The Hellion and the Highlander

  "There," the Englishman said loudly. "I am sure your vision will correct itself soon enough. Just keep the damp cloth on it and be patient for now."

  "Are his eyes still troubling him then?" Averill's soft voice asked as the door closed. Her footsteps moved closer to the bed.

  "'Tis still blurry," Will lied, sounding terribly glib. "I am sure 'twill improve as he regains strength though."

  "Aye. I am sure you are right," Averill murmured, but she sounded concerned, and Kade felt a moment's conscience at tricking her like this. He even considered taking the cloth away and telling the truth, but then he thought of the old woman, Mabs, and being stuck with only her for company between quick visits from Will, and he let the lie stand.

  "I see you have brought him his nooning repast," Will commented, as the scent of what Kade suspected would be more chicken broth reached his nose. His stomach immediately rolled over, letting him know it was hungry. However, he was hardly pleased at the prospect of another liquid meal. He needed solid food to rebuild his strength and was about to say as much when the other man added, "Bread and cheese, too? Is he ready for solid food, do you think?"

  Kade could hear the teasing in his voice, but found himself rising to the bait and snapping, "Too right, I am."

  Will chuckled with satisfaction, the sound moving away as he headed for the door. "Then I shall leave you to your meal and take myself off to the lists."

  "I shall join ye soon," Kade promised.

  "I am sure you will, friend," Will said, and the door closed, leaving the room silent but for the rustle of Averill's gown as she moved around the bed.

  "How is your head?" she asked, the question accompanied by a sound he suspected was her setting down the tray.

  Kade's hands itched to remove the cloth over his eyes, but he restrained himself, and admitted, "It aches a bit, but no' like it did."

  "Then perhaps we can remove the cloth from your eyes long enough for you to eat," she murmured, and he felt her fingers brush against his face as she reached for the cloth. Kade blinked his eyes as she lifted it away and turned to set it back by the bowl of water. His gaze slid swiftly over her, taking in the hair so many disliked, then moving to the birthmark on her cheek. It was all as he recalled: a fall of glorious flame-colored waves and a tiny strawberry on her cheek. Neither what he would have considered ugly or disfiguring. And then she turned back and paused. Sucking her lower lip into her mouth, she nibbled at it worriedly, then asked, "C-can you see me?"

  Kade's eyebrows rose at the tiny stammer and the way she lifted one hand as if to cover her birthmark. Recalling Will's suggestion that she might avoid him if she thought he could see her, he cleared his throat, and pointed out, "Will told ye that me vision is still blurred."

  "Aye." She relaxed, her shoulders almost sagging with her relief, then smiled widely, appearing quite beautiful in that moment. "I just thought--Never mind, it does not matter," she interrupted herself, and turned to the tray of food she'd brought with her. "I brought you both broth and some watered-down ale, but also some bread and cheese. I thought if the liquids stayed down, you might like to try more solid food after."

  "Aye." Kade sighed at the very thought. He'd rather just stick with the solids but had already learned that his stomach--like the rest of him--wasn't as strong as he would have liked.

  "Here." She turned back with the broth in hand but paused and frowned, then set it aside and turned back to bend over him. "Let me help you sit up."

  Kade grimaced at the need for aid but allowed her to help him sit and arrange the pillows behind him so that he was upright to eat. She then retrieved the broth and held it to his lips, allowing him to sip a bit.

  "Your men have left for Scotland," she commented as she waited for him to swallow before offering more. "It took hardly any time at all for them to pack and make ready."

  Kade smiled wryly around the mug she held to his lips, knowing they'd had little enough to pack. They'd arrived with nothing but the clothes on their backs after three years in their prison and left with little more. They would ride to Stewart with the message of his well-being, then stop to collect his chest from his uncle's on the way back to Mortagne.

  "Cook packed them some food to take for the journey," Averill commented as she raised the broth to his lips again. "She said they were very polite for Scots."

  Kade nearly burst out laughing at the--he was sure--unintended insult, but his mouth was full of broth, and he caught himself at the last moment to keep from spitting it all over her.

  "I am sorry," Averill murmured, seeming to realize what she'd said. "I just meant...well, most Scots are a short, taciturn bunch, a-and--"

  "'Tis all right," he said quickly, catching the slight stammer and trying to ease her discomfort. "Most Scots are a rude lot...But Domnall, Ian, Angus, and I were all raised and trained by Ian's da, me uncle Simon. While he's a lowlander, his wife was English and 'twas from her we learned our manners."

  "Oh." She smiled uncertainly, then cleared her throat, and asked, "How is your stomach? Could you manage any solid food, do you think?"

  Kade glanced to the bowl, surprised to see that it was now empty. He lay still for a moment, paying attention to his stomach as she set the bowl aside and turned back to await his answer. While the broth he'd had that morning had left him feeling full and even a touch queasy, this time he felt fine. A bit full, but without the queasiness, so he murmured, "I'm thinkin' I could manage some solid food."

  Averill smiled and reached for the cheese and bread on the tray. This, too, she fed to him, breaking off a bit of cheese, slipping it between his lips, then offering him a drink of mead in between it and a bit of bread. While he wanted to eat it all and rush his healing along, he managed only half the small bit of bread and cheese she'd brought before he professed himself too full to eat more. He was disappointed that he'd eaten so little, but she seemed to think he'd done well and assured him he'd be back to normal in no time at that rate.

  "Shall I read to you now?" Averill asked several moments later as she closed the chamber door behind the maid she'd called to remove the tray.

  "Aye," Kade said at once, then commented curiously, "In Scotland, 'tis rare fer a woman to ken how to read."

  "'Tis rare in England as well," she acknowledged. "However, Will was my only friend as a child, and I followed him everywhere, even into the classroom. When his teacher decided I was a quick learner with a fine mind, he stopped protesting my presence and set about teaching me as well." She smiled wryly, and added, "When Will left to train in swordplay and such at Lord Latham's, I think father kept our teacher on just to keep me busy. I continued my lessons for several more years and am proficient in English, Latin, French, and Spanish, as well as sums."

  She settled back in her seat beside the bed and picked up an old, worn book he hadn't noticed lying on the chest, then admitted on a small sigh, "Unfortunately, intelligence is another strike against me in my father's hunt for a husband. I have been warned repeatedly to keep my learning to myself."

  Though he knew what she said was true, Kade shook his head at the stupidity of it. He would think it a fine thing indeed to have an intelligent wife. His mother had been educated as a girl, and it had come in quite handy when she'd been forced to take over the running of Stewart from his father. That man had a problem with drink and was quite often too deep in his cups to manage it. She had taken on the chore without protest, then had seen to it that his sister, Merry, was educated as well. Kade had no prejudice against an educated woman.

  He let that thought drift away as Averill began to read. It quickly became obvious the story was one she'd read often and knew almost by heart. He wasn't surprised. Books were an expensive item and, wealthy as Mortagne appeared to be, he doubted even here, there were many books to choose from.

  Relaxing back in the bed, he closed his eyes and allowed her voice to flow over him. One part of his mind was enjoying the life she gave to the characters and the tale she was recounting, while another
part marveled that he was here, safe and comfortable in a soft bed, well fed, with a woman's sweet voice filling his ears after so long as a prisoner in a foreign land, with an empty belly, a hard stone floor for a bed, and little hope of ever enjoying anything else.

  I could get used to this, Kade thought, and smiled slightly to himself.

  Chapter Four

  "Here you are, then."

  Finished with her wash, Averill set the damp linen in the basin of water Bess had brought to her and turned to take the gown Bess held out. She froze, however, her hand drawing back when she saw which one it was. Eyes widening with horror, she breathed, "Nay."

  Bess grimaced sympathetically. "Aye, your father said to dress you in your finest."

  Averill closed her eyes, knowing what that meant. He only had her dress in her finest when she was going to be paraded before yet another prospective husband. The dark red gown Bess was holding out was indeed her newest and finest. It was also the one that had seen her repeated humiliations at the hands of rejecting suitors. Obviously, her father had decided on whom he wished next to approach about marrying her, and the suitor was arriving today.

  She supposed she shouldn't be surprised. It had to happen sooner or later and more than a week had passed since the last would-be husband had rejected her so cruelly. That had occurred the day that Kade had awoken from his long sleep.

  Despite her upset, Averill found herself smiling at the thought of her brother's friend. She had spent the better portion of this week in Kade's room, reading to him, talking to him and--after the second day--helping him walk to one of the chairs before the fire in the morning and back again at night so that he wasn't always stuck in his bed.

  Kade was much improved from when he'd first woken. He no longer looked as pale and thin as he'd been on first awaking, and was even beginning to talk of joining Will at the lists. The only thing that hadn't improved yet was his sight. While Averill was concerned about that for his sake, for her own she was somewhat relieved, for she was not looking forward to his reaction when he was able to see properly again. Right now she was nothing but a voice and a blurry image to him, and she worried about what he would think of her when he saw her for the first time.

  "Come now," Bess said bracingly. "'Tis not as bad as all that. Mayhap this one will accept you to wife."

  Averill let her breath out on a sigh and allowed the maid to help her dress. Drink or no drink, she doubted very much if this time would end in anything but rejection either, but since her father had gone to the trouble of bringing the man here, she supposed she would have to go through with yet another humiliating inspection and rejection by a prospective husband.

  Kade was hanging from the bed frame when the door suddenly opened. Freezing, he turned his head guiltily to see who had entered. Relief coursed through him when he saw that it was Will.

  "You are exercising," his friend said with amazement as he pushed the bedroom door closed and crossed the room. "How long has this been going on?"

  Kade grimaced but eased himself down. He released the top frame of the bed as his feet settled on the floor, and admitted, "'Tis the third mornin' I've done so. Though," he admitted dryly, "the first morn I was no' able even to lift meself all the way up once."

  "Hmm." Will nodded solemnly. "You have lost a goodly portion of the weight and strength we worked so hard to regain after escaping our prison."

  Kade grunted at the observation and moved to sit in one of the chairs by the fire rather than return to his bed. He had started out trying to rebuild his strength the first day he'd had solid food. Averill had gone below to eat her dinner. She'd offered to send Mabs up with his meal, but he'd convinced her not to "trouble" the maid, that he could wait until she returned if she would not mind bringing it. The minute she'd left, he'd slid from the bed and tried to walk. Kade had only managed to take a few steps--and that while holding on to the bed--before his trembling legs had forced him back into bed. He hadn't given up, however, and was up again the next chance he got, forcing his legs to carry him a few more feet.

  After the third day of solid food and walking, he was strong enough to pace his room several times, though he hadn't let anyone know. He'd then started trying to reclaim the muscles in his upper arms as well. As with his legs, it was slow going.

  "Does Averill know?"

  Kade shook his head quickly. "Nay, she'd fuss."

  "Aye, she would," Will agreed with a wry smile. "She would fear you were rushing things and probably have you tied to the bed."

  Kade smiled faintly at the idea. Averill could be the sweetest creature he had ever met, but when it came to the matter of his recovery, he had found her surprisingly stern.

  "Mind you, she might be less concerned did we tell her you were able to see properly again."

  Kade sighed at the words. They were true, and he couldn't deny it but found himself surprisingly reluctant to risk admitting he could see. The worry that she might avoid him once she knew was enough to make the idea unattractive to him. The girl had become the bright spot in his otherwise long and drab days. Kade enjoyed the hours they spent chatting of this and that, and was reluctant to see it come to an end and have her become uncomfortable and shy in his presence.

  Though he would have to soon, Kade acknowledged to himself. The last week had seen him regaining enough health and strength that he was growing impatient to leave the room and begin working in the lists with Will. He wanted to build his strength back up to where it had been ere he and the others had been captured and imprisoned. But he also wanted to sit by the fire at night and enjoy the talks he normally had with Averill without her being self-conscious and shy.

  "Where is she?" he asked suddenly. Hers was usually the first face he saw in the morning. She had taken to breaking her fast with him so that he need not eat alone. Will normally did not show up until after eating, and it was only for a quick visit before he headed to the lists.

  "She is below," he answered. "She was instructing her maid, Bess, to bring you some mead, bread, cheese, and pasties when I headed up."

  "Her maid?" he asked with surprise, ignoring the way his stomach rumbled at the mention of food. His appetite had been the first thing to return to normal. "Is she no' coming?"

  "Nay, and 'tis lucky for you she is not, else she would have been the one to find you up and about."

  Kade shrugged that away, but explained, "I didna realize it was so late. 'Tis still quite dark out."

  Will glanced toward the open shutters with a frown. "A storm is threatening." He grimaced and turned back to Kade to add, "In more ways than one."

  "Oh?" he asked curiously.

  "Father has arranged for another lord to arrive today to look over Averill with an eye to marriage."

  Kade sat back in his chair, a scowl flickering over his face. "He'd best be kinder than the last oaf."

  "Aye," Will agreed. "I nearly rammed his teeth down his throat when I heard what he'd said to Averill. There was no need to be so cruel." He scowled at the memory, then added with disgust, "And with Father's new grand plan, I fear this one could be a complete debacle."

  "What is this new plan?" Kade asked curiously, then guessed, "Cover her hair and hide the birthmark with a smudge of dirt?"

  "How did you know?" Will asked with surprise.

  Kade snorted with disgust. Leave it to an Englishman to try such a trick. The man was not thinking straight. Averill would be the one to pay when the covering was gone and the dirt cleaned away and the groom discovered he'd been tricked. Besides, what message did this give to Averill? That her father agreed with these men? That even he thought her looks unsightly?

  "He means well," Will said sadly. "In truth, he is worried over his health and wants to see Averill settled and happy before he dies. He promised our mother on her deathbed that he would." He shook his head. "Unfortunately, he equates a woman's happiness with bearing babies and does not consider that an unhappy, bitter husband might be a stumbling block to Avy's happiness." Will ran his h
ands through his hair with frustration, and added, "And that is not even the worst of his new plan."

  Kade raised an eyebrow. "There's more?"

  "Oh, aye." Will's mouth twisted with disgust as he reminded him, "She stammers."

  "Aye," Kade acknowledged, wondering what the father could possibly do about that, then asked with disbelief, "Has he ordered her no' to speak to the man? Will he present her, bundled up, dirty, and mute and expect to gain her a husband?"

  "Not mute, no," Will said dryly. "He is down there right now making her drink whiskey."

  "What?" Kade asked with disbelief.

  "Aye. Father is sure if Averill would just relax around these men, she will not stammer, and he is equally sure whiskey will relax and loosen her tongue."

  "Dear God," Kade breathed.

  "Aye," Will said dryly. "Averill was trying feverishly to talk him out of it when I was below, but he was having none of that. When I tried to support her in convincing him, he suggested it may be better did I wait up here with you while Lord Seawell and his mother visit."

  Kade's eyebrows flew up. "He sent ye to me room like a naughty boy? And ye let him?"

  Will flushed, but said quietly, "He is my father...and my lord. The whiskey will not harm Averill and, much as this plan of his would suggest he's lost his mind, he has not, so I cannot disobey him. Well, not openly," he added with a grin. "I bribed Mabs and Bess to keep close and come to me if they think I need intercede."

  "Harrumph," Kade muttered. He was tempted to intercede himself, but Lord Mortagne had not quibbled once about having Kade land on his doorstep and had provided a bed and care to both him and his men as he recovered and recuperated. And as Will said, the whiskey would not harm Averill. However, he decided, if this latest lord caused problems or hurt her in any way, it would not only be Will going below to tend to matters. Kade would be accompanying him. He might not have regained his full strength yet, but he could stand on his feet and swing a good fist and would be happy to do so for the woman who had spent so much time and care tending to him.

  "So," Will said suddenly, "I asked you shortly after you awoke if you liked our Averill, and you claimed you hardly knew her. It has been a week. Do you not find Averill sweet and enjoy her company?"