Page 146 of My Brave Highlander

Closing his eyes, he imagined what it would be like to marry her, to seal their vows with a kiss before everyone, proclaiming her his permanently.

"How is she?" the whisper came from behind him sometime later.

Dirk turned to find Rebbie with his head stuck in the doorway. "She's been sleeping. Is it dawn already?" No light shown through the window.

"About six. Have you slept?"

"Nay, I'm not sleepy." He had to be sure Isobel was truly well before he would allow himself to sleep. He couldn't lose her.

Rebbie frowned. "You look exhausted."

"It matters not. What matters is that Isobel and Aiden recover fully."

"I'm certain they will."

"How is Aiden?"

"Sleeping peacefully."

Dirk nodded. "Thank God."

After sunrise, Jessie, Nannag, and a few female servants came and went, checking on Isobel while she slept soundly, also bringing him porridge, oatcakes, and other things to eat. His stomach knotted too much for him to eat more than a few bites.

Around mid-day, the room was quiet and empty but for Dirk and Isobel. She opened her eyes and glanced around the room.

Dirk held his breath, noting her skin was a normal color now, not flushed red as it had been for many hours.

"How do you feel?" he asked, moving to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Better." She watched him with a pleasant expression, her eyes still dark but almost back to normal.

He released a breath along with some of the tension that had tightened his muscles. "Do you remember what happened?"

She frowned. "Some of it, but 'tis hazy and confusing. I had the strangest nightmares."

"Maighread poisoned the tart you and Aiden shared," Dirk said, trying to keep his expression neutral. Although what his stepmother had done angered him beyond reason, after she'd died, his anger had drained away. Now, all he felt was relief, since Isobel had awakened and the reports on Aiden had been positive.

Isobel sucked in a sharp breath. "Saints! That evil harpy. I remember you talking about poison last night, but I didn't know who'd done it. She was trying to kill you again, wasn't she? 'Twas your tart we shared."

"Aye." Should he tell Isobel that Maighread was dead now, or wait? He didn't want to overset her after her illness.

Isobel shook her head, her eyes worried. "I remember Aiden falling to the floor in the midst of playing music. How is he?"

"Sleeping soundly, last I heard. Hopefully he is stirring by now."

"A pox upon Maighread. Did you arrest her?"

He studied Isobel and the violet smudges beneath her eyes, trying to assess whether she was up to the news. She'd find out soon enough, and he needed to be the one to tell her. "Maighread's dead."

Isobel's mouth dropped open. "Mo chreach! In truth?"

"Aye. She ran at me with a dagger, intending to stab me. My instincts took over. I grabbed her wrist and the dagger stabbed her instead."

"Good." Isobel released a long breath. "I'm glad she's dead. She tried to murder you too many times already."

"Aye. She can no longer harm either of us." He kissed her knuckles, relieved the news didn't upset her, and instead, seemed to calm her.

"Does Aiden know?" she asked, her voice softening.