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“See to them, will ye?” Keir murmured, and through half-open eyes, Sarah saw his mother nod. “I’ll take care of Sarah.” Then he turned and climbed the stairs two at a time.
Chapter Fifty-Two
BREAKING EVERY RULE
The blue tinge of Sarah’s skin worried Keir. She was soaked through, her skirts heavy with water, and by the time he reached his chamber and pushed open the door, his own clothes were wet as well. “Sarah!” Keir called, pushing the door closed with his right boot, grateful to see a fire burning in the grate. “Sarah, wake up!”
When she failed to react, Keir pinched her arm, relieved when she stirred, a murmured complaint falling from her lips before her eyes slowly blinked open. “Keir? W-Where are we?” she murmured; her voice barely audible.
“In my chamber.” He waited until her gaze met his. “I’ll set ye down now, lass. We needa get ye out of these wet clothes, ye hear?”
Sarah nodded, and yet her unseeing eyes suggested he could have spoken of flying pigs, and she would not have found that odd in that moment.
Gently, Keir placed Sarah back on her feet, his hands never leaving her arms as she swayed, her eyes blinking rapidly as she tried to focus. “Open yer eyes,” Keir urged her when they fluttered closed once more. “Lass, open yer eyes.”
Sarah did, and after a moment, her balance returned, and she no longer swayed upon her feet. The shivers, though, suddenly grew in intensity, and she wrapped her arms around herself. “W-What of that b-bath?” she stammered as Keir pulled the blanket from her shoulders. “Th-That s-sounds l-lovely.”
Keir grinned at her, his fingers reaching for the laces of her gown. “I have a better idea,” he murmured in her ear and then quickly divested her of her soaked gown.
Staring at him, Sarah gasped when the cool air hit her chilled skin. “Y-You do? What—?” Understanding dawned, and a slow blush claimed her cheeks, chasing away the disconcerting paleness.
Keir stilled, savoring the sight of the color returning to her cheeks. “Aye,” he murmured, then leaned in and kissed her, his hands settling upon her upper arms, his palms almost hot against her skin. He held her close, willing his warmth into her body, willing the shivers to subside. “Next time, tell me where ye are going, lass,” he murmured against her lips. “Ye almost killed me today.”
“Sometimes there isn’t time,” Sarah replied, her voice no longer trembling, as she pressed closer, her arms coming around his neck. “My feet are freezing.”
Keir chuckled against her lips, then pulled back and pushed her onto the edge of the bed. He pulled off her boots as Sarah watched him; her gaze now as heated as her flaming cheeks. Her skin felt cool to the touch, but no longer as icy as before as Keir ran his hands down her calves to pull off her stockings. He rubbed her cold feet, and she laughed. Yet her arms remained wrapped around herself as though to shield herself from his gaze; after all, the thin fabric of her chemise hid very little after the soak in the icy water.
“Would ye rather have the bath?” Keir asked, rising to his feet and taking a step back. “All I care is that we see ye warmed.”
Sarah chuckled self-consciously. “All you care?” she teased, one eyebrow arching.
Keir grinned, loving that daring side of her. However, before he could reply, a knock came on the door. He nodded to Sarah and then strode toward it. On its other side, he found Duncan.
“Do ye have a moment?” his brother asked with a weary sigh, then he rushed on, clearly exhausted and eager for a good night’s sleep. “The search has been called off. Everyone has returned safe and sound, and no one reported seeing anything unusual. It seems highly unlikely that Birchwell made it to the island. Of course,” he held up a hand, “that doesna mean he willna try. I’ll keep sentries posted. Should he try, we’ll find out.”
Keir nodded, the sound of soft footsteps padding about the chamber drifting to his ears from behind him. “I’m glad to hear it. Good night then.” He made to close the door, but Duncan’s boot stopped him.
His brother’s gaze narrowed. “What’s going on? Ye’re acting—” He broke off, and a slow grin came to Duncan’s face as his gaze swept sideways, as though he could see straight through the wooden door. “Ye’re not alone, are ye?”
Keir chuckled, casting his brother a meaningful look.
Duncan laughed. “Good night to ye then,” he remarked, “and give the lass a hug from me.” He grinned devilishly at Keir and then walked off down the corridor.
Closing the door, Keir turned, surprised to find Sarah in bed, the blanket pulled up to her chin. “Still cold?” he asked, strolling closer. Then his eyes fell on the wet chemise Sarah had still worn only moments earlier; now, though, it lay crumpled upon the floor. Keir’s gaze rose and met Sarah’s. “No bath then?” he asked with a teasing grin.
Sarah chuckled self-consciously; yet she did not avert her eyes. “No bath.”
Removing his own damp shirt, Keir stepped closer. He was well-aware of Sarah’s inquisitive gaze. “May I join ye?” She nodded, and without giving her a moment to reconsider, Keir slipped beneath the blanket.
Sarah shivered as he reached out to touch her, her teeth sinking into her lower lip and her blue eyes wide.
“I can simply hold ye, lass,” Keir offered, wondering if perhaps he was pushing her a bit far after everything she had been through today. “Warm ye.” Perhaps she simply needed a good night’s sleep.
Perhaps they all did.
For a long moment, Sarah held his gaze, a glimmer of uncertainty in her eyes. Then, though, she suddenly reached for him, and her mouth claimed his before Keir realized what was happening.
Her skin was still chilled, and Keir flinched as her bare skin came to rest against his. Yet the feel of her in his arms was indescribable, and he embraced her tightly, holding her to him without a second thought.
