The Country Wife Read Online Free PDF Page B

beset him at the moment.
    “‘Twould be better for your recovery if you did. You can’t regain your strength lying abed.”
    She threw back the covers to help him rise and paused, her face blushing, her eyes snapping with outrage. He was helpless to hide his state of arousal.
    Seeing the alarm in her eyes, he rose upon one elbow. “Don’t fear, lass. I will not harm you or require more than you’ve already done.”
    “I’m not afraid,” she answered fiercely, whirling to take up a knobby staff leaning in one corner. “If you come near me, I’ll bash your head and put you in the road to mend by yourself.”
    “There’s no need for that, I assure you. I’m a man of honor.”
    “You’re a nobleman. There is no honor.” She glared at him through narrowed eyes, her staff at the ready.
    Callum sighed. “You don’t know me. I can’t blame you for mistrusting me. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a woman in my bed and the sight of you by the fire aroused my blood. But I’d not dishonor you.”
    She made no answer, so he sighed again and wrapped the sheet around himself so he might rise to face her.
    “Don’t you come any closer!” She drew back the staff ready to strike.
    Callum staggered to his feet and stood swaying. “I’m not any danger to you as I am,” he said with some impatience. “As you can plainly see, I’ve barely even the strength to walk.”
    “Humph!” she muttered and set the staff aside. “‘Tis from lying abed.”
    “Aye, you’re right.” He looked around. “Where have you put my clothes?”
    She nodded toward the bundle at the foot of the bed. He saw she had washed the worst of them. Gratefully, he donned the breeches and shirt. “Where is this bathing pool you spoke of earlier? I can’t stand the stench of myself.”
    “‘Twas the fever,” she answered. She’d gone back to her task at the fire. “It sweats the poisons out. If you’ll be but patient, I’ll bathe you for you can’t walk to the pond.”
    “I can and I will, lass. I’ve a need to immerse my whole body in water.” He grinned, and she raised an eyebrow. “Besides, haven’t you gotten your fill of looking at my body?”
    Lilli gasped. “Oh, it’s wicked you are. I never looked at your body more than was necessary to tend your wounds.”
    “Didn’t you now?” He glanced at the sheet wrapped about him. “Still, you tended me, and I’m not wearing my breeches.”
    “Aye, I did what I must to make you well again and sorry it is I am now. I didn’t look at your body overly long for I found little of interest to see.” So saying, she turned her back on him, her stiff shoulder proclaiming all too well that he’d deeply offended her.
    “If you’ve a mind to go to the burn to bathe, then go. I’ll not stop you, nor will I come to rescue you if you can’t get back. You just follow the burn uphill until you come to an outcropping of rocks. You’ll find the pool.”
    “I’ve offended you, when I but meant to tease you a bit. You’ll have to excuse my rough soldier’s humor. I meant you no disrespect. Sometimes the devil takes over my tongue. You’ve tended me well and true, and it’s grateful I am.”
    “No harm done,” she said grudgingly and kept her gaze on the fire.
    Her refusal to look at him now made him wonder if her thoughts had not been as pure as she would have him believe. He had an urge to reach out a hand touch her shoulder. Why, he knew not, except his own need to touch another human and know he was alive.
    “I’ll bathe and then I’d like some of that savory smelling stew you’ve made and some of the bannocks.”
    “Does a nobleman eat bannocks then?”
    He laughed. “A nobleman will eat anything when he’s hungry enough.” With that, he left the cottage and walked along the banks of the river, his thoughts on the beautiful girl back at the croft. Lilli was her name, like a song in a man’s heart.
    Once he was gone, peace reigned in the quiet room. Still the