A Laird and a Gentleman (All the King's Men #4) - Gerri Russell Page 0,30
secret shall remain between you and me—understood?” Mariam said as she clambered to her feet.
“Of course, my dear. I am ever so proud of you.”
Mariam didn’t really know how to respond. No one had ever praised her in such a way since her mother died. “Thank you,” she mumbled as she staggered to the wall, leaning heavily on the stone, not trusting her legs to support her unaided. Once there, she wiped her rain-soaked hair back from her face with her hand. She had succeeded in putting out the fire, even though she still did not understand how she had truly done such a thing. But what she had accomplished here had been good. Helpful. Necessary.
Nessie took the black stole from her shoulders and slipped it around Mariam’s, then slipped her arm through Mariam’s, pulling her against her side and allowing her to lean on Nessie’s good side. “Come, my dear, let us get you out of this rain.”
Mariam was too drained of energy to even nod. There was no way she could make it inside on her own as she was. The two of them had made it slowly down four stairs before Cameron appeared.
“Let me help.” He stepped in and scooped Mariam into his arms. “Will you be all right on your own?” he asked Mistress MacInnes.
“Aye, lad. Take her to her chamber. I shall meet you there with a warm tonic.”
Cameron moved so swiftly down the stairs Mariam had to shut her eyes to fight a sense of disorientation. When she felt him set her on the bed, she opened her eyes once more. She watched as he moved away to set more logs on the fire before he returned to her side. Despite the increasing heat, she shivered.
“You’ll need to get out of your clothing before you fall ill.”
She felt heavy and weighed down still as she tried to move. “I can’t even lift my arms.”
He was wet himself, but he grabbed a bathing sheet and set about drying the moisture from her hair. “Mistress MacInnes will return soon.”
“I want her to care for herself before she takes care of me. She is older, more fragile. I don’t want her to suffer any more of a chill than she already has by giving me her stole. Call for Estella or Petunia.”
“The entire staff is busy helping settle the villagers.” He sat down beside Mariam and scooped her into his arms and leaned back against the head of the bed, cradling her. “Let me try to warm you then while we wait for Mistress MacInnes.”
“Thank you for believing in me,” she said, nestling her cheek deeper into the hollow of his shoulder. “I didn’t think I could do it until I remembered how you looked at me in my dream.”
“How did I look at you?” Cameron began to stroke her hair.
“With complete trust.”
“I do trust you.” His arms tightened around her.
“I think you trust everyone, which is why you let the villagers into your castle despite my warning.” She paused. “They are here for me, you know.”
“I can and will protect you.” His voice was smooth.
“Because it is your duty?” she asked in a dry, brittle voice.
“Nay. Because I want to, Mariam.” The last m of her name rolled off his tongue to shiver down her spine. She was suddenly aware of the heat of his body even through their wet clothing, aware of the way her breasts pressed into him. He smelled of rainwater and sunshine and musk. The mixture was strangely familiar and reassuring. Her heart fluttered as the slow, warm brush of his breath caressed her cheek.
She pulled back and looked up into his face. She stared at him, trying to think of something to say. He was so strong, so in control, and so unlike herself. “I don’t want to keep you if you have other responsibilities to tend to.”
“I want to be here . . . with you.”
Her heart thudded against her chest and crept into her throat. “You’re so . . .” The words caught in her throat. She wanted to say handsome, but instead settled on the next thing that came into her mind: “Kind.”
A smile pulled up the corners of his lips as his eyes held hers. “Kind is not how most men wish to be remembered.” Slowly, carefully, he angled his head and lowered his mouth until she felt his breath on her lips. Her eyelids closed at the touch of his lips to hers.