A knock sounded at the door, and whoever it was did not wait for her to answer. Finlay stepped into her room, closing the door quickly behind him before racing to her side.
She curled against him instinctively, and he wrapped his arms around her. Her tears soaked his shirt, but that seemed to be the least of his worries. He ran his fingers through her hair, murmuring as he did.
“Ye’re safe now, Thalia. I took care of it for ye. Ye daenae have to worry about him ever again.”
Once she finally started to calm down, she pulled out of the embrace, hiccuping as her tears subsided.
“Thank ye,” she whispered. “For comin’ to check on me. But I think I can take it from here.”
He kept his hand on her hair, his eyes darting across her face. “Are ye sure?”
She nodded, moving to stand, before her legs gave out and she was on the floor again.
He sighed. “Let me help ye, lass. Do ye want to get in the bath?”
“Aye.” Her voice came out weak and pitiful. She did not want to be like this. Not in front of him.
Slowly, he moved to help her out of her dress. He unlaced the back, letting her bodice sag. He put his arm under her armpits so he could help her stand, and this time her legs remained steady. The dress fell to the floor, and he tugged off her stays and shift until she was naked before him.
Thalia didn’t have the energy to be embarrassed. Besides, he had already seen her almost completely naked before. He kept a firm grip on her as she tentatively stepped into the bath. The warm water welcomed her, enveloping her such that she couldn’t stop a sigh from escaping her lips.
Finlay leaned over the tub, brushing his knuckles against her cheek. “Do ye feel a bit better?”
“Aye,” she said, her voice coming out stronger.
“Good,” he murmured.
Without waiting for her to ask or for her permission, he grabbed the cloth from the table beside the bath. He dipped it into the water and began to run it along her skin.
He washed her arms, before dabbing gently at the cut across her clavicle. She winced at the sting, but let him continue cleaning her. It was nice and comforting. She knew he was just tryingto help, but she was happy to let him take care of her for the moment.
He grabbed the extra pitcher from the table and dipped it into the water until it was full.
“Lean yer head back,” he commanded, and she did.
She raised her chin higher, and he poured the water over her hair. He used the cloth to wipe her face. Each move was so precise and gentle that it was almost enough to make her want to cry again.
After another few minutes, she couldn’t take it anymore.
“Why are ye here?” she asked.
He furrowed his brow. “I want to help ye get clean.”
“Nay,” she sighed. “I mean, why did ye comehere?”
“I told ye, I couldnae stand by and let ye marry him,” he replied.
She turned away. “Because ye kent he was dangerous.”
“Aye.” He hooked his finger under her chin, lifting it so that she was looking at him again. “And because I realized how stupid I have been. The thought of ye marryin’ someone else was… it was too much to bear.”
She blinked at him, unsure if she was hearing him correctly. “Someone… else? Does that mean…?”
“Thalia,” he rasped. “I’m crazy about ye. I have let me stubbornness and me pride rule me for too long. I thought I kent what was best, but ye’ve helped me realize that I’ve just been hidin’ meself away. I ken now what it is like to be in love, because I’m in love ye. I will do anythin’,beanythin’, so long as it means ye will stay by me side.”
She shook her head, still unable to believe it. She was tired, maybe delirious. There was no way he was saying these things to her now.
“What happens when ye change yer mind? What happens if ye decide to push me away again?” she demanded.
