“Fawn?”
Julianna nodded again and pointed to the opposite corner, Roger wincing in pain as he turned his head.
Aye, staring back at him with big brown eyes was a fawn lying upon a blanket, the spotted creature not appearing frightened at all but quite at ease as the squirrel chattered away and the owl let out a hoot.
“I brought him here after his mother didn’t return to where she’d left him. He’ll survive on his own now…but it’s so hard to part with them. Do you think you can stand up?”
Roger turned back to Julianna, for the first time noticing the color of her eyes—a deep violet unlike anything he had seen before.
Yet it was the kindness and concern reflected there that startled him the most, and he grew tense beside her.
“Why are you helping me?”
She didn’t readily answer, but sighed softly and rose to her feet to set the cup upon the table. Then she drew close again and leaned down to help him to rise.
“I couldn’t leave you out in the mist and cold to die. I’m a healer, Laird Douglas…and you and your delegation were wrongfully attacked no matter the enmity in Cumberland toward the Scots. Yet it cannot be undone.”
Roger groaned as he accepted her assistance, though it was more by his effort that he was able to stand up, her part an insistent urging. She was so slight a lass compared to his height and breadth of shoulder, but still she held tightly onto his arm as if she feared he might collapse again to his knees.
He did double over in pain from the exertion, his head pounding and his ribs throbbing, which seemed to be the worst of his injuries. Somehow she led him to a chair where he sat down with relief, his legs shaking.
Never before had he felt so weak or light-headed—and all because he had been dragged to within an inch of his life, he knew that now. He glanced up and saw the offending breacan hanging from a peg near the door, Julianna following his gaze.
“Are you cold? Shall I fetch it for you?”
He shook his head, but she left him and retrieved the garment to wrap it around his shoulders.
“I mended the tear while you were sleeping. I had thought to cut away your armor, but it’s close-fitting enough to support your ribs. Bandages wouldn’t do any better. The healing will take some time, though.”
“I dinna have time. I must find a constable—”
“Noconstable in Cumberland will help you, you must believe me.”
Julianna had cut him off so vehemently that he looked up to meet her eyes, still filled with concern but something else, too.
Fear. Yet for him…or herself if it came to be known that she had given him aid?
“You’re in great danger to remain in England, though you shouldn’t attempt to head north for a few more days. At least then you’ll be able to make the journey without so much pain. It’s growing lighter, so I must leave you.”
She moved away from him so swiftly that Roger couldn’t catch her arm. He wanted to ask her some questions, but already she was at the door, donning a cloak.
“I’ll return when I can to see how you’re faring, I promise. You’ll find bread and cheese in the basket, so try to eat, and there’s spring water in the pitcher. Ah, yes, you must drink more of the healing potion I made for you—over there in that bowl. It will help to ease your pain.”
She whirled around to the door, though she glanced over her shoulder at him.
“There’s a bucket in the corner when you need to relieve yourself, and more wood for the fire. Please stay inside where it’s warm, will you?”
“Aye, with the owl and the fawn and that nosy squirrel tae keep me company,” he said through clenched teeth as a burning sensation in his ribs gripped him when he shifted on the chair. “Anything else, lass?”
She nodded with the faintest of smiles on her lips, and pointed to the straw-filled mattress laid upon the floor near the cot. “You’re too big a man—that wooden frame won’t support you, but it’s better than sleeping on the hard ground. Now I must go before my grandfather awakes.”
“Your grandfather?”
Julianna suddenly looked uncomfortable as if she had said too much. “Yes, he’s not well.”
“Then, indeed, you must go tae him, Lord…?”
She had stopped in the open doorway with the faint light of dawn outlining her slim form, and slowly turned to face Roger.
