“Well, you needed me to,” he said.
“It was most kind.”
“Self-interest, nothing more,” Rafe said. “If you die, I’ll have no one to escort to the nunnery, and then no one gets paid.” He leaned over as he spoke, his fingers sweeping strands of that unusual silvery blonde hair from her face.
Angelet smiled. “Your words are harsh, but your gesture too tender. Part of you is lying to me, Sir Rafe.”
“No knight leaves a lady in distress. What else can I do for you? Do you need food or drink? There’s wine here.”
“I need only rest. I hate this part most of all, when I can barely rise from my bed. My head hurts so.”
He put his hand to her head, very cautiously. “Where?”
“Behind my eyes, but also at the back by my neck, and, well, everywhere.”
Rafe began to stroke her head with his fingers, moving lightly from her temple to the base of her neck. “Does that feel better or worse?”
She closed her eyes. “It’s…not worse.”
Good enough. He continued to do it, to soothe at least a little of the pain. Angelet shifted to lie on her side, her hands tucked up under her chin, her eyes closed. Rafe glanced over her. The dip of her waist and the rise of her hip showed plainly under the blanket, the sort of curve he liked to see in bed.
He couldn’t recall the last time he’d been alone with a woman that hadn’t led to pure carnality. Yet here he was, alone with a beautiful woman and thinking of nothing more than how to heal her.
Well, notnothing. She’d certainly caught his interest, even though she was not his usual type. But he had no intention of acting on his impulses in this situation. The idea of taking advantage of a helpless woman was repellent.
After a moment she whispered, “You said there was wine? I am thirsty.”
He reached to the table, where a glass of wine stood. Then he slipped his free arm behind her shoulders. “Just rise a little, so you can drink this down.”
Angelet dutifully sipped several times. “Enough,” she said at last.
Rafe eased her down, then replaced the goblet on the little table. “How do you feel?”
“Less thirsty,” she said, with a tiny smile. “I’ll take what victories I can.”
“Sleep, Angelet,” he said. “I’ll stay here.”
“That’s good,” she whispered, her eyes closed. He remained by her side until she drifted off again. Then he moved back out to the hallway. He used the old tricks he learned on campaign to stay awake during sentry duty, and only when dawn colored the sky did he allow himself to relax.
* * * *
Later in the morning, Otto himself came to Angelet’s room. Rafe stood just inside the door as the lord looked her over. “How are you, girl?”
“Better,” Angelet replied. “I am most grateful someone found me and brought me to my room.” She didn’t say Rafe’s name, probably to maintain a bit of discretion.
“Well, I shall remain with you this morning,” Lady Katherine said. “You will need some bread and a little broth, I think, to revive you.”
“That would be most welcome,” Angelet said.
“Quite a commotion you caused last night,” Otto told Angelet.
“The fit came on without warning,” she said. “As they always do.”
“You knocked the candlestick off the altar,” Otto said. “It’s damaged.”
“I’m sorry,” Angelet said meekly. “I have no memory of that.”
“The candlestick is your concern?” Rafe asked. “Not your daughter?”
