Gwen and Isabelle huddled to keep warm as they watched the men resume their game. And lucky them, it started snowing. The men obviously didn’t mind and were soaked and covered in mud by the time they finished. Their smiles were priceless, though, and the only thing besides their eyes that remained white.

After an early supper in the great hall, Isabelle and Gavin joined them in their chamber. They played cards by the fire and listened to music. It was a habit they began shortly after Gavin and Isabelle were married, and now they spent almost all of their evenings together.

Later, Greylen helped her into the black nightgown she had made, stretching the material across her belly. After they made love, Greylen laid her between his thighs, her back against his chest. He covered her stomach with his hands, willing their son to kick.

It became a nighttime ritual, lying together as they felt their baby move. In the beginning, it was a wonderful end to their days, but as the months passed and the baby grew, Gwen dreaded the movements.

“I’m sorry, Gwen. I know it must be terribly uncomfortable.”

“Terribly uncomfortable? Greylen, you have no idea.” She groaned as the baby turned again, feet and elbows poking her ribs. “He better come soon. He’s huge already.”

“You said it should be four or five weeks.”

“There’s really no way to know, Greylen. Some babies come early while others come late.”

“And if he is too large?” Greylen asked, fear in his voice.

“Greylen, we’ve been incredibly lucky,” she said truthfully. “We’ll come through this too.”

“Gwendolyn, you’ve more knowledge than any of us in such matters. You must use it.” He squeezed her to enforce his point. “I’ll not lose you.”

“Aye, in the throes of labor, I’ll remember that.” She laughed. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore, Greylen. Just make love to me. It’s the only thing that makes me feel good these days.” Gwen finished her statement with a disgruntled sigh.

“That was a compliment you just gave your husband, wasn’t it?” he asked, skeptically.

“Aye, ’twas a compliment and you know it.”

Making love to her husband, actually her husband making love to her, was the best part of her day, though it was becoming more and more difficult to find a comfortable position.

She knew Greylen felt the same, enjoying the intimacy they continued to share. He loved to find positions better suited to her current condition. He always seemed worried, however, that his lack of control, as he called it, when they made love, would hurt her or the baby.