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“It’s all right,” Maira told the toddler. “Jacob is our friend. I promise you that he will never hurt you.”
The little boy slowly reached out a trembling hand to take the bread from Jacob. Then he shoved the whole piece in his mouth at once.
“You’re not jesting that the little tyke is hungry. Will, I’m going to need the rest of that bread after all.”
“Aye, my lord,” said Will, handing him the loaf.
Something about seeing Maira holding the boy touched Jacob’s heart. Here was a rebellious woman dressed for battle with daggers at her waist and a sword on her back. He chuckled when she pushed back her hood and he saw that she wore the late queen’s jeweled crown.
“What’s so funny?” she asked, becoming instantly defensive as was her nature.
“There is nothing as beautiful as a hardened warrior woman wearing a crown and cradling a toddler. It becomes you, Lady Maira. I could see you being a very protective mother.”
“Y-you could?”
With her head down, her innocent, bright blue eyes flashed up to him curiously. She was an angel in disguise. Beneath the gruff exterior, he saw right through to the soft, caring side that Maira kept hidden.
“You are beautiful,” he whispered, reaching out and brushing back a long lock of hair behind her ear. She wet her lips by pressing them together, the tip of her tongue shooting out slightly, making him want to kiss her again.
Then Ricker made a noise and reached out with both his arms to Jacob.
“He wants more bread,” said Jacob, holding up the loaf. But Ricker kept reaching for him.
Maira could see very wellwhat was happening with the child, even if Jacob couldn’t. “I think he wants you to hold him,” she told Jacob, passing the child to him before he could object.
“But I can’t,” said Jacob, cradling the boy in his arms and up against his chest. Little Ricker leaned his head against Jacob and his eyes flitted closed. “I guess he’s tired.” Jacob ran a gentle hand over the boy’s head. For a moment, Maira thought she saw care and love within his eyes. But then his jaw tightened and he shook his head. “We don’t have time for this. We need to practice.” He looked up to the sky. “It’s going to rain soon. Will, put the boy down for a nap in my tent.” He handed the boy to Will, but the child started crying and wailing loudly.
“I don’t think he likes me much,” grumbled Will, trying to bounce the boy and tap him on the back at the same time.
“Keep him quiet or he’s going to alert the guards at the castle that we’re here.”
“I’ll take him,” said Maira. But even with her holding him and trying to calm him, Ricker kept crying. “I don’t know what’s wrong with him. I can’t get him to stop crying.”
“Shall I ask one of the village women to help out?” asked Will.
“Nay. Give me the boy,” said Jacob, taking him back into his hold. Instantly, Ricker stopped crying and laid his head against Jacob’s chest, closed his eyes and started to suck his thumb.
“Well, look at that!” exclaimed Will. “You have the magic touch, my lord. You seem to be the only one who can keep the boy from crying.”
“I don’t know about that,” he mumbled. “Will, introduce Lady Maira to the others and get them back to practice.” He headed toward the tent.
“And where are you going?” asked Maira, finding humor in the situation.
“I’m putting the boy down for his nap. He is overtired as well as hungry. I don’t know how no one but me can see that.”
As he disappeared into the tent, Maira smiled. Jacob looked good holding a child. She was sure he would make a wonderful father someday. But would he be married to her? She knew he would ask her again to marry him, but she wasn’t sure what to say. Maira had never thought she wanted to ever marry a man. And now she had two men who wanted her as their bride. She only came here to help fight, she told herself. So why in Heaven’s name was she suddenly thinking about having babies with Sir Jacob?
