Such outrage shown from the woman’s eyes that Rowen still found no voice to answer while Simeon, in an amazing show of strength for his age, pushed Sheena toward the door.
“Get out, lass, if you still want a place in this household!”
Sheena obliged him, finally, slamming the door behind her as he hastened over to Rowen.
“She’s a foolish girl…upset as we all are about Laird Mackay, but you mustna take tae heart anything she said…” Clearly floundering after what had just happened, Simeon fell silent and shook his head, appearing just as taken aback as Rowen.
Yet why should she feel stunned by Sheena’s accusations? They were mostly true, and might as well have been committed by her own hand since she hadn’t dissuaded Errol from his plan to make her a widow.
A happy widow—och, Rowen had never felt more wretchedly unhappy as she turned back to Alec to find him staring at her through half-opened eyes.
“Look, he’s starting tae wake up!” she blurted to the healer, who drew closer to peer into Alec’s face, clucking his tongue.
“Mayhap, lass…I canna tell if it’s that or if his eyelids are simply moving?—”
“Alec, can you hear us?” Rowen implored him, ignoring Simeon’s words and leaning down over Alec’s left ear. “Please wake up!”
She shook him by his broad shoulders, she couldn’t stop herself though the healer gasped in protest as a rumbling groan erupted from Alec’s throat.
“Will you make the pain in my head any worse, woman? Stop the damnable shaking…”
Rowen went still in shock at the hoarseness of Alec’s voice—but he had spoken! He was awake at last!
“Forgive me,” Rowen murmured, glancing from his fully open eyes now to Simeon, who fumbled to uncork another small vial.
“Here, Laird, it will soothe the pain?—”
“Take it away, the foul-tasting stuff,” Alec interjected along with another groan, Rowen realizing then that he must have been awake since his eyelids had first flickered.
Had he heard that she hadn’t wanted to leave his side? Oh, no, had he heard Sheena’s vehement accusations?
“What happened?” Alec queried as hoarsely, a slight turn of his head to look at Rowen causing him to grimace. “You took off riding…but before I could follow?—”
“You fell from your horse, Laird, and hit your head,” the healer hastily tried to explain as Rowen could only stare at Alec, her heart beginning to pound. “Your lady came here for help and your men brought you home. She rode with you in the wagon tae keep your head still, aye, I’m sure preventing any further injury.”
“I…I remember that now,” came Alec’s low reply as he lifted his hand to touch the swelling on his head, only to wince in pain. “Och, God, I asked you tae fetch help.”
“So you did,” Rowen barely choked out, her face feeling so flushed and warm that she wondered if he might see her discomfort.
“Then you said you didna want tae leave me, aye?”
She nodded, swallowing hard as Alec seemed to stare at her as if trying to read her face, her eyes.
She felt so guilt-ridden again, so despondent, that she lowered her gaze as Simeon tried again to offer the vial to Alec.
“You’re straining yourself, Laird. I beg you not tae try and talk any further, but tae drink this remedy and try tae rest.”
“No, I will speak tae my wife—alone!”
Rowen gasped and met Alec’s eyes, the raw pain reflected there making her feel even worse.
“Very well, Laird. Lady Mackay, you must send for me if?—”
“Leave us…now,” Alec interjected in so low a voice that it sounded almost a whisper. “You have my thanks, Simeon.”
The old healer bowed his head in assent, though he heaved a sigh as he turned away from the bed and left the room.
Silence fell after the door was shut quietly behind him, a sharp contrast to how Sheena had slammed the door.
