She did look at him then, reaching up to touch his handsome face, kind and affectionate. He hadn’t shaved, and the rasp of his stubble scratched her palm. “Isn’t there enough women in this castle to do that?”
He shrugged, rinsing out the cloth and placing it back on her head. “Nay. You’re my responsibility, and one I take very seriously. And I wanted to be here when ye woke, in case ye couldn’t remember what happened and panicked.”
“I remember most of the night. I think the knock to my head has jumbled the order in which they’re running through my mind, but I haven’t lost my memory. What I do know is I owe you a huge thank you for saving me from a fate worse than death. If you hadn’t come to that cottage when you did, I don’t want to imagine what would’ve happened.”
“None of them will ever threaten ye again.” Aedan’s voice was hard and cold. A shiver stole down her spine at his vehemence.
“I don’t remember you meeting me at the clearing.” She tried to sit up, but the pain increased, stabbing down her neck, and she flopped back onto the pillows, rubbing her temples.
“You need to rest, Abigail. You’ve had a nasty hit and from the bruises on your body, you took a few beatings as well.” He frowned. “You were unconscious by the time we met up with ye and Gwen at the clearing. You’ve been asleep for the past two days. I was startin’ to worry, especially when Gwen thought the strike to ye skull could’ve killed ye.”
She nodded, knowing that was probably very true, considering Rory’s cruel nature and strength. “I’m glad it didn’t.”
Aedan nodded, chuckling at her attempt at a joke. “So am I.”
Her heart swelled at his words. He looked worried and anxious and she wanted nothing more than to kiss him, to show him how much she’d come to like him. Adore him, even. “Are you really?”
“Aye, lass. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost ye. I’ve grown quite fond of ye.”
His heartfelt words reminded her of her plan to return home. The thought of leaving him now turned her stomach. She couldn’t do it. Not yet. And if what Aedan said was true about Rory Kirk not being a problem anymore, why couldn’t she stay a little longer?
He poured her a cup of water and handed it to her. “Do ye still plan on leaving me?”
She shook her head, eliciting another thump behind her eyes. “No. I don’t want to go.” And she didn’t. She didn’t ever want to leave him. The thought of living a life without this man left a hollow crevice the size of the Grand Canyon inside where her heart would sit. She’d already lost one man she loved. She couldn’t do it again. And maybe with her knowledge of future technology, she could make Castle Druiminn a little more modern and less harsh to live in. More homely. Maybe… “I don’t ever want to go, but I know that’s not possible. I don’t fit in here. I’m not at all what your family needs. I’d bring nothing to a marriage. No fortune or army. Nothing.”
He gathered her into his arms, and she went willingly into his embrace. His strong arms encircled her back, the support and safety she felt when wrapped against him unlike anything she’d ever experienced before. He kissed the top of her head, rocking her a little.
“Stay with me. Make my time yours.”
She took a deep breath, having wanted to hear such an offer from him for some days now, but too scared to even think of the consequences should she choose this time to live in.
It would mean a lot to give up the twenty-first century. All of life’s luxuries would be a thing of the past. Her life would be harder, dangerous even. Not to mention, the small amount of friends she did possess would never know what happened to her. All her years of schooling, trying to make something of herself so she may give her children, if blessed with any, a better childhood, would be for nothing. There was no need for museum curators here. Not to mention Abby wasn’t cut out for seventeenth century life. This time was hard and volatile. What if she became ill with a disease and needed twenty-first century medicine? She could die in pain.
They were all points to consider, but then, when leveled