“Aye, aye.” Maggie smiled. “That ye are.”
Tavish moved his sleeve from the wound and Maggie dabbed away the dried blood.
“Och, what happened to ye? Did ye fall?”
Leana glanced at Tavish, who shrugged. She had little idea how much to tell Maggie, but if there was someone wishing Leana harm, Maggie might be in danger too. “Someone wishes me harmed, Maggie. I think we have an enemy in the castle.”
Her eyes widened. “Why would someone wish to hurt ye? ‘Tis Yuletide!”
Leana shook her head with a smile. “I dinnae think Yuletide bothers anyone who might wish harm to others.”
Maggie began binding Leana’s arm, but her fingers shook as she did so, and the fabric kept slipping loose. “I’m all fingers and thumbs. How could anyone wish to hurt ye?”
Tavish took the bandages from Maggie and started winding them around Leana’s arm with a tender touch.
“Yer good at that,” Maggie commented.
“Aye, I’ve had practice on the battlefield.”
Leana couldn’t shift her gaze from Tavish’s, even as Maggie fussed about her, drawing blankets around her shoulders. All she could think on was the fact they had been kissing not so long ago and now the pain had abated, she’d quite like to experience it again. She’d never met a man so fair-minded and honorable as he.
He tucked the end of the bandage in, his gaze lingering on hers. “All done,” he murmured.
“Aye,” she whispered.
“Well, I think ‘tis time Leana had some rest,” announced Maggie. “Ye best be gone.”
✽✽✽
GONE? HE COULDN’T be gone. Not when Leana was still in danger.
And mostly not when he wanted to press her back against the bed, not even caring if her maid was still present, and kiss her until she was warm beneath his fingertips, until she writhed against him and begged for more.
Och, but he was a heathen.
She’d just been captured and nearly drowned, not to mention her daring escape had left her injured, and here he was picturing stripping off her clothing and discovering the lithe body beneath the fabric.
“I should stay,” he said swiftly.
Leana nodded. “You should.”
He released a long breath. He didn’t think he could leave her even if she wanted him to. Unless he wanted to spend the night tossing and turning and shifting between worry and pure, unfettered desire.
A crease appeared between Maggie’s brows. “Stay? I dinnae think—”
“Ye’ll stay too, Maggie. It isnae safe for ye to be on yer own,” Leana assured her.
Curses. She wasn’t wrong but he’d rather been hoping to get her alone again.
So they could speak of what occurred without worry of course. Not because he wanted to kiss her again. Which he did. But he wouldn’t.
Hellfire, he’d met many a woman he’d desired before and survived without pouncing on them. Surely he could manage one night without throwing her over his shoulder and taking her again and again?
What the next night might bring was another thing...
He shook away the thought. “I’ll sleep by the door.”
“We should make it known I’m alive and well.”
Tavish scowled at Leana. “Nay.”
“Aye.” Chin lifted, she rose to her feet. “If they know I’m alive, they might try to get to me, in which case, ye’ll be here and we’ll be able to discover who did this to me.”
He shook his head and folded his arms. “Nay. Not a chance. I’m no’ using ye as a lure.”
Maggie gripped Leana’s arm. “Dinnae be a fool, lass. Ye’ve just been hurt. Ye cannae put yerself in danger again.”
“What danger am I going to be in if we’re ready for them?”
Maggie puffed out her chest. “I’ll certainly no’ let them touch ye.”
Tavish skipped his gaze between the two determined women and groaned inwardly. If it wasn’t enough they had someone in the castle trying to harm Leana and do lord only knew what, he had these two to appease.
“Not tonight,” he said firmly. “As Maggie said, yer injured, and ye’ll be fatigued too. Ye’ll sleep like the dead no doubt.”
Leana pursed her lips. “Are ye saying ye cannae protect me, a big, strong Highlander like ye?”
“If ye think ye can flatter me into getting yer way, yer wrong, lass.” He waved a finger at her. “I’ll no’ change my mind.”
She eyed him for a few moments and then let her shoulders drop. “Very well, for tonight, I’ll stay in hiding, but on the morrow, I’ll be ensuring everyone sees me.”
“Aye, we’ll do that,” he agreed. “But I willnae be leaving ye alone for a moment.”
“At some point ye’ll have to or else they willnae show their face!” she protested.
“I’d rather root them out some other way than put ye at risk.”
“Aye, listen to the man,” Maggie said. “We cannae have ye harmed. Whatever will yer father say? Good lord, I’d never forgive myself if something happened to ye and his health would certainly fail.”
Leana turned to the maid and put both hands on her shoulders. “Maggie, I have no intention of being harmed or upsetting Da’.”
Tavish watched Leana’s interaction with Maggie. It was no wonder she wanted revenge. She’d lost not only her family that night but her whole identity. Even Maggie had no idea about her lie.
It sounded as though the clan chief depended on her too. Likely she had helped him get over the grief of losing his daughter. He might not be able to forget she had come here with plans of revenge but he could understand her determination. Lord knew, if someone had done the same thing to his clan, he’d have sworn to draw blood too.
“We’ll discuss our plans later. For now, we remain here. Maggie can fetch anything we need.”
“Oh, Lord, I should get ye some supper, and make sure the fire is lit. Ye must be chilled, my poor sweet lamb.” Maggie hurried to the door then twisted back. “I’ll do the fire first.” She twisted again. “Nay, ye need sustenance more.” She pivoted. “But ye might catch a chill—”
“I’ll light the fire,” Tavish assured her. “Ye get the food.”
“Aye.” She drew in an unsteady breath. “Aye. I’ll do
