“It was terrifyin' to see what happened to ye,” he told her after a long moment. Beatrice started to sit up, but he put a hand on her arm. “Nay, daenae hurt yerself.”
“I’m all right. I can do it.”
She sat upright, holding the thin sheet to her chest. Her breasts pressed against the fabric, taunting him further. It was impossible not to look at them, not to look atherin such a vulnerable state.
I think she kens what she’s doing to me.
“Before the arsenic took hold,” she was saying, but Leo could barely hear her over the blood rushing from his head to his groin, “when we were out on the terrace?—”
“Lass, let’s nae recount that.”
“Why nae? Did ye nae like it?”
Like it? Did I nae like yer soft lips? Did I nae like suckin' on yer breasts? Did I nae like how ye were ready to give yerself to me? To submit in the way I wanted ye to?
Leo cleared his throat. “There are bigger concerns now. Ye understand why we must be careful. We daenae ken who is out to hurt ye, Beatrice.”
Her eyes lowered, and her teeth bit into her lower lip. The sheet began to slip down, and Leo found himself unable to look away as her breasts were bared inch by slow inch.
He reached forward. Beatrice leaned towards him, but he merely grabbed the sheet and pulled it back up to her throat before she could let it drop below her chest.
“Ye are still under me protection, Beatrice,” he said, pushing the sheet firmly against her.
Beatrice lay back down, her face blank.
She will undo me.
“Here we are!” the healer chirped as she returned with a sachet, heavy and pungent. “These ought to do more than just build up yer strength. They’ll make ye stronger than ye were.”
“She’s quite strong already,” Leo said.
“I need me gown,” Beatrice demanded. “I cannae return to the castle naked.”
“Oh, aye, but walkin’ around naked is good for the lungs,” the healer laughed, then pulled a simple shift out of a pile and waved it in front of her. “Here, put it on. It’s clean, at least. I will burn yer nightgown.”
Leo turned away as Beatrice rose from the cot and put on the shift. Once she was covered, he draped the cloak over her shoulders, his hands lingering on her.
Beatrice pressed a hand to his chest and gave him a quick, tender smile.
“Ye are keepin’ me safe, Leo,” she murmured. “I ken that ye daenae have to, but I’m glad that ye are.”
“Ye are under Clan MacSween’s protection now.” Leo swallowed hard before saying the next part. “Even after this is over, I want ye to ken that I willnae allow anyone to harm ye.”
“Nay?”
He shook his head. “Ye may nae be a MacSween for the rest of yer life, but ye have earned me respect for all of it.”
“Lucky lass that I am,” she teased.
“Ye are being cheeky now. Perhaps ye are feelin’ back to yer old self.”
She undoes me already.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Only a few servants were allowed to be near Beatrice once she returned to the castle. Shona was one of them, but she seemed to be keeping her distance.
Beatrice hadn’t seen Tyler since she had returned, though the idea of him trying to poison her was laughable. Eloise told her that Violet was on the hunt for the culprit and that her single-minded determination was alarming to see.
