The Cursed Highlander (Lairds of Dunkeld Series) (A Medieval Scottish Romance Story) by Ferguson Emilia

Author:Ferguson, Emilia [Ferguson, Emilia]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: MountainSky House Publishing Co.
Published: 2017-11-10T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

A MORNING OF CLOSENESS

A MORNING OF CLOSENESS

Mist. And darkness. And pain. They pressed in on Joanna, making her head ache as if wires were boring through her temples. Hot wires, insistent and sharp.

“Ugh,” she groaned. She rolled onto her side. Where was she?

She opened her eyes. It hurt, so she closed them again. Wherever she was, it was bright. It was morning. Memory tugged at her mind, but would not speak to her.

She opened her eyes.

White. She touched it, and found white linen. All around her. She was, she realized, lying on a coverlet. On top of a bed. She remembered where she was.

In Dougal's bedchamber.

She sat up, memory flooding her. The shadow, the attack. The person grabbing her assailant. Dougal! Where was he? She reached out, pressing on the ridged, cool linen. She sat up.

“Dougal...”

“Good morning,” a voice said somewhere above her head. She blinked. Looked around.

He was over by the fire, a long gown draped around his shoulders, his hair freshly brushed. He was holding a beaker of some kind, she noticed. His face was serious, but his eyes shone. “I am so glad you're awake.”

Joanna frowned, wishing she could remember something more. “Where...?”

“You are where you were yesterday,” he informed her. “I have been downstairs and fetched up something for you. Mrs. Kine said you should drink barley water, though I thought milk would perhaps be a better alternative. It's warm,” he added, holding out the mug.

Joanna took it. It was hot, and the warmth seeped into her fingers. The milk was steaming, a thin skin forming on it. She tasted it, letting the creamy warmth spiral down to her toes. It was good. She sighed.

“What happened last night?” she asked. She was already feeling stronger. There was honey in the milk, she realized, and the mix restored strength to her. Her heart was beating harder and she could feel her fingertips coming back to life.

Dougal dropped into the chair opposite her. He reached out to pull the blanket around her shoulders. She was wearing her day gown still, but she was cold. She sat still and let him, feeling her heart thump insistently as his fingers lightly grazed along her shoulder bone.

“A man attacked you,” he said quietly. His voice shook with emotion and Joanna reached out to touch his hand. He tensed, and then breathed out. His eyes met hers. “He wanted to finish me,” he said quietly. “But you were there. You stopped him and...Joanna.” He covered his eyes with his hand, face stiff. He met her gaze, then, eyes empty. “If you had been hurt. If you'd died...” He shook his head. “I would have died inside.”

Joanna felt her throat close with emotion. “No. Don't. Don't say that.” She cleared her throat. “One of us has to stay alive. Bring an end to this misery.”

Dougal let out a shuddering breath. “It's not worth the risk, Joanna. I should tell you to leave. You don't need to be here, facing this risk. I should send you out of here.

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