Always - Iris Johansen [51]
Lisa watched as the door closed behind her. Good heavens, now Marna was nagging her about eating, too, she thought half-hysterically. Would the woman make a charm to increase her appetite if she wasn’t satisfied? Oh, Lord, the whole thing was crazy. Yet there had been something so serenely confident in Marna’s last statement. And how had she known they wanted a child?
She shook her head to clear it, but it did little good. She still felt as if she’d been transported back to fantasyland.
“What’s wrong?” She turned to see Clancy coming out of the library down the hall. “Don’t you feel well?”
“I don’t know. I’ve just been talking to Marna. I don’t know which side is up at the moment.”
A little smile tugged at Clancy’s lips. “I should have known. It’s not an unusual reaction. Did you find out what the talisman is for?”
She nodded. “It appears you don’t have to work so hard on our little project after all. Marna has fixed everything.” She held up the pouch. “Fertility talisman.”
Clancy chuckled. “I suspected as much.”
“Well, why didn’t you tell me?” Lisa demanded.
“Because, my love, Marna can’t be explained. She has to be experienced. I thought this was the quickest way for you to do that.”
“I certainly ‘experienced’ her all right. Heavens, the woman is strange.” She hesitated. “What do you think? Is there anything to this talisman stuff?” She put her hand to her head and groaned. “Just listen to me; she’s got me half believing it. I must be as strange as she is.”
Clancy’s expression was thoughtful. “I’ve lived long enough that I don’t discount the possibility that powers like that exist, and I’ve seen Marna do some very impressive hocus-pocus. Who knows?”
Lisa unconsciously touched her abdomen where Marna’s hand had rested only a short time ago. Was it possible that the woman was right and even now the seed of a child was growing within her? “A son,” she said softly.
“What?”
“Marna said the talisman had worked and I was carrying your son.”
He went still. There was an expression on his face so beautiful that she wanted to remember it forever.
“She may be wrong,” Lisa whispered. “How could she know?”
He crossed the few paces between them, then reached out and lifted her chin so that he could look into her eyes. His own still held such wonder that she felt her throat tighten with emotion. Then he kissed her with exquisite gentleness. “Well, we certainly won’t stop trying. It’s far too enjoyable an exercise.” He laughed huskily. “I think, if anything, we should redouble our efforts. As you said, how could she know?”
He kissed her again and turned her toward the small room where they had dined last night. “Breakfast,” he said firmly. “And it wouldn’t hurt you to try to eat a little more. Just in case she’s right.”
“That’s what Marna told me,” Lisa said with a sigh. “I’m glad Galbraith’s not here. At least I only have the two of you to contend with.”
“You’ll find that quite enough, acushla.”
Lisa nodded gloomily as she allowed him to propel her toward the dining room. She had an idea that withstanding the machinations of a protective gypsy witch and a possessive Clancy Donahue would be more than enough of a challenge for any woman.
“MILK AGAIN.” LISA glared balefully at the frosty glass on the tray Marna was carrying. “I told Lia I didn’t want it.”
“That is why I brought it back, instead of sending her,” Marna said calmly. “It wasn’t fair to send the girl all the way back up here to the battlements when you’re being so unreasonable. You know you must have it.” She held out the wide-brimmed straw hat she had in her other hand. “This, also. The sunlight and fresh air are good for you, but you must have protection.”
Lisa took the hat. “I don’t like milk,” she said. “I’m taking every possible pill under the sun. Iron, vitamins, calcium. I don’t need milk,