She looked like a goddess, ready to avenge the illness that had gripped Mrs. MacDuff.
And I am in trouble.
By the time he carried the patient through the front door of the castle, Katie was already ordering other people about. Meggie scurried toward the kitchen, and Mrs. Brody hurried up the stairs in front of Katie, her chatelaine rattling as she fumbled for a key to open one of the bedchambers.
Katie looked over her shoulder at him. “Good, just carry her upstairs. Mrs. Brody said there are a few bedchambers already prepared.”
He took the stairs two at a time and entered one of the rooms right after Katie and Mrs. Brody.
“Ye can place her on the bed, there, and we will take over from here. Thank ye.” Katie pulled down the covers from the bed and immediately began to shout orders at Meggie and Mrs. Brody. Since his part in the drama had come to an end, he left the women there and returned to his horse, only to find the stable master had already taken the two horses back to the stables.
With time on his hands, since his visits to the clan members had been cut short, he wandered to the library and decided to look again at the ledgers.
That activity kept him busy for about a half hour since he’d already gone through the books thoroughly before his planned visits. Something caught his eye, and he frowned as the wee kitten darted across the room to land on his lap.
He had never been a cat fan. In fact, as a child he’d always seemed to sneeze when they were around him. Perhaps he had outgrown it, because he wasn’t sneezing now, and he was annoyed to find himself petting the thing, who in turn was purring like a woman in the throes of passion.
Katie.
What would she be like while being pleasured? Would her blue eyes deepen to almost black? Would the tip of her pink tongue lick her plush lips, teasing him to place his mouth there and sip from her nectar? Would she toss her head about and call his name?
God’s toes! What the blasted hell was he doing? Katie was his employee. Nothing more. He jumped from his chair behind the desk, then sat down abruptly when the figment of his imagination entered the room in a flurry. He was certainly not in a position to stand in front of her after his lurid thoughts.
“What?” He sounded like a gruff old man. He didn’t mean to speak quite so forcefully, but she’d caught him unaware—like a green youth ogling the dairy maid. He hated how he behaved when he was around her.
Her eyes grew wide at his abruptness as she settled in the chair in front of the desk. “I merely wanted to tell you Mrs. MacDuff is resting comfortably. She will need continuous care for a few weeks, though. Her age makes these illnesses dangerous.”
Evan ran his fingers through his hair. “Aye. I didn’t mean to shout at ye, lass, and I agree that Mrs. MacDuff did need ye to help her. Ye do seem to be a good healer, and that’s good, since I dinnae know who the local healer is.”
“Hopefully, whoever it is won’t feel as though I am trying to take their place.” She scooped up the kitten that had been flung to the floor when he’d jumped up before. “I think I shall name her Midnight.”
“Verra imaginative.” He snorted. “If all is well for now with yer patient, I would like to continue with our visits.”
“Aye.” Katie stood, her long, delicate fingers working the fur on the kitten, bringing his thoughts back to where he didn’t want them to be. He continued to stare at her hands, imagining them running over his naked skin, until her words broke into his wandering. “I will bring Midnight to Cook and see if she can fix up a blanket or basket for the kitten to sleep in. I will also see if she can find a few girls from the village to clean Mrs. MacDuff’s house. ’Twould be a pity to send her back there newly recovered from an illness.”
His attention returned to her face, and he realized that once again he was in an awkward position with her, so he gave her a curt nod and remained in his seat. Blasted hell! This could not continue. He must get everything here in order and then leave for Argyll, where sanity would prevail.
He had gained control of himself by the time she returned. He stood and they headed toward the door. She turned to say something to him when the front door burst open, and she stepped back, crashing into his chest. Two men stood there, breathing heavily. The likeness in their features and difference in their ages marked them as da and son.
“Aye, great to see ye, Mistress Stirling. We finally made it, but I’m afraid Archie’s wagon broke down a few miles back, and he needs help in getting his family here.”
“Oh, goodness. Yes, we must help him.” She turned to Evan. “I cannot leave them on the road, Evan. We must help them. Archie and his wife, Glenda, have several children, and the wee ones will be needing a warm place since ’tis quite cold today.”
Evan ground his teeth. Another delay. “I thought ye said ye told yer people to wait a sennight before starting out.”
“I did. But it looks like
