Three months later

“Lord Warrick wishes to see you in his solar,” Wynn said, after entering Adara’s stitching room.

“I will take my nephew,” Callie offered, holding eager hands out to Adara. “May I take him to see Roark? He does not get enough time with him.”

Adara handed her son over to Callie, the woman taking the sleeping bairn into her arms and cuddling him close. “You and Roark are going to spoil him. Take him, I am sure he will be pleased to see his uncle and he has just been fed so he has no need of me for a while.”

Callie smiled and hurried to bundle the lad against the cold. “Go and take as long as you would like. Roark and I will look after him.”

Adara left with Wynn and just before they reached the solar she stopped and with a gentle hand to the woman’s arm asked, “Are you not feeling well, Wynn? You do not wear your usual smile.”

“Tired, that is all, my lady,” Wynn said and hurried off.

Adara wondered if she needed to lighten Wynn’s duties again as she opened the door to the solar and when she saw her da standing there she knew what bothered Wynn.

Her da was leaving.

Adara remained at the open door unable to take another step. The last three months had been wonderful, the best in her entire life. Callie would deliver a bairn this summer and Espy had delivered a beautiful daughter, Astie, named after Cyra’s mum, and Craven already had a small wooden sword made, ready to teach her how to use it. She had gotten to know her da, had learned more about her mum and his friend Gregory who had given so much to help her parents. She had loved spending time with her da and her heart had filled with joy every time he told her how much he loved her. He felt the same about his grandson, since he could not hold him enough, though now she knew why.

He had known he would not stay here and she had known it herself, though had not wanted to admit it. He would leave to make sure she remained safe.

Warrick walked over to her, his heart breaking for his wife. He rested his hand on her curved hip. Some of the changes their son had made to her body had remained, leaving her body even more alluring and inviting than before. She had healed well over the last few months and they had made love well and often. She had smiled more than he had ever seen her smile, spending time with her da and their son. He hated to see her smile disappear and her heart about to be shattered.

“I will wait outside the door,” he said, wanting to give her time alone with her da, but wanting to be near if she should need him.

Adara shook her head. “No, do not leave me.”

He leaned down to kiss her brow. “I will be right here for you.”

Adara nodded and with limbs she feared would not support her, she walked over to her da. “You are leaving?” The words brought on tears that pooled in her eyes.

“Aye, I am. I have to,” her da said, tears threatening his eyes as well.

“But Warrick took care of everything. The King searches for you no more.”

“I must be sure. There is one who knows of me, a friend, and though there is talk he has died, I must make certain he told no one, for the safety of you and my grandson who carries my name—Langdon—a new name that takes me into my new life.”

Adara threw her arms around her da, her tears falling freely unable to hold them back any longer.

Her da held her tight, his own tears falling. When she looked up at him, he was brought back those many years ago when he had said good-bye to Adara’s mum, and his heart broke all over again.

“You will come back. Please, Da, come back to me,” she begged.

“I made a promise to your mum that we would be together again and I failed to keep it. I make this promise now and I will not fail to keep it. I will return to you, daughter, and watch my grandson grow and all his brothers and sisters as well.”

Adara hugged him tight again. “I love you, Da.”

“And I love you, Adara, with all my heart.” Her da eased her away from him, kissed her brow, and hurried to the door. As he passed Warrick, he said, choking back his tears, “Take care of her.”

“Always,” Warrick said.

Adara turned, tears streaming down her cheeks, and Warrick went to her and wrapped her in his strong arms, keeping her close, wishing in some way he could take her pain so she would suffer no more.

She hugged her husband tight, holding on to him, never wanting to let him go, fearful that somehow she would lose him too.

“I am not going anywhere, wife. I have told you time and again and will continue to tell you. You are stuck with me.”

Adara turned a sad smile on him as she sniffled back her tears. “I am glad I am stuck with you.”

“Do not worry over him. He will be fine and return when he is sure it is safe.”

“So he promises, but I fear he will not keep his promise, though not through any fault of his own.”

“That will not happen, wife.”

He spoke with confidence she did not feel. “You cannot be sure of that.”

“Aye, I can. I sent men to follow him. They will keep him safe for you and his grandson.”

Adara’s face broke into a wide grin. “Oh, Warrick, you could not have given me a better gift, and I will never be able to thank you enough.”

“You need not thank me, wife. I love when you smile and I will do whatever it takes to keep that smile on your beautiful face.”

Adara let her smile fade.

“My loving words chase your smile?” Warrick asked puzzled.

She tapped his chest, then ran her finger down to just below his waist. “I know what could put a smile back on my face.”

Warrick brought his lips near hers. “As I said, wife, I will do whatever it takes to keep that smile on your face.”

Adara brushed her lips over his. “You are going to be a busy husband.”

“I am up to the task.”

Her hand drifted further down, and her smile returned. “You definitely are.”

Warrick scooped her up in his arms. “Where is our son, wife?”

“With Callie and Roark.”

“Good, since his mum is going to be busy smiling for the next couple of hours.”