“So it will no do harm to me?”
He stood and helped move her up higher onto the bed so that he could settle her for the night. Her eyelids were starting to droop, and he was thankful that he would no have to take her into his arms this evening. “Nay, lass. It will do no more harm to ye than ye’ve done to yerself this night. Now, rest. I believe Arran is due to return home tomorrow.”
Once her eyes closed, he slipped out silently, grinning at how easily she’d accepted his lie.
Chapter 29
Conall Castle
“So you will stay then?” Bri and Adelle sat on either side of me, grinning. Mary stood at the end of the bed matching their expression as I gingerly nodded so as not to hurt me aching head.
It had been one week since I’d knocked meself unconscious during me ocean swim. While me head started to hurt less and the wound on the top of me head was healing, me chest began to worry me. It rattled with each breath, and I felt more ill each day. Everyone seemed so concerned with me head, that I’d yet had the chance to tell anyone how sick I truly began to feel.
“Aye. If ye will have me, I shall. I love me father, but I doona wish to return home with him. Have any of ye spoken to him about this? He willna be happy that I wish to stay here.”
I watched as the three of them shared glances back and forth. Finally, Mary spoke up. “Aye, lass. He said that he would leave the decision to ye, but before ye make up yer mind, he has something else he wishes to speak to ye about. I believe he will be in shortly. ’Tis why we’ve come to ye now. We wished to ask ye to stay before he has a chance to ask ye what he wishes.”
“And what is it that he wishes to ask me?” I meant to say more, but the rattling built so I swallowed hard to repress the cough that threatened to burst forth. I was being fussed over enough by the three ladies before me. I dinna see reason to cause them more worry.
Adelle rolled her eyes dramatically and stood as the scarlet sign of her frustration rushed over her face. “He made us promise we wouldn’t say anything to you, but I told him I think he’s a damned fool for even bringing it up to you.”
“Mom,” Bri’s voice served as a warning as we all turned to see whose face was going to match the footsteps making their way to the doorway.
Baodan, Lady McMillan’s eldest son and my watery savior, stepped inside the doorway, leaning his tall body into the wood frame. “Ach, excuse me. I dinna know that Blaire already had visitors. I shall take me leave and return at a later time.”
“Oh, nonsense. We were all just leaving.” Bri stood and smiled at me quickly before waving toward Adelle and Mary so that they would follow.
Adelle called back to me over her shoulder as they walked out of the room. “We’ll be back this evening. I want to hear what you told your father.”
I scooted back in the bed so that I could sit up straight. As Baodan approached me, he pulled his left hand out from behind his back holding me rumpled dress inside his large hands. “I will no disturb ye long, lass. I only wished to return this to ye. I made me way down to the shore this morning so that I could retrieve it for ye. How are ye feeling?”
He extended the dress in me direction, and I took it, smiling at him in appreciation. “Thank ye. I feel much better. Me head only aches a little now.” The cough that I’d held back earlier would no longer be repressed as I lost meself in a fit of painful coughing that caused my head to pound severely.
Baodan quickly moved beside me placing one hand on me shoulder and another on me back to steady me. “There ye are, lass. Yer head may feel a wee bit better, but ye are no well, are ye? Have ye told anyone of this cough?”
I shook my head guiltily. “Nay, I havena. ’Tis nothing, I’m sure.”
“’Tis no nothing, lass. Ye breathed in too much of the cold sea water, and ill ye are. I’ll send for someone to see to ye.”
He moved away from me, and I instinctively reached out to grab his hand to stop him. “Nay, please doona do so. If it gets worse, I shall tell them, but I doona want a fuss over nothing.”
“As ye wish, lass, but please promise me that ye will stay abed and rest until ’tis gone. I wished to speak with ye further, but I’ll leave ye be for a while. Ye look as if ye could use some sleep.”
“Fine, I promise. What did ye wish to speak with me about?” Me curiosity was peeked, but he was right. I was exhausted and the coughing had caused me head to ache dreadfully.
“’Tis no urgent that I speak to ye about it now. We have time to do so later.” He smiled at the confused expression on me face and ducked his head as he retreated from the room.