“M’laird.”
M’lairdwas worse.They were practically accomplices in crime.
He didn’t move a muscle.
She softly cleared her throat.Twice.
He continued breathing evenly.Which was no easy task when she reached out and pressed a finger to his brow.Even more difficult when she tapped it twice.
She withdrew her finger and finally mumbled, “Hew.Hew.Wake up.”
Ah, there it was.The arousing allure of a woman murmuring his name.He pretended to stir and let his eyes flutter open.
His mind’s eye hadn’t done her justice.She was still disheveled and sooty, with red-rimmed eyes and tangled tresses.But the concern in her face and the kindness in her gaze made her as lovely as an angel.
“Drink this,” she said.“Peris said ’twill help with the pain.”
What helped with the pain was her heavenly presence.With her beside him, he almost forgot he felt like he was burning in Hell.
“Thank you,” he said, reaching for the cup before he remembered his injured hand.
“I’ll hold it.”
He took a sip.It tasted nasty.“’Tis bitter.”
“’Tis the opium.But it seems to work, aye?”
He nodded and forced it down.
She took the finished cup to the basin to rinse it.
“You stayed with me,” he called out to her.“Why?”
“’Twas the least I could do, considerin’ ye saved my life.”
He settled back onto the bed.“Well, you saved mine, so I suppose we’re even.”
“Nay.Ye saved Hamish’s life as well.”
“Right.But let’s not keep flirting with death just to even the score.”
“Agreed.”
To Hew, it seemed rather reckless for the laird to leave him alone with his daughter.But then maybe she’d told him Hew was bound for the church and therefore unassailable.
“Where is Peris?”he asked.
“He was called away to Kildunan.”
“Again?What was it this time?”
“Somethin’ about a wealthy patron and a huntin’ accident.”
That seemed curious.Rivenloch was a warrior clan, and they didn’t keep their physician as busy as did Kildunan.“Does the monastery infirmary usually have so many visitors?”
“I’m not sure.”
“But Peris is the one they call when someone arrives?”
