Forbidden: Claude (Second in Command #2)(4)

“So, it looks as if there is a double birthday celebration after all,” said Claude, holding tighter to his sister as she squirmed and almost fell out of the saddle.

“Aye, my parents are back at the castle preparing for the feast,” Rose informed him. “They will be happy to see you after all this time. Toft is there, too. My husband will be anxious to see you again as well. We are all happy you finally came back to England.”

Rose referring to Toft as her husband was like a knife being plunged directly into Claude’s heart. He had no desire to see Toft, although he held nothing against the man. Nothing that is, except for the fact that he married the girl that Claude wanted for his own.

“My lady,” said the nursemaid, Evelina, speaking ever so softly. She seemed to be hiding her face under the hood of her cape, and all Claude could see were shadows. “You shouldn’t be out here on the docks. Your husband will not be happy that you left the castle in your condition.”

“Neither will your father be happy, Rose,” added John, turning and riding his horse back to join them. “You know how protective Conlin is about things like this.”

“Things like what?” asked Claude, feeling shaken since it was apparent there was something they were all hiding from him.

Rose smiled at Claude and rubbed her belly. “This is what they are talking about, Claude. I was the one who asked Celestine to summon you. But it wasn’t because of Harry or Charlotte’s birthdays. It was because I have been ill lately. My father and husband are leaving tomorrow to give their two weeks’ service to the king. I was frightened and wanted you here in their absence when I birthed my baby.”

Claude’s eyes focused on the large swell of Rose’s stomach. She looked as if she were going to pop. He’d been so entranced by her eyes he hadn’t even noticed her belly until now. “Y-you’re pregnant,” he stammered.

“Yes, I am. And after losing two babies in the past six years, my father is very worried I will lose this one, too. You remember that he has lost five children as well as a wife. Although he has three sons now with Isobel, I am his only daughter. I want more than anything to give him grandchildren, but I have to admit I am terrified that it might never happen.”

Claude was surprised at hearing Rose had lost two babies and didn’t know what to say. “Nay, don’t be frightened,” said Claude, instantly wanting to comfort the girl the way she’d comforted him so many years ago.

“I won’t be frightened anymore now that you are here, Claude,” she told him. “You are a good friend of mine. It broke my heart when you left England and didn’t return.”

If only she knew he’d left because she had broken his heart in more ways than one.

“My lady, please,” begged Evelina, very anxious to leave. “We need to get back to the castle, tout de suite.”

Claude’s head snapped up at hearing the nursemaid speak French. She sounded different than an Englishwoman speaking his language. He heard something in her voice that told him she was from his homeland.

“Are you from France?” he asked the girl. Her body stiffened, and she grabbed the reins of the horse tighter. She didn’t answer, and neither did she look at him.

“Evelina is right, we shouldn’t be here,” said Rose. “I was so excited to see you that we didn’t even wait for an escort. I wanted to meet you on the docks when you disembarked and had Evelina drive the cart. You look so different. You are . . . a man now, Claude.”

Rose smiled at him and then nodded to her nursemaid to take them back to the castle. They sped away over the wharf leaving Claude staring after them, not knowing what to think.

“I am sorry I didn’t tell you, Claude,” said his mother softly. “Rose asked me not to. She thought if you knew she was pregnant, you wouldn’t come.”

That was the truth. Claude wouldn’t have set foot on English soil if he’d known Rose was pregnant. He also hadn’t heard until now that she’d lost two children before this. Then again, it was probably his fault since he purposely never asked about her, wanting to forget her. He had told his mother to never mention Rose’s name, and so she had respected his wishes and never said a thing.

“Are you going to go back to France now, Claude?” Charlotte looked up at him with sad eyes.

How could he leave her? He had to be there for his sister. Not to mention, now he felt as if he needed to be here for Rose as well. He couldn’t let either of them down. It was his duty as a knight, a brother, and a friend. Anger gripped his gut, but he held back the emotions threatening to spill forth. “Nay, of course not. I won’t leave, Charlotte,” he said, kissing his little sister atop her head. “I came for a birthday celebration, and that is what you are going to get. Just wait until you see the present I brought you.”

“A present? For me?” Her eyes lit up with excitement. “Oh, Claude, give it to me now.”

Claude chuckled. “Nay, my sweet, little sister. You are going to have to wait until the feast. I will not give you your present a minute sooner.”

“Then hurry, Claude. Ride fast to the castle. I can’t wait to get there,” Charlotte urged him.

John turned and led the way, but Celestine stared at Claude with pity in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Claude,” she whispered as he rode past.