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“Matthew!”
Tears pricked her eyes as she rushed to his side. She held his face in her hand, watching as a slow smile spread across his face.
“It seems as if ye missed me,” his voice croaked.
“We will fetch the physician,” Christal announced, tugging on Georgie’s hand, who was grinning from ear to ear.
“I’m happy ye’re awake, Matthew!” Georgie exclaimed, reluctant to leave. “Ye daenae ken how worried I’ve been—”
“Aye, aye, ye’ve been out of yer mind with worry,” Christal said, still dragging him behind her. “Now let’s leave the two of them alone, shall we?”
“Why do I have to—” Then, he understood. “Oh. Oh!” Georgie flashed them a grin. “We’ll go fetch the physician.”
“I already said that,” Christal shook her head as they finally left the room.
Matthew, who had been watching them with that small smile on his face, chuckled. “I’m happy to see that nothin’ much has changed since I’ve been asleep.”
Jonet did not stop the tears from streaming down her face. She held his hand in one of hers, her other hand caressing his cheek.
“I cannae believe this. Ye’re finally awake.”
“How long have I been sleepin’?”
“One week,” she said. “I thought—” She broke off, swallowing.
Matthew gave her a tender smile. He winced as he reached up and pecked her on the lips, much to her surprise.
“Matthew, daenae move!” Jonet exclaimed. “Ye still should be restin’.’
“How can I do that when it’s clear that ye’ve been worryin’ for me. So much so that ye havenae even been eatin’ or takin’ care of yer hair.”
Her cheeks warmed. “Ye can tell?”
“I might have been awake a little longer than I made it seem.”
“Why dinnae ye say anythin’?” she mumbled, slapping him lightly on the arm. She could not be upset. Not when she finally had the one thing she had prayed for every day since that incident.
“I was waitin’ for the perfect moment to strike.” He chuckled, faking a cringe that made her chuckle too. “Nay, I meant, me moment to speak.”
“Oh, stop it, I ken very well what ye meant.”
There was no describing the happiness she felt, or the relief.
His heart had continued beating, but every moment he laid there with his eyes closed had Jonet so fraught with concern, she could not function. Now that he was awake, now that she could hear his voice and listen to his laugh, she could allow herself a smile. She rested her head gently on his chest, taking care not to disturb his wound. Matthew wrapped his uninjured arm over her.
“What happened after I fell unconscious?” he asked.
“I raced back to the Castle to fetch enough guards that could carry both ye and Freya back.”
“Ye must have been worried.”
She gave an unladylike snort. “Worried doesnae come close to describin’ what I felt, Matthew. I was afraid that when I returned ye would be…”
“Dead? That would be pretty foolish of me considerin’ I have a woman like ye waitin’ for me.”
“Ye couldnae get all yer jests out of the way, could ye?”
“That’s how ye ken that I am truly all right.” She could hear the grin in his voice.
