Page 18 of A Wife for the Highland Villain
“What is it now?”
“I need those towels,” she said, pointing to a small bundle in the far corner. “Can ye fetch them?”
He stared at her with sheer amusement. A few of the nearby maids also paused their work at her words. It was almost as if everything around her went still.
“Are ye going to do it or nae?” she prompted.
For some reason, her words broke the spell. Everyone returned to their work.
Alasdair, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes, the surprise on his face rather evident. “Did ye just ask me to fetch ye towels?”
Lily arched an eyebrow. “Everyone else is busy. Ye’ve got hands, do ye nae?”
He stared at her a moment longer, then smirked and turned without another word. A few heartbeats later, he returned with the bundle of towels folded under one arm.
“Once,” he said as he held them out. “Ye only get to do this once.”
She took them with a grin. “Then we must make it count, do ye nae think?”
His eyes held hers for a moment too long before he turned away again.
Lily let the warmth of the moment linger briefly before returning to her work.
There were lives to save. Lives that needed all the attention she could give them. For now, she would like to focus on them.
Whatever was between her and Alasdair could come much later.
CHAPTER 6
Alasdair stoodbeside Lily and watched her work on Timothy’s wounded foot in silence. She had the efficiency of someone who had been doing this since they were born. Her hands moved smoothly, not only across the foot but also in the space around her.
She knew where everything was and picked up each tool with ease. It did not matter one bit that she had only been here for less than an hour. He watched her eyes dart across the hall for something he didn’t know. Then, she turned to look at him.
“Can ye help me change the towels on that row?” She jerked her chin toward a group of men further down the hall. “After that, come back. I’ll need another set of hands to clean Timothy’s leg.”
Alasdair raised an eyebrow. “Ye’re going to take full advantage of this, are ye nae?”
She looked up at him with the faintest smirk. “Of course I will.”
He gave a small huff, brushing off his hands on his trousers as he stepped away. Davie MacLeod, one of his trusted soldiers, was lying on the first cot. Alasdair studied the splint around his arm and the shimmer of sweat on his face. The poor man was exhausted.
“Ye look better, Davie.”
“Ye lie like a minstrel, me Laird,” the man rasped with a grin. “But I suppose I have nay choice but to take it.”
“Aye, well,” Alasdair said, softening his voice. “The war is finally behind us. And now we have a real healer, at last. One that willnae stop till we’re all patched up.”
Davie nodded, and Alasdair moved on.
With each cot he passed, he greeted the men by name. Stewart. Callum. Jamie. All good soldiers who were bruised and beaten. While they looked barely in good health, they were all still alive and aware, at least for now.
He continued to work as steadily as he could, but he could have sworn he felt Lily’s eyes on him the entire time. It was like he could feel a hole being burned into his neck. Yet, whenever he turned to look at her, she was looking elsewhere. One time, he almost caught her gaze, but she had looked away immediately.
As he laid out and tucked the last towel with care and affection, he studied Jamie for a few more minutes and then gave theyoung man’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Keep yer head up, lad. Ye have all made it through the worst of it. Just hang on now. Help is here.”
“Thank ye, me Laird.”
Alasdair nodded and walked back to her.
