Flanders knelt to study the eyes, the wee jaw. The lips that were miniature versions of his mother’s. “What is the wee man’s name?”
"Flanders," Phoebe said softly. "We call him Flanders."
Something pinched him at the back of his nose and brought tears to his eyes. "James named his son after me?"
"He speaks of ye every day," Phoebe said. "His brother in all but blood."
The bairn stretched high to pat both sides of Flanders' face with chubby hands, then pointed at his own chin and garbled a question.
Phoebe translated. "He wants to know if you're a Flanders too.”
He smiled. "Aye, laddie.” He pointed to his own chin. “Flanders.”
The boy clapped his hands, probably approving of the sound of his own name, but still…
Before Flanders could say more, Bella joined them. "She's awake," she announced. "And asking for us both."
40
THE BATTLE WITH BELLA
* * *
Brigid was well awake when Flanders and Bella reached her door. The nurse had propped her up with pillows, and though her face was pale, her eyes were clear. She smiled when she saw them and reached out her hands.
"The doctor says ye must stay at the door," the nurse said firmly in French. "No visitors inside the room."
Flanders bristled, but Bella laid a hand on his arm. "We understand," she replied in Norman French, which seemed close enough for the nurse to comprehend.
"Ye're both here," Brigid said, her eyes bright with relief. "Truly here."
"Where else would we be?" Flanders asked softly.
The nurse demanded their promise not to cross the threshold, then stepped out of the room to give them some privacy. “Five minutes," she said. “She’ll be in pain again soon.”
Brigid leaned forward, winced, and leaned back again. Then she smiled at her sister. “Ah, Bella. I was so happy to hear ye were alive! For days, I believed…” Tears leaked from her eyes and down her face. “Such a miracle. Such a miracle! And now that I’ve…” She gestured to her swathed legs. “I am eternally grateful to Wickham for sparing ye even a moment of this.”
Bella could only nod and weep, holding a colorful cloth to her mouth to stifle the sound. Flanders put an arm around her in comfort and gained comfort himself.
Brigid rallied. “Come, now. Tell me everything, Flanders. What happened after Wickham came for me." She shook her head. “I was only told that he went back for ye. And that he’ll collect James Duncan as well.”
He considered shielding her from the truth until she was well, but he thought better of it. They’d agreed not to lie to spare each other. "After the explosion, and I knew ye’d gotten away…I killed the Rat Laird.”
Brigid gasped. "Ye didn't!"
"I did. Strangled him with my chains in the end.” And he’d do it again.
He could see she had mixed feelings about it, so he decided not to tell her, just yet, about running into the fire himself. “Moray warned me, but since Wickham came for me straight away, The Regent never got a chance to punish me for it. But take heart, love. It was a fair fight, not murder.”
She smiled, clearly relieved.
The sisters stared at each other, some silent communication passing between them that Flanders couldn't interpret. But whatever it was, it caused Bella to stiffen beneath his arm and he removed it. Though the doorway wasn’t so wide, they managed to lean away from each other.
"Please," Brigid said. "I need ye both. I need ye to get on, even when I’m not with ye."
Bella's expression softened. "But of course.”
Brigid waited on him.
