Page 49 of The Rebellious Countess
“We need to rest our horse.”
“You are still sick?” The caution in the boy’s question was understandable.
He lied. “No. It has been over a fortnight since I recovered.”
The relief in the boy’s eyes made him feel dirty for his deceit. “Very well. I’ll tend him.”
Elias held up his hand to stop the boy before he scurried down the ladder. “I will take care of him, but we will need a place to stay.”
“The tavern?—”
“I have no doubt the tavern keeper has fallen ill as well. The tavern was dark when we came into town. In fact, very few places had a light on. If I take my wife to the tavern, I have no doubt she will get caught up with caring for the people there and she will never leave. We must rest. She will have her hands full soon enough.”
The boy began shaking his head as if he knew what Elias was going to ask before the words left his mouth.
“I have herbs that will help your aunt and her children.” The soft voice behind him rose to the boy as Máira stepped out from behind him and pulled some purple flowers from a small satchel tied to the saddle. Damn her.
“You need to keep quiet,” he hissed.
“The boy needs our help,” she shot right back.
Bloody hell, her bleeding heart. He should have never mentioned her tending to the ill.
Feet hitting the ground behind him made him turn to face the boy, expecting the rifle to still be pointed at his chest. Instead, it was slung over the boy’s back.
“You have an angel for a wife,” the boy said as his eyes took in Máira’s form with a little too much admiration.
He cleared his throat. “Eyes on the plants,garçon.”
The boy’s cheeks reddened and his chest puffed up at being called a boy. His wife slapped his arm for his trouble.
“Stop it,” she scolded, and then turned to the boy. “Steep the leaves in their tea, it will calm their stomachs. Then you must feed them chicken soup, put these in the soup.” She handed him a different plant from the satchel. “It will give them strength.”
The boy nodded as he took the plants from Máira.
“Now go. The sooner you get these in their bellies, the better off they will be.”
“Merci Madame,but what of my aunt’s stable?”
The way the boy had watched Máira’s mouth move, Elias wasn’t certain if he was mesmerized by her delectable lips or if he was observing how her English tongue struggled with the words. He stepped between them before Máira could respond. “I understand your apprehension, but we will be here until you return in the morning. I will guard the stable.” When the boy still shook his head, Elias continued. “I obviously have to protect my own horse if things are as bad as you say.”
He softened his tone. “You look like you have not eaten in a week. If you do not stay strong, you will get sick as well. Go. Cook them a meal and eat heartily.”
Once more the boy looked affronted. “I don’t cook.”
He tossed him some dried meat Hag had provided for their trip. “Every good soldier learns to cook. Boil this in water with some potatoes. Then get some sleep before you return. It will keep you healthy.” Elias had no idea if what he said was true or not since no one had identified the illness.
The kid, however, seemed to take his advice to heart. Elias and his wife had survived the ague, there had to be something truthful about what he was saying. “Only one night?” The boy asked.
He and Maria nodded in unison. “One night,” he said. “Then my horse will be rested and we will be on our way.”
“Very well. Madame, you can sleep in the loft. The hay is clean and it is warmer up there.”
“Merci.What is your name?”
Damn her obstinate tongue. He didn’t give a damn what the boy’s name was.
“Hubert, Madame. It is my father’s name.” The boy blushed once more.
