TOUCH OF THE WOLF By Susan Krinard

“I’m sorry,” she said. “This hasn’t happened to me before.”

Illumination came to Isabelle like a shaft of sunlight through the mist. She did a quick mental calculation. “How long have you been feeling this way?”

“Not long. Do you know what’s wrong with me?”

Isabelle looked for somewhere to sit. Rowena was still occupied behind a makeshift screen made of blankets tied up against the carriage, and Matthew hadn’t yet returned. She led Cassidy to a clump of small boulders and pushed her down.

“Cassidy… sometimes these troubles are not a sign of illness at all. There is a very real chance that you may be with child.”

Mere sunlight would be shamed by the brilliance of Cassidy’s face. “You mean… a baby…” She began to rise and Just as suddenly sank back down again. The light left her eyes. “It can’t happen, Isabelle.”

“Can’t?” That brief, stunning bliss convinced Isabelle that Cassidy wanted a child. Her condition could only be an asset in her husband’s eyes, a protection against his wrath. What else could be wrong? “I know I should have discussed this with you much earlier, but—”

“Braden can’t have children,” Cassidy said. “He explained it to me just before he left.”

Isabelle blinked. Braden had told Cassidy something that directly contradicted what both the letter and Rowena claimed—that Milena gave birth to a stillborn child. Was this another deception by the earl of Greyburn? What could he gain by lying? He wanted children for his Cause.

Unless it was that he didn’t want children who were less than full loup-garou. Cassidy’s children. Even so, he would find it difficult to prevent their conception without the use of chancy protection. Cassidy would be sure to catch on.

Cassidy folded her arms across her stomach. “If only…”

Isabelle knelt awkwardly. “Oh, my dear.”

“Don’t worry about me. It hurts Braden even more.”

Naturally she would think of him before herself. Isabelle brushed off her skirt and hid her anger and disgust behind a veneer of calm. “Nevertheless, you are obviously not well. We shall take you back to Greyburn before we continue to the station.”

“No.” Cassidy stood up and looked past Isabelle. “Rowena. You’re ready to go?”

Rowena came to join them. “Are you well, Cassidy?”

“I’m fine. And you?”

“I am free,” Rowena said. In spite of her haggard appearance, she smiled with greater warmth than Isabelle had ever seen in her. She looked… human.

“It is thanks to you”—Rowena included Isabelle in her gaze—”to you both that I will never again be forced to endure the beast. I owe you my life. I shall not forget your kindness.”

Cassidy stepped forward and gave Rowena one of her impulsive hugs. “I wish we could have known each other better,” she said. “I hope you’ll find what you’re looking for in America.”

“And I hope and pray that you shall find your happiness here,” Rowena said. But her gaze met Isabelle’s over the top of Cassidy’s head, and her gaze was sad.

“If you wish to cross Greyburn land before full light, we must leave soon,” Matthew said behind them.

Rowena nodded. “I shall wait in the carriage,” she said. She clasped Cassidy’s hand one last time and left her alone with Isabelle.

Cassidy struck right to the point. “What about you and Matthew, Isabelle?” she asked.

Evading that piercing insight was impossible. “I don’t know,” she said. She found herself unable to meet Cassidy’s gaze. “I never expected—”

“To love someone again?” Cassidy smiled wistfully. “I needed you, but I didn’t stop to think that you needed someone, too.” She grew serious. “Matthew is a good man. I think you can trust him, Isabelle.”

Ah, but you trust far too easily. I am not like you. Yet Isabelle felt her heart expand, as if someone had removed a weight from behind her ribs.

Cassidy embraced her and stepped back. “Take care, Isabelle. Come back safely.” Her smile hovered between sadness and brave determination. “You’ve done so much for me. I didn’t know anything about life when we came to England—but I have learned one thing, Isabelle. Love is worth fighting for.”

Nineteen

Two miles to go.

Only two short miles remained of the journey back to Greyburn, and as the hired carriage neared the border of his land, Braden was aware of a new, poignant happiness at the smells and sounds of home.

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