The Hellion and the Highlander Read Online Free PDF Page B

dead right now.
    A yawn suddenly claimed Kade, stretching his mouth almost painfully wide, and he raised a hand to cover the wide maw, bumping the cold compress upward as he did. When the yawn ended, he let his hand drop back to the bed without straightening the cloth and murmured an apology for his rudeness.
    “Rest,” Averill said, standing and leaning forward to straighten the compress for him. He caught a quick glimpse of her face as she did, then the compress was back in place, and she murmured, “Sleep is the best medicine for you right now. We can talk more later…or perhaps I can read to you to help you pass the time.”
    Kade didn’t say anything as he listened to her settle back in her seat. His mind was too full of confusion at the moment. He had woken this morning to find his vision much improved. No doubt that was thanks to the liquids he’d consumed. His sight was almost back to normal, and the face he’d glimpsed just now had been pretty. Not exceptionally so, but certainly nothing to sneer at or turn away from in disgust. It left him a little bewilderedand quite a bit angry on her behalf. What was the matter with these Englishmen that they would turn down a sweet woman like Averill? He wondered sleepily, then thought the answer might lie in the question. They were Englishmen.

Chapter Three
    When Kade next awoke, it was to find Averill gone and Will seated at his side.
    “Thank God you are awake. I thought I should go mad with boredom.”
    Kade raised an eyebrow at the irritated words and turned his head to better see his friend, his cheek coming up against the almost dry cloth that had previously been over his eyes. He reached up weakly to grab the thing, and Will immediately leaned forward to snatch it from him. He then stood and moved to a chest near the bed to dampen it again. “I came to tell you that Domnall, Ian, and Angus had left, but you were asleep. Before I could leave, Averill insisted I must sit and watch over you while she went below to have the nooning meal.She is fetching back something for you to eat when she returns.”
    “I dinna need watchin’. I’m fine now,” Kade growled, and frowned at how husky his voice still was.
    “Aye, well, you were so sick we feared we would lose you. I suspect she will fret until you are back on your feet.”
    Kade grunted at the possibility, and waved him weakly away when he moved to replace the damp cloth over his eyes. “I dinna need that any longer.”
    Will hesitated. “Averill insisted you do. She said you were suffering headaches.”
    “’Tis gone,” Kade said, though a slight pounding still lingered on the edges of his consciousness. It was mild enough, however, that he would do without the cloth.
    “Hmm.”
    When Will still stood there, looking as if he were debating whether to listen to him or Averill, Kade tried to distract him by asking the question that had plagued him into sleep. “Why are these men yer father is bringing around rejecting Averill?”
    Will’s eyebrows flew up, and the hand holding the cloth dropped to hang at his side as he considered the question. Kade saw the irritation marking his features and waited patiently.
    “Her hair is part of the problem,” Will said at last.
    “What the devil is wrong with her hair?” Kade asked with amazement.
    “I suppose you haven’t really seen it, but her hair is orange,” he announced with a grimace that suggested it was less than desirable.
    Kade scowled at the description. The quick look he’d gotten of Averill had shown him lovely long hair made up of blond, strawberry blond, and fiery red tresses that all culminated in a bright mass of flame-colored hair he’d quite liked. It was not orange.
    “I think it’s fine,” Will added. “’Tis even pretty in a certain light, but red hair, especially orangey red, is not very popular among the English. There are some superstitions about it being the mark of the Devil and so on.” He moved his hand as he spoke,