Two months had passed since Jael had first revealed that Mauve was pregnant. Mauve wasn't sure if her pregnancy made things easier or harder between them. At first, Jael let her do what she wanted and didn't complain too much, but as time went on, he had become fiercely protective, often to the point of suffocation. However, she couldn't deny the tenderness in his actions. Even now, as they walked together in the dimly lit corridors of the castle, she could feel the weight of his gaze on her.
The lords' meeting two months ago had been a turning point, but not an end. The lords had begrudgingly quieted down after Lord Garth's intervention and Mauve's impassioned speech, but their skepticism lingered. The lords remaining in the castle watched her closely, and she could tell they all sensed she was with child. She wondered how long it would take before word reached the rest of the lords. Mauve didn't think it would take long.
