Annoyed, Jarrod glanced at me. “And?”
“I remember an event where a first mate of one of the ships was badly injured by a whaling hook that cut into the back of his leg. The sand along that stretch of beach is deep, and once the wound was healed, my uncle had this man walk and walk in the sand to strengthen the leg. It worked.”
Now, I had his full attention.
“What?” he asked, and then I could see him thinking. “That could work. If I send a fast horseman with a message ahead of you, would they welcome you on few days’ notice?”
“Yes.”
Kai limped closer, mortification turning to anger. “I can’t go to the west coast. The crops are about to come in.”
Jarrod motioned to his leg. “Fixing that is more important. If need be, I can take a wagon out to oversee the harvest and give Captain Marcel instructions for places I can’t go.”
“No. I’m not going to the coast.”
“You’ll go where I tell you.”
“Into banishment until I can walk without a limp?”
“You’re no good to me like that! What will the other nobles say when you come into a room dragging your leg like a cripple?”
Kai went silent. His father had not given up the dream of placing at least one son on the Council of Nobles. Worse, he was ashamed of Kai, embarrassed by him.
I felt ill. Yes, it seemed that I would be allowed to take Kai away from here, take him to the coast, but at what price? My husband’s glare moved to me as if I were the cause of his banishment.
Chapter 19
Two days later, Kai and I left for Avingion. We took a small retinue of guards, but I left Miriam at home. I wanted as few people from the hall as possible. If Kai was to come back to himself, he needed a complete change of scene.
He didn’t say a word to me for the entire journey, and we slept in separate rooms at inns along the way.
Jarrod had sent a rider ahead with a message to my uncle and aunt, informing them of our pending arrival, and in spite of Kai’s anger, I couldn’t help looking forward to the visit. My mother’s cousin, Andre Calais, and his wife, Margaret, had been an important part of my childhood. They weren’t really my parents’ type of people, and my mother sometimes showed reticence in claiming Uncle Andre as kin. But Andre and Margaret had often invited Helena and me to visit during the months when my parents preferred to travel alone, and so they took advantage of the opportunity. Also, my uncle was well off financially and had been known to loan my father money without ever asking to be paid back.
None of this mattered to me. I’d loved spending time in the summers with them, sailing with Uncle Andre, running on the beaches, mending fishing nets, and looking for starfish. Helena spent much of her time in the kitchen with Aunt Margaret, enjoying the close companionship of a mother figure. The Calais family dynamics could not have been more different from our own.
As Kai and I and our guards rode up to their home, near dusk, a familiar sense of peace washed over me. The family lived in a large, six-bedroom stone cottage on the beach. It was whitewashed with weatherworn shutters, but to me, as a child, it had been the most welcoming place in the world.
Waves broke against the shore, and six long docks stretched out into the water. My uncle and aunt owned a small fleet of fishing vessels. Uncle Andre rented out most of the boats to other fishermen, but his favorite was a two-masted vessel called the Iris, and he was her captain.
Beside me, Kai looked all around, at the docks and back to the large cottage, but I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
The front door burst open, and a middle-aged woman came hurrying toward us. She was thin and small-boned, with a long braid of dark hair hanging down her back.
“Megan!”
I nearly jumped off my horse. “Aunt Margaret.”
She clasped me in her arms. “I’m so sorry about Helena’s death. We’ve only just learned of it and of your marriage. Your mother was remiss in writing to us. But we were glad to get your new father’s message and hear that you were coming.”
Looking up expectantly at Kai, she said, “You are most welcome here.”
He nodded stiffly.
She didn’t appear to notice his cold reply. “Come inside both of you. Our men will see to your guards and your horses.”
Just then, a man came out of the house. “Megan, my girl.”
I couldn’t help it. I ran to him, and he lifted me off the ground.
Uncle Andre had always struck me as larger-than-life. He had broad shoulders, weathered skin, and thick silver hair. He possessed a kind soul, but when he gave an order, people listened.
Kai was off his horse now, and he came toward us on his step-drag-step-drag-step stride. His expression was challenging, as if daring Uncle Andre to mention it.
Instead, Andre assessed him from his feet to his head.
“So, this is your young man,” he said. “I hope he’s good to you.”
“He is,” I assured. “Always.”
Kai made no response, and Aunt Margaret ushered us inside the house. Within moments, we were surrounded. Andre and Margaret had three children who I’d always called my cousins. All three were grown now, with children of their own, and two of these cousins lived farther down the coast. However, my cousin, Emily, and her husband, Kieran, and their two children all lived with my aunt and uncle.
“Emily!” I cried, embracing her.
Everyone seemed to be babbling at once—all except for Kai. I knew he was probably overwhelmed in the moment but would grow accustomed to the bustle and noise.
“I’ve steamed a pile of crabs for our supper,” Aunt Margaret said, “and made buttermilk biscuits. Megan, would you like a cup of wine? Kai, do you prefer tea or ale?”
My husband stood watching all of this without comment. By way of answer, he asked, “Is my room ready?”
Margaret blinked. “Yes . . . come this way. We only have one guest room at present, but it’s on the ground floor, so you shouldn’t have trouble.”
I wondered how much Jarrod had told them in his letter. She seemed comfortable speaking to Kai about his limitations.
“Can you just direct me?” he asked.
“Of course, down this passage, second door on the right.”
“Thank you. I won’t take any dinner. Good night.”
With that, he left the room, with me staring after him. I knew he was angry, but I’d expected him to at least eat dinner.
My uncle patted me on the shoulder. “Not to worry. He’s proud. That’s a good thing. I’ll have him up early tomorrow, and we’ll see how he does.”
I had no idea what this last part meant, but I was ready to accept Andre’s help. So far, I hadn’t done well helping Kai on my own.
After a quick supper, I went to join Kai in our room.
Whether he liked it or not, we’d have to share a room—and a bed—here. Upon slipping inside the door, I found him already in bed with his face to the wall. As I’d brought only dresses that laced up the front, I struggled out of my traveling gown and laid it over a chair. Instead of seeking a nightgown, I decided to sleep in my shift.