He kissed her still warm forehead and whispered, “Sleep, love. I’m here to watch over you.”
“My warrior,” she murmured.
And he smiled. Aye, just as she was his angel.
Chapter 24
Keeley awoke feeling like she was trapped under a boulder. Even breathing hurt. Her head was so heavy she couldn’t lift it, and she positively rattled when she tried to draw in air.
She opened her mouth, but her lips were cracked and her tongue was so dry it felt as though she rubbed it across sand.
Then she made the mistake of trying to move.
She whimpered and tears welled in her eyes. How could she feel so miserable? What had happened to her? She was never ill. She prided herself on being hale and hearty.
“Keeley, love, don’t cry.”
Alaric’s usually soothing, deep timbred voice, crackled over her ears like the sound of swords clashing.
Her vision blurred by tears, she could barely make out the outline of his face as he peered over her.
“Sick,” she croaked.
“Aye, lass, I know you’re ailing.”
“Never sick.”
He leaned in closer and smiled. “You are now.”
“Ask Maddie for the paste for my chest. ’Twill lessen some of the rattle and discomfort.”
Alaric slid his palm over her cheek, and his skin felt so cool against her burning face that she nuzzled and rubbed back and forth.
“Not to worry. Maddie has already been in your chamber three times this morning. She’s clucking like a mother hen. Mairin has been forbidden access, and she’s voicing her displeasure to anyone within hearing distance.”
Keeley tried to smile, but it hurt too much.
“Hungry,” she complained.
“Gertie is bringing you some broth.”
She blinked to try and bring Alaric’s face further into focus, but he was still blurry around the edges. But she could see his eyes. His beautiful, crystal green eyes.
She sighed. “I love your eyes.”
He grinned and she blinked in surprise.
“Did I say that aloud?”
“Aye, you did,” he said in a tone heavy with amusement.
“Am I still gripped with fever? ’Tis the only explanation for my wayward tongue.”
“Aye, the fever still rages high within you.”
She frowned. “But I’m no longer cold. The sign of a fever ’tis a chill. I find I’m overhot.”
“Your flesh still burns and your eyes are dull. ’Tis a good sign I’m told that you are not racked by chills any longer, but you are sick still.”
“I don’t like being ill.”
She knew she sounded like a petulant child, but she couldn’t control the urge to sulk. She was used to tending the ill, not joining their ranks.
Alaric grinned and then pulled her into his arms.
“Why are you tending me?” she asked, her voice muffled by his chest. “ ’Tis not proper at all.”
“But then we’ve not been very proper together,” he murmured.
She smiled but then sobered. “What will everyone think? Say?”
“If they value their well-being, they’ll say nothing at all. They’ll think what they think. We cannot control that.”
She frowned. He was right. She well knew it. But she also knew that suspicion led to gossip and gossip led to accusations and then action.
He kissed the top of her head and she closed her eyes against the sweetness of his embrace.
“Ewan will want to know what occurred. Are you feeling well enough to face his questions?”
’Twas the truth she’d rather face an angry mob flinging stones than have to think back over the events with the way her head throbbed and her throat ached. But she also knew that the laird needed to know whatever she could tell him. He had a wife and a child to protect. He had the whole of the clan to protect.
“As long as I have water to sip at, I can speak with the laird.”
“I’ll make sure he doesn’t keep you long,” Alaric soothed.
Just then the door burst open and Maddie stuck her head around the door. Even though the older woman knew of Keeley’s feelings for Alaric, Keeley stiffened and tried to pull away.
Alaric caught her to him and relaxed against the bed as he waited for Maddie to come to them.
“I have hot broth and water. The broth will soothe your sore throat, lass. The water will help the fever I hope. ’Tis important you drink enough.”
Alaric took the steaming broth and carefully put it to Keeley’s lips. “Just sip. ’Tis hot.”
Grateful for the support of his arm, she carefully took a little of the broth into her mouth. She felt as weak as a kitten and would surely have flopped over were it not for Alaric holding her up.
He was infinitely patient, holding the trencher each time she took a bit of the liquid onto her tongue. At first it hurt going down. Her throat felt like it had a thousand scratches in the swollen flesh.
When she could take no more, she leaned back against Alaric’s arm and closed her eyes.
“I’ll be back up in a little while, lass,” Maddie said in hushed tones. “If you have need of anything before that, summon me. I’ll come at once.”
Keeley was barely able to nod. Just consuming the broth had taken all the strength she had. And she still had to speak to the laird.
She closed her eyes and focused on breathing to keep the room from spinning. Alaric pressed his lips to her temple and curled her tighter into his side.
His warmth seeped into her bones and she gave a sigh of contentment. ’Twas the best she’d felt since she’d awakened.