Devil cast a glance back at Richard and shrugged helplessly.
Richard tell back on his pillows with a groan-as the two most important women in his life descended on him.
They lectured and fussed and lectured again, in between tucking him in tenderly. He bore it stoically-with a final sharp but concerned glance, Catriona had to leave him.
Helena pulled up the chair, picked up Catriona's discarded mending, and settled down to watch over him.
Richard sighed. "I promise I won't try to get up again-not until my wife gives her permission."
"Be quiet. Go to sleep."
Helena's stern tone told him she had not forgiven him his indiscretion yet.
Richard swallowed a grunt. After a moment, he said: "You never fuss over Devil."
"That's because he never needed to be fussed over. You do-now be silent and sleep. And leave me to fuss."
Thus adjured, he shut up and found himself, to his surprise, drifting into a doze. Before he succumbed, he asked: "What do you think of Catriona?"
"She's the perfect wife for you. She will fuss very well in my stead."
Richard felt his lips twitch resignedly; he took her advice, shut up and slept.
He awoke some hours later to discover the twins, one perched in a straight-backed chair to the left, the other in a matching chair to the right, bright blue eyes wide, watching over him.
Astonished, he stared at them. "What the devil are you doing here?"
They smiled. "Guarding you."
Richard glowered; he looked them over, noting the full curves that filled out their bodices, the trim figures revealed by their muslin skirts-and glowered even more. "Your necklines are too low-you'll catch your deaths."
They bent identical disgusted looks on him.
"You're as bad as Devil.
"And Vane."
"Almost as bad as Demon-he's been underfoot everywhere we go!"
"What is the matter with all of you?"
He humphed and shut his eyes-and refrained from telling them. "This is the Lowlands," he stated incontrovertibly. "It's colder up here." He wondered if Catriona had some spare shawls they could pin over their shoulders, closed to the neck.
Still, at least they were up here, with him, Devil, Vane and Gabriel about, not gallivanting in the south, flaunting themselves like plump lambs before God knew how many hungry wolves, with only Helena for protection.
Keeping his eyes shut, he sank deeper into his bed. Perhaps there was some sense to this madness after all.
Chapter 18
The week passed slowly for Richard, confined to his bed, and in a whirl of unaccustomed gaiety for the other inhabitants of the vale.
They'd never encountered people like the Cynsters before.
Entering the stable yard four mornings later, Catriona was conscious of the smile on her face-it rarely dimmed these days, despite Richard's poisoning and what she would, once their guests left, have to face. For now, all was running smoothly, with a bubbling, effervescent sense of life. Thanks to their guests.
They were everywhere, helping with everything, yet they had, with a characteristic tact that was in itself overwhelming, managed to do so without stepping on anyone's sensitivities.
A feat that commanded her respect.