happiness at last. It was a lot colder than it looked. She swam anyway, hoping to get used to the water and when she turned, he was swimming right beside her. She began to tread water. "Have you nothing else to do?"