Page 10 of Highlander’s Burning Touch

Leaning over, she listened in to the rhythmic timing of his chest. He was still very much alive and just sleeping soundly. An instant rush of relief burned all the way through her.

“It isnae too late, is it?” Deva asked as Allyth brought the caudle over. Taking the cup from her, she leaned into the lad once again to try and make him drink.

Beside her, Allyth smiled cautiously. “I dinnae think so, Miss. We got him here just in time, an’ the potion was just as the wise woman told me…”

Although her words were calming, Allyth’s eyes darted furtively around the room, unable to remain fastened on anything for longer than a second. Deva knew Allyth well enough to know that she still had doubts, which made her more anxious still.

“Ach, he’ll be alright, Miss, try nae to fash. He’s young an’ strong…” Allyth tended to him momentarily, but then seeing Deva’s face, retreated a little. Could she guess her feelings?

“Aye,” said Deva, blushing a little at Allyth’s retreat. She hadn’t meant to make it so obvious how she had felt about the lad. Then, her cheeks colored again as she thought about her upcoming betrothal.

Even though she was not happy about being married off to a stranger, it had been agreed, and she felt uncomfortable about her own feelings.

Deva watched Allyth go and bit her lip. Just as she was about to reach the door, she turned.

“Miss, I,” she said, unsurely, “Ach, it’s just a wee thing, but…” Immediately, Deva turned to look. There was a hesitancy in Allyth’s eye as if there was something burdening her, but she didn’t want to let it go.

“What is it, Allyth?” asked Deva directly. She didn’t like shillyshallying about. “Just spit it out, an’ tell me, whatever it is…”

Deva picked up the cold compress and applied it to the lad’s head. His eyes twitched immediately, but for the moment, did not open.

“Well,” Allyth looked uncertainly to the lad as if concerned he might overhear her. Discreetly, she ushered Deva away to the back of the room, where they could talk more freely.

“Come on, let’s have it now,” said Deva, shaking off her irritation. She was in no mood to play games.

“Miss, when the lad wakes up like he did afore, he will want to ken who ye are, an’,” here, her voice trailed away a little.

Deva brought her eyes straight to Allyth’s, already guessing what she was thinking.

“An’ ye think I shouldnae tell him,” she said, her gaze meeting the maids.

“Nae,” agreed Allyth. “I mean, aye, if ye ken,” she said, sounding flustered.

Just then, a huge surge of wind blew into the room, taking with it the candlestick in the middle of the room. It clattered to the floor dramatically.

From the bed, the lad began to stir. Her eyes firmly upon him, Deva watched anxiously for any signs of him waking.

“Maybe ye could pretend to be a maid, wear my shawl, he’ll ne’er ken,” Allyth whispered.

Lowering her voice, Deva leaned into Allyth’s ear. “An’ why is this?” she inquired, although even as she asked, she knew why.

“It’s yer father,” replied Allyth quietly. “Ye ken what he is like. He’s nae goin’ tae like ye spending time by yersel’ wi’ a strange man… especially…”

Allyth’s voice trailed off again as the wind made another foray into the room, this time knocking the wooden cup from the side of the bed. It crashed onto the floor, spilling its contents everywhere.

The noise from the cup finally roused the sleeping man in the corner of the room. With the invalid potentially about to wake up, Deva made for the bed. Before she got there, she turned and flashed at Allyth.

“Especially since I am to be wed,” she said briskly. It was supposed to be a question, but it got no answer. Instead, Allyth just nodded her head and then cleared the fallen items away, leaving just Deva and the lad alone in the room. Quickly, she wrapped herself in the simple shawl that Allyth had left and removed her brooch. Hopefully, he hadn’t noticed it.

Waiting for Allyth to shut the door, Deva sighed.

Her father. Inwardly, Deva rolled her eyes and wondered how even when he was not present, he managed to put a damper on things.

Once again, a pang of guilt crept through her. She shouldn’t even be thinking like this. To take her mind off things, she busied herself, attending to the lad in the bed. From the shifts in his sleep, he was nearing consciousness, but even so, Deva could not help but watch him.

He looked so peaceful and so very different from how he did before. And somehow, younger too. Peering closer, she saw the traces of childhood freckles still ringing around his cheeks.

Deva couldn’t resist bringing her hand to his face and pressing it softly against his cheek. He might be running a fever, but his complexion was as clear as day. Brushing her hand along his cheek gave Deva a little ripple of pleasure she was not expecting. A tingle filled her, heating her insides with a fervor she had never known. Deva blushed as the man roused slightly from beside her.