Hew began to rouse.Peris shot a sharp glance at him.
“Och, ye’re awake,” he said in a rush.“Time for your wine.”
Carenza had no intention of letting him poison Hew, even if she had to take drastic measures.Acting on instinct, she stepped forward as if to help.
“Would ye like me to—”
Then she pretended to trip over her skirts.She gasped and knocked the cup aside with the back of her hand.
The clay shattered on the floor, splattering wine everywhere.Including in a dark red splotch on the front of her favorite blue-violet gown.
“Lucifer’s ballocks!”Peris cursed as drops of dark wine rolled down his beard and onto his leine.
“Och nay,” she lamented, looking down at her gown.Her despair was only half feigned.That stain would never come out of the Lucca silk.
Awakened by the crash, Hew lifted his head and narrowed groggy eyes at her.“What happened?”
“Just a wee spill,” she said.
He closed his eyes and sank back onto the pallet.
Peris was shaking, whether with rage or fear, she wasn’t sure.
“Don’t fret, Peris,” she said sweetly.“I’ll clean this up and mix another cup for Sir Hew.Ye go on and find your pallet.After all ye’ve been through, ye deserve a rest.”
He couldn’t argue with her.Instead he used a linen to dry his beard and groused, “’Tis only that there’s always so much to do.The hours.The responsibility.The travel.The sickness.The death.”
“Ye know, Sir Hew was remarkin’ that Kildunan might be better off hirin’ their own physician.”
“Nay!”Peris erupted, then thought better of his outburst.“Nay.I can manage.’Tis an act o’ service and a labor o’ love.”
“One for which God will surely reward ye,” she cooed.
“Reward?”he scoffed, then added in a mutter, “Och aye, I’m certain of it.”
Carenza quickly ushered him out of the chamber.“Will ye send someone up with a bottle o’ wine and a cup?”
He grunted in reply.
After the door closed, Hew opened his eyes.“Peris seems…ill-at-ease.”
“Ye were awake?”
“Enough to hear the edge in his voice.”
“’Tis likely exhaustion.He was in the infirmary again all night.”
“The hunting accident?”
“Aye.Peris fears the man will die.”
“That’s two in a sennight.”
“Aye.”She started picking up the shards of the cup.“By the way, we’re even now.”
“Even?”
“I saved your life again.”
