Page 23 of The Laird's Vengeful Desire
Bloody hell,he thought dimly, his one hand flying to his face as warmth trickled between his fingers.Done in by a slip of a lass with nae but a damn shoe!
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Sweet heavens!” Rhona dropped the shoe immediately, her playfulness vanishing into horror. “Ian! I’m so sorry. I didnae mean–”
Ian’s hand flew to his eye, covering it instinctively as pain shot through his skull. “’Tis all right,,” he muttered, blinking rapidly with his good eye.
“Let me see.” Rhona rushed toward him, her hands reaching for his face. “Move yer hand. I need tae see how bad it is.”
“It’s fine–” Ian started to say, but Rhona was having none of it.
“Move. Yer. Hand.” Her voice carried the authority of someone accustomed to being obeyed in matters of healing. “Now.”
Ian reluctantly lowered his hand, squinting at her through his uninjured eye. The world looked slightly blurry, but he could still see well enough. More than well enough to notice how Rhona’snightgown had shifted as she knelt beside him, the thin fabric gaping slightly at the neckline.
Heaven help me.
His mouth suddenly went dry. “Ye’re keepin’ it closed,” Rhona observed, her face pale with worry. “Can ye open it?”
Ian tried, wincing as the movement sent fresh waves of pain through his head. “Aye, but it hurts like the devil.”
“We need tae get ye tae the healer immediately.” Rhona was already moving toward the door. “I might have blinded ye!”
“I’m nae blind,” Ian protested, though he had to admit his vision was somewhat impaired. “And Baird’s clear on the other side of the castle. It can wait until mornin’.”
“It absolutely cannae wait!” Rhona’s voice rose with panic. “Head injuries can worsen quickly. If there’s any swellin’–”
“I have some ointments in me chambers,” Ian said quickly, seeing how distressed she was becoming.
Rhona bit her lip, clearly torn. “That’s nae the same as proper healin’–”
“Let’s just tae see how bad it is first,” Ian said gently. “If it’s serious, we’ll drag Baird from his bed. Deal?”
She hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. “Fine. But ye’re keepin’ that eye shut tight until I can look at it properly.”
“Aye, healer,” Ian said with a hint of his old grin.
“Dinnae mock me when I might have blinded ye!”
“I wouldnae dream of it.”
The walk back to Ian’s chambers felt interminable with Rhona hovering anxiously at his elbow, guiding him as if he were completely blind instead of simply squinting through one eye. She kept up a steady stream of worried chatter about head injuries and the importance of immediate treatment, while Ian found himself oddly touched by her genuine concern.
“Careful of the step here,” she murmured, her hand sliding under his arm to steady him. “And here’s a tapestry hangin’ low just ahead.”
“I can see well enough tae navigate me own castle,” Ian said, amused despite the persistent throbbing in his skull.
“With one eye closed? I think nae.” Rhona’s grip on his arm tightened protectively. “Just humor me until we can assess the damage.”
Ian’s chambers were larger and far more luxurious than Rhona’s, with a massive bed draped in rich fabrics and a fireplace that could have roasted an entire stag. Rhona lookedaround with interest for a moment before focusing on the task at hand.
“Sit,” she commanded, pointing to a chair near the fire. “And keep that eye closed.”
Ian obeyed, settling into the chair and watching with his good eye as Rhona bustled around the room with the efficiency of someone who knew exactly what she was doing. She found his washbasin, poured fresh water from a pitcher, and located the small collection of medicinal supplies he kept for minor injuries.
“These will dae,” she murmured, examining several small pots of ointment. “Though I’d prefer tae have some wolf’s bane, if ye have it.”
“There’s a small shelf over there,” he pointed toward it, “second pot from the left,” Ian said, impressed despite himself. “How did ye ken I’d have wolf’s bane?”
