Worry creased his brow. “Did something happen? You haven’t left Ewan’s side since he took ill.”
“He’s awake.”
Lochlan bolted for the stairs.
Nora smiled in his wake, then moved to where her mother sat in the great hall by the hearth.
“How does he?” her mother asked.
“He seems well. Where is Father?”
“He is outside with Ryan.”
Nora felt strange. She wasn’t quite sure what to do with herself now that Ewan was awake again. She’d been so focused on his getting better that she hadn’t really contemplated what his recovery would herald for her.
Now she did.
Would he keep her or force her to marry Ryan?
Her heart shriveled.
Knowing him as she did, there was very little doubt what he would choose.
And God have mercy on them both when he did.
“Where did Nora go?” Ewan asked, looking around the crowd gathered at his bed.
“She was below,” Lochlan said.
Ewan started to get up to find her, but Sin stopped him. “You’ve been ill for almost a fortnight, little brother. The last thing you need is to get up and walk.”
“I...” He paused as he remembered everything that had happened.
Ryan. The bastard who would not die.
Ewan sat back as reality came crashing down upon him.
“She was a blessing these days past,” his mother said. “She watched over you like an angel.”
Ewan turned his head toward her to see her thankful smile. “What do you mean?”
“She hasn’t left your side,” Maggie said.
Ewan thought back to the way Nora had cared for him after he’d been wounded.
The way she’d run off to Ryan...
“Would you like for me to go fetch her?” Braden asked.
Ewan shook his head. “I would rather you fetch me something to eat and then leave me in peace.”
“He must be feeling better,” Sin said. “Already he wants his solitude.”
His family gave their good wishes and love, then left him alone with Lochlan.
Ewan looked at his brother, then meaningfully at the door. “Why are you still here?”
“I want to make sure you don’t do anything foolish.”
