The Hellion and the Highlander by Lynsay Sands Read Free Book Online Page A

mornin’ I’ve done so. Though,” he admitted dryly, “the first morn I was no’ able even to lift meself all the way up once.”
    “Hmm.” Will nodded solemnly. “You have lost a goodly portion of the weight and strength we worked so hard to regain after escaping our prison.”
    Kade grunted at the observation and moved to sit in one of the chairs by the fire rather than return to his bed. He had started out trying to rebuild his strength the first day he’d had solid food. Averill had gone below to eat her dinner. She’d offered tosend Mabs up with his meal, but he’d convinced her not to “trouble” the maid, that he could wait until she returned if she would not mind bringing it. The minute she’d left, he’d slid from the bed and tried to walk. Kade had only managed to take a few steps—and that while holding on to the bed—before his trembling legs had forced him back into bed. He hadn’t given up, however, and was up again the next chance he got, forcing his legs to carry him a few more feet.
    After the third day of solid food and walking, he was strong enough to pace his room several times, though he hadn’t let anyone know. He’d then started trying to reclaim the muscles in his upper arms as well. As with his legs, it was slow going.
    “Does Averill know?”
    Kade shook his head quickly. “Nay, she’d fuss.”
    “Aye, she would,” Will agreed with a wry smile. “She would fear you were rushing things and probably have you tied to the bed.”
    Kade smiled faintly at the idea. Averill could be the sweetest creature he had ever met, but when it came to the matter of his recovery, he had found her surprisingly stern.
    “Mind you, she might be less concerned did we tell her you were able to see properly again.”
    Kade sighed at the words. They were true, and he couldn’t deny it but found himself surprisingly reluctant to risk admitting he could see. The worry that she might avoid him once she knew wasenough to make the idea unattractive to him. The girl had become the bright spot in his otherwise long and drab days. Kade enjoyed the hours they spent chatting of this and that, and was reluctant to see it come to an end and have her become uncomfortable and shy in his presence.
    Though he would have to soon, Kade acknowledged to himself. The last week had seen him regaining enough health and strength that he was growing impatient to leave the room and begin working in the lists with Will. He wanted to build his strength back up to where it had been ere he and the others had been captured and imprisoned. But he also wanted to sit by the fire at night and enjoy the talks he normally had with Averill without her being self-conscious and shy.
    “Where is she?” he asked suddenly. Hers was usually the first face he saw in the morning. She had taken to breaking her fast with him so that he need not eat alone. Will normally did not show up until after eating, and it was only for a quick visit before he headed to the lists.
    “She is below,” he answered. “She was instructing her maid, Bess, to bring you some mead, bread, cheese, and pasties when I headed up.”
    “Her maid?” he asked with surprise, ignoring the way his stomach rumbled at the mention of food. His appetite had been the first thing to return to normal. “Is she no’ coming?”
    “Nay, and ’tis lucky for you she is not, elseshe would have been the one to find you up and about.”
    Kade shrugged that away, but explained, “I didna realize it was so late. ’Tis still quite dark out.”
    Will glanced toward the open shutters with a frown. “A storm is threatening.” He grimaced and turned back to Kade to add, “In more ways than one.”
    “Oh?” he asked curiously.
    “Father has arranged for another lord to arrive today to look over Averill with an eye to marriage.”
    Kade sat back in his chair, a scowl flickering over his face. “He’d best be kinder than the last oaf.”
    “Aye,” Will agreed. “I nearly rammed