Andrew hastened after his father even as he struggled to get the robe off. " 'Tis unfair of you to call me such."
"Hah!" came Lord Eldon's voice. "Ever since that wench in France, you have had your backside bared to the sky more than you have put your mind or hand to any work. You'll wear it out, lad."
Lord Foster stepped up to Tavis, the only one not laughing, although the ghost of a smile touched his lips. Foster knew he was neither as hot-tempered nor as clever as his longtime friend Eldon, but he, too, could read Tavis's look. Understanding how a woman could hold a man's soul, Lord Foster sought to give the young man hope.
"The Eldons are ones of strong emotion. 'Tis the hair, mayhaps. They are not above forgiving, though."
At his side, little Matilda stared at her father, her eyes wide. "Papa, Storm would not like you telling him that. She says he is a rutting bastard whose braes unlace at the mere sight of a wench."
Over the laughter, Lord Foster took his daughter by the hand and started out of the hall, saying, "I foresee a great deal of trouble with you." He paused by Colin. "I cannot say I will miss fighting with you."
"Ye go as the Eldons go?" asked Colin as he strode out into the bailey with the Fosters.
"Aye. It has ever been so." Lord Foster led his daughter to her horse as Eldon stepped over to Colin.
Glancing at Tavis, who stood a short distance away, his eyes fixed upon Storm, Eldon said, "I think 'tis not the end of this, that there is a great deal more to come ere 'tis finally settled."
Colin nodded. "Aye. Shock, ale and the knowledge that he carries the blame for any pain has dulled his wits, but 'tis a man of action Tavis is. Though pride may bring a hurdle or twa, he will soon be fighting for her. I will be urging him on. There's nay another I'd be so proud to have carry my grandchild."
Lord Eldon bowed his head in acknowledgement of the compliment. "Hold off until the babe comes. It could do her harm to suffer an upset now. Little fool should ne'er have tried this escapade."
Tavis had stepped closer in hopes of speaking to Lord Eldon without a sword in his face, and he quailed at the man's words, for they played upon his concerns for the woman he loved. "Is there aught amiss?"
"Nay, though she is small and she carries large. 'Tis ne'er good to cause a woman with child distress of any sort. She will be fine. Storm's strong, healthy and an Eldon," he added.
"And an O'Conner," piped up Phelan, who had come to say farewell to Colin and the others.
Rolling his eyes, Lord Eldon drawled, "A fact you will ne'er let me forget." After Phelan had said his farewells and left Lord Eldon said musingly, "I will have to try and foster the boy out again after Storm has the babe."
"Ye have trouble finding ones to take the laddie?" asked Colin, genuinely interested.
"Aye, he is Irish and few want him for that." Lord Eldon shook his head over that thought.
" 'Tis a clever, healthy lad he is. Aye, and he has spirit. A little training and he'd be a fine fighting man. 'Tis said the Irish and the Scots share a common stock," Colin drawled, one brow quirking slightly.
"Is it now," murmured Eldon, his eyes showing that he understood Colin very well.
"Aye. Mayhaps we can discuss it further after the bairn is born. Suspicion it will have red hair."
Lord Eldon grinned. "You could do with a bit of color in the clan. The sky holds a warning. We had best be on our way." He looked at Tavis. "I will send word when the babe is born." He went to the horses and mounted behind Storm, ordering one of the men to take the reins of his mount.
"I can ride perfectly well by myself," Storm protested indignantly. "Ye need not guide me as a babe."
"You have no more sense than one at times," Lord Eldon said dampingly as they started off, and he observed how she strove not to look back at the man who was now her husband. "You should never have wed the rogue, but you have, and now you ride away from a husband. You will not give the marriage a chance?"
"Nay. There is naught there to work with," she said quietly, forcing herself to believe her own words. "He will be glad to be left free. I would only hamper his wenching and I will not stay about to watch it."
"Wenching, is it? 'Tis not like you to accuse a man without proof."
"I have proof of his wenching. 'Tis no idle charge I make. Katerine was there. She was his mistress for two years and she turned me o'er to Hugh to get me out of Tavis's bed. She has ne'er stopped trying to regain her place."
"Lass, you were not about for a long while and did not look to be returning. Celibacy ill suits a man."
"I know that. There was naught said betwixt us when I left so I did not expect faithfulness. A man needs more than a memory. When I rode back into Caraidland I think I hoped that now we would speak of things, that the child I carry would bridge the chasm betwixt us, the chasm of birth and history. Still, 'tis different to actually see him at it." She did not see her father wince. "But, curse it, fool that I am, I think I could have ignored it an it was not that bitch, Katerine. What does that groan
