Page 31 of Never Marry a Highlander

Craig tried to pull away, but almost fell when he broke from Robin’s grip.“I am no’ a lad.”

“Then how aboutye big strong warriorye are sick and need to be put to bed.”

Helena stepped up to Lorena while Robin hustled Craig up to their bedchamber.“If ye will undress yer husband, I will come up with healing potions.”

Lorena nodded, annoyed that Helena took right over.Aye, she was the clan healer, but Lorena should have been the one to put him to bed and fetch healing potions.After all, just having gone through it, she certainly knew what to do.

Instead, since Helena was the clan healer and Lady of the Manor, Lorena merely dipped her head and followed the men.Robin brought them up the stairs and down a corridor to a room at the end.‘Twas a nice, large room with windows facing the beautiful green hills and the small village of Peninver.

Once Robin had him in bed, Lorena crossed the room and began to remove his clothes.He smiled up at her.“That anxious are ye lass?”

With Robin standing behind her and Helena having just entered the room, she could have kicked him were he not lying in bed looking so pathetic.She might have been a tad rough when she removed his clothes.

When he was down to just his breeches, she stepped back and let Helena take over.She was everything Craig had said she was.Careful, considerate, tender, and smart.The way Robin watched her as she worked made Lorena even more concerned about living with this woman and trying to find her place here in the keep.

“I believe ye are right, Lorena.I’m sure he has sweating sickness.‘Tis a good chance someone at Clyth Castle picked it up from ye and passed it on to Craig.”

“I canno’ be in bed for days.It took Lorena more than a full week before she was able to travel.”

Robin, leaning against the door, watching the goings-on, said, “’Tis no problem for me to send another in the place I had expected ye to take over.What ye need to do now is listen to what Helena says and rest as much as ye can.”

Listen to what Helena says.

So, she was to be cut out of taking care of her own husband!Helena says, Helena does, Helena knows.There didn’t seem to be a place for her.She told herself she didn’t care.‘Twas her intention after all to keep to herself, not form attachments to people who would turn on her.

Even Helena.

“Do ye wish to have us prepare another bedchamber for ye, Lorena?Ye might no’ want to be exposed to sweating sickness again,” Robin said.

Before she could answer, Helena shook her head.“Nay.If she just had it, there is only a verra slight chance of her getting it again.Craig would probably feel better with her by his side.”

Well, then.She apparently had no say in where she would sleep, either.But she smiled at Helena, having been almost sure she would have told them to have her banished from Craig’s room.

“Doona I have something to say about this?”Craig asked.He looked over at Lorena and held out his hand.“I want my wife here with me.”

Despite all their bickering the past two days, she felt a certain warmth from Craig’s words.

“Then that is settled.I’ll leave ye to both get some rest.”Helena picked up the supplies she had brought with her, and she and Robin left the room.

She was so tired, she could barely keep her eyes open.Slowly she removed her clothes; all the time Craig watched her every move with fevered eyes.When she was finished, left only in her shift, he patted the space alongside him.“Come here, lass.”

Lorena shook her head.“Nay.I will join ye in bed, but not for the reason ye seem to want.”

“I just want to hold ye.‘Twill make me feel better.”

She stood in front of the bed, her hands on her hips.“So now my presence will make ye feel better?After all the insults ye threw at me today?”

“Please, Lorena.I doona feel good.I need some wifely comfort.”

Why did she allow this man to do this to her?After the day they had she was ready to dump a jug of water over his head.One look at him and she remembered his tender touch, his warm kisses, his caring for her as she never had from any man before.

“I will join ye, but ye are in no shape to do what ye think ye want to do.”

He placed his hand over his heart.“I promise.I just want to hold ye in a bed that is not on the hard ground.”

Reluctantly, she climbed into the warm, soft, comfortable bed.She laid down and moan at the wonderful feelings.

“Please doona do that, lass.”