"Few men are stupid enough to go to war with the MacGreagor. Only my ill-tempered brother was that stupid. Why do the English want to kill Charlet?"
"I do not know. I do hope she is alive. I once wanted all the attention lads pay her, but now I will be happy to tell her how miserable I am being her."
"Perhaps she will enjoy having someone who understands, but I would rather talk about our future. Did you know your uncle is my second in command? He is a good man, I think."
"He is a good lad."
"My people need a mistress and..."
"Good heavens, I had not thought of that. I do not know how to be a mistress." She started to pace. "I do not even know what one does. Anna smiles a lot, I know that much and she appreciates everything people do for her. She visits the lasses and loves the children, but..."
He got up, walked around a tree and started to pace in the opposite direction, "I hardly know what a laird does. If I am too kind, people will not admire me, but if I am too harsh, they will hate me."
She stopped to stare at him. But when he smiled, she burst out laughing. "You are as daft as I am."
"We will make a good match."
*
They had ridden through the trees for a little more than an hour when Blair noticed something was wrong. Just as before, her legs were across one of his and his arm was around her waist. But the heat from her body was becoming alarming. When she slumped against him and started to shake, he halted his horse. "Are you cold?" He felt her nod. She was sitting on the extra plaid and he needed to move her, but he didn't want to waste any more time than necessary. Getting them both down and then up again would not help. He made her sit up straight. "Put your arms around my neck."
She hesitated to move her injured arm, but she did as he asked anyway. She felt weak, freezing cold and almost mournful; yet being so close to him gave her comfort. It was as though, for the first time in her life, she was right where she was supposed to be.
Blair lifted her, pulled the plaid out, unfolded it and started to wrap it around her. But her cheek was next to his, she hadn't released his neck and he couldn't help himself. He put both his arms around her and held her tight. "We must go faster." She nodded, but still didn't let go. He closed his eyes and basked in the feel of her in his arms. He could have stayed like that forever, but he had to do something about her fever. Reluctantly, he wrapped her in the plaid, forced her to sit down and laid her head in the fold of his arm.