“You love your husband very much,” Tavia said as if hearing the words.
Dawn nodded and pointed to the young woman, hooked two fingers, then patted her chest and hugged herself.
Tavia’s brow wrinkled, though quickly faded. “You ask me if I love the man I have been wed to?”
Dawn nodded, her face expressing sincere interest and relaxing Tavia.
Tavia cupped her hands around the goblet in front of her, needing its warmth to ward off the sudden chill that ran through her. “I have not met my husband. We were wed by proxy. I can only hope he is a kind man.” She quickly shifted the conversation. “How did your marriage come to be with Lord Cree?”
Dawn’s laugh might not have been heard, but it was clearly seen, and she patted her heart for a third time and hugged herself tight.
“Love? Love brought you and Lord Cree together?” Tavia asked anxiously.
Dawn nodded, her smile remaining wide.
Sorrow clouded Tavia’s soft blue eyes. “I had hoped, though was doubtful, I would wed for love. A daughter’s duty is to her clan and a beneficial marriage is part of that duty.”
Dawn empathized. Love made a huge difference. It brought with it comfort and trust and she did not believe a marriage could survive without either.
“I am happy to know you found love. It gives me hope,” Tavia said.
Dawn smiled even though she could tell from the sadness in Tavia’s eyes that the young woman did not hold much hope for herself. She hastened to change the subject and did what she did with some people. She mouthed a word hoping they would understand.
Missing.
Unsure if she understood, Tavia asked, “You want to know about the missing people?”
Dawn nodded.
“My father does not confide in me much about those missing, but tongues wag and I keep a keen ear. There seems to be no rhythm or reason to the disappearances. The person just suddenly disappears and is never heard from again.”
Dawn scrunched her brow and shrugged.
Tavia had no trouble understanding her. “I wonder the same. How could it happen?” She shook her head. “No one knows, though gossiping tongues spread fear about the devil and his demons.”
Dawn pointed to Tavia and shook her head.
Tavia responded as if she heard Dawn’s question. “Nay, I do not agree. There must be a reasonable explanation.”
Dawn yawned, unable to stop it.
“Forgive me, Lady Dawn. I go on talking when I should have realized you would be tired after your long journey. You need rest especially being with child. When is the bairn expected?”
Dawn held up four fingers.
“Four months, how wonderful for you. My father says you have twins, a lad and a lass?”
Dawn grinned and nodded, then pointed to Tavia and mouthed, soon.
Tavia paled and shivered.
Dawn reached across the table to take hold of the young woman’s hand and gave it a comforting squeeze, and with a look of concern shrugged.
“You wonder why I got upset?” Tavia asked, holding tightly to Dawn’s hand.
Dawn nodded and shrugged again.
“I fear childbirth,” Tavia admitted what she had never told anyone. “My mum died giving birth to me and I fear I will suffer the same fate.”
Dawn shook her head, trying to let the woman know that her mum’s fate was not her own.
“I know I am being irrational, that just because my mum perished in childbirth, does not mean I will. But it does not alleviate my fears. It has happened to other women in my family as well and I fear I am doomed to the same fate as those women.”
Dawn shook her head, patted her lips, cradled her arm and rocked it as if she held a bairn, then shook her head again, hoping Tavia understood her.
Tavia scrunched her brow trying to understand.
Dawn patted her fingers to her mouth again, then to what would be the bairn in her arms and shook her head.
Tavia’s face brightened in understanding. “Your daughter did not inherit your affliction.”
Dawn nodded, smiling.
“I will keep that in mind when I overly worry about my fate,” Tavia said, feeling a sense of relief that surprised her. “Now let me show you to your bedchamber so that you may rest.”
Dawn went to stand when she saw a young woman stumble into the Great Hall.
“Flora! What are you doing out of bed?” Tavia scolded lightly as she hurried to her.
Dawn was impressed with how the petite Tavia had the strength to support the ill woman who stood a head over her, though she did not appear to have much weight to her. Her face was thin and pale with illness and her long, dark hair in disarray.
“You need to return to bed if you are to heal well,” Tavia reminded.
Dawn stood and walked toward the two women. She was taller than both women, which made it easy for her to offer a helping hand to Tavia.