The next day, we stayed at the cottage. Andre and Kieran had taken the Scarlet-Fish to be preserved somehow, so that it could be sold to a buyer who would mount it on a wall.
Kai and I walked the beach even though we didn’t need to. He would always have a slight limp, but it was almost unnoticeable now.
We were just heading back when I looked ahead and saw a tall, familiar form walking toward us. Almost as if summoned, Jarrod Volodane had appeared. He stopped and watched us coming.
“Father,” Kai said.
They’d not parted well, but Jarrod had come after us. Perhaps a month with no company besides Sebastian’s had taken a toll.
“You’re better,” Jarrod said.
“Yes.”
Knowing the strain needed to be broken, I hurried forward and grasp Jarrod’s hand. “It’s good to see you. We were just speaking of coming home.”
“Were you?”
He sounded almost desperate. Had he been lonely?
But Kai wasn’t ready to give in yet. He wanted to go home, but it seemed he wanted this on his own terms.
“Father, if we come with you now, you need to understand one thing. I will never, ever seek a seat on the Council of Nobles. That was Rolf, not me. I want no other life than to be your son and Megan’s husband. I want to ride our lands and raise my children and never leave home except perhaps to come here on holiday. Can you accept that?”
I expected Jarrod to sag with disappointment, but he didn’t. Maybe he’d known all along?
“Just come home,” he said. “Both of you.”
Chapter 20
After a barrage of thanks and good-byes and promises to return, we packed up and headed north. Jarrod rode a horse now, but it appeared he did so from pure pride as I could see his discomfort. He also walked slightly bent over, and I suspected he might never be the same.
My thoughts kept drifting to another matter though. Instead of riding a horse, I’d ask if I could sit on the wagon bench with the guard who was driving. I cited my preference for comfort, and Kai didn’t find this odd.
However, my reasons were my own. I had a secret and didn’t wish to tell him just yet.
The journey passed swiftly, and I was surprised when my heart lifted at the sight of Volodane Hall up on the rise ahead of us.
“Home,” I said.
For better or worse, this decaying keep had become my home, and the men who lived there had become my family.
Once inside the courtyard, we left our horses and luggage to the guards, entered the keep, and made our way to the great hall. From the archway, I saw three people inside. Miriam was sitting quietly, working on some sewing. Sebastian and Daveed sat near her, playing a game of cards. There was a large pitcher and two wine goblets on the table.
“Miriam,” I said.
Looking up, she broke into a smile and ran to me. I embraced her, thinking on how much she had been missed.
As Kai walked in, Sebastian watched. Kai’s limp was barely there.
“Look at you,” Sebastian said, closing the distance between them and clasping Kai in his arms.
“You’re here,” Kai said, patting his back. “I’d thought you’d be off to Rennes by now.”
I wasn’t sure what that meant, but the air suddenly felt thick with tension as Sebastian looked to Jarrod.
“Father felt it best that I stay,” Sebastian answered, sounding bitter, with his words somewhat slurred.
“Are you drunk again?” Jarrod asked him.
“And I am glad to see you,” Sebastian continued, still speaking to Kai as if Jarrod wasn’t there. “But now that you’re home, I hope to take my leave first thing in the morning.”
Though I wasn’t certain what was happening, Kai seemed to understand and turned to his father. “May Sebastian set off for his holiday to Rennes tomorrow?”
Jarrod’s expression flattened. “Holiday? From what?”
Daveed kept his eyes on the floor.
Sebastian wasn’t looking well. He was thin and pale with dark circles under his eyes, and Jarrod had just suggested he’d been drinking too much. Before leaving for the coast, I’d not given much thought to how these two would fare for a month or more here at the keep on their own, with no other company for dinner.
Perhaps I should have.
Whatever had happened, it had sent Jarrod running to fetch Kai and me home, and it seemed to have pushed Sebastian into an unhappy state.
“May I go?” Sebastian asked tightly, this time speaking to his father.
Jarrod stepped closer to him. “Off to Rennes, to drink and spend my money and do whatever you please. What have you done this year to warrant a holiday? You’ve done nothing!”
“Lady Rosamund Monvílle might not agree. I suspect she rather appreciates being a widow.”
With his face going red, Jarrod stepped even closer. “When are you going start doing your part around here? Start seeing to the lands and crops like your brother.”
“Do my part?” Sebastian exploded. “You want me riding out collecting taxes for you? That was Rolf’s favorite pastime, being your bullyboy! Now you’re trying to put Kai in his place, and he has such a good heart he’ll do anything you ask. But I won’t! I’m not your errand boy, and tomorrow, I’m leaving for Rennes.”
Kai looked stricken at the things his father and brother were shouting at each other. I had a feeling this eruption may have been building the entire time we were away, and our return had ignited it.
Sebastian strode from the hall. Daveed got up quietly and followed.
“Father,” Kai said. “Should I go after him?”
Jarrod ran a hand over his face. “Let him go.”
Miriam reached out and grasped my fingers. “Are you hungry, my lady? I could have Ester put some supper together?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Once she left, the three of us remaining stood in awkward silence. I could say nothing to heal the growing wound between Jarrod and Sebastian, nor could I put Kai at peace in this regard. Yet, I wanted to do something to make them both feel better.
I decided it was time.
“Before we eat,” I said. “I have some happy news to share.”
Kai was still shaken but turned to me. I wasn’t sure Jarrod had heard the words.
“We’re going to have a new addition next spring,” I added, touching my stomach.
For the span of the few breaths, neither of them spoke.
Then Kai was at my side, looking down at my hand. “Is that why you wouldn’t ride on the way home?”
I smiled at him.
“A grandson?” Jarrod finally spoke, and his expression altered to joy. He came to join us. “In the spring?”
“Or a granddaughter,” I corrected.
“It’ll be a boy,” he said with great confidence. “The Volodanes breed sons.”
Soon after, dinner came in and we sat down, speaking together of which room might make the best nursery, and Kai could barely contain his excitement.
Jarrod’s painful argument with Sebastian seemed forgotten.
That night, I was grateful to sleep in my own bed—with Kai beside me.