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"I will come with you," Will announced, following when he started across the room. Kade had just arrived at the door and reached out to pull it open when sounds from the bed caught his ear. He glanced back in time to see Averill lunge upward, retching violently.
"I'll fetch her maid," Will said at once, hurrying from the room as Kade rushed back to Averill.
"You're awake."
Averill reluctantly reopened her eyes. She'd blinked them open a heartbeat ago, only to groan as candlelight attacked her, sending pain through her head. This time was no better, and she moaned and closed them once more.
"Head paining you?" Bess asked.
Averill opened her mouth to answer but paused on a sigh of relief as a cold, damp cloth was laid over her eyes and forehead.
"Oh, Bessie, bless you," she whispered, as the cool damp began to ease the drumming in her head.
"I have a tonic here when you think your stomach can stand it," Bessie announced.
Averill grimaced at the very thought of consuming anything. On the other hand, it would be nice were her head not throbbing so. She would wait a few moments, she decided. "What time is it?"
"Late," Bess answered abruptly. "Most of the castle has gone to bed."
Averill bit her lip and then asked, "Am I in my own bed?"
A soft chuckle disturbed the air over her head, and Bess said, "Aye, though that Scot fussed about it. He wanted to look after you himself, and did for several hours this afternoon before I suggested 'twas time Will moved you to your own room."
"Kade?" she asked with surprise, then groaned again as recollections began to assault her. Memories filled her mind of his holding her hair back and murmuring soothingly to her in Gaelic as she'd retched up the last of her stomach's contents. "Dear God."
"He was gentle with you, and kind," Bess said, sounding surprised. "He'll be a good husband."
"Husband?" Averill asked with shock, and reached up to tug away the damp cloth to see the maid's face. She saw two of them, both spinning and dancing and slightly out of focus. It made her head hurt, but her stomach appeared fine at least, she noted, and frowned at the woman. "What are you talking about?"
"Kade has offered for your hand, and your father accepted. Actually," Bess added dryly, "he was most grateful for the offer. Your father was lamenting into a mug of whiskey that no one would accept you to wife once this debacle reached court when Kade made his way below stairs and offered for you."
Averill stared at the kind old faces dancing before her, her brain incapable of accepting the suggestion. "He did not."
"Aye, he did," Bess assured her, then asked uncertainly, "Is that not good news? I thought you liked the boy."
"Aye, I do like him," Averill admitted. "That is the problem. I cannot possibly marry him."
"Eh?" Bess's double images frowned with confusion. "But if you like him--"
"Have the contracts been drawn up and signed?"
"The marriage contracts?" Bess asked, and when Averill nodded, she shook her head. "They are doing those tomorrow. Tonight he just asked and your father agreed, then they celebrated. No doubt your father will have a sore head in the morning as well."
"Then it can still be called off," Averill said with relief, and forced herself to sit up. The room immediately began to move around her, but she ignored it and slid her feet to the floor.
"Here now, where do you think you're going?" Bess was on her feet at once, trying to stop her. "And what do you mean, called off? Why the devil would you want to do that? You like him, and he you. What--?"
"He cannot see straight, Bess," she pointed out impatiently.
"Well, I'm not so sure about that, but even so, what does it matter? He apparently likes you well enough to offer."
"I would not have him disappointed when his vision clears, and he is able to see me properly," Averill said unhappily, trying to stand.
"My lady," Bess began firmly, pushing her back to sit on the bed. "I am sure he will not be disappointed. In fact--"
"You cannot be sure," Averill argued. "And he should at least know what he is getting."
"Mayhaps, but--"
"I shall just go tell him that my hair is red and about the birthmark and my too-small breasts and--"
"Too-small breasts?" Bess interrupted on almost a shriek. "Where the devil did you get that nonsense?"
"From Lord Seawell," she admitted on a sigh. "He seemed to think they were too small. He was very disgusted and couldn't stop staring or trying to touch them."
"Oh, aye, disgusted he was," she said dryly and rolled her eyes, but she also stepped out of the way. "Go on then. Go explain to the Scot that your hair's as red as a setting sun, that you've a tiny strawberry on your cheek, and that your breasts are too small. But I've no doubt he already knows all this and will still have you."
"Mayhap," Averill murmured as she got carefully to her feet. "But I'll not risk the discontent on his face when he realizes what a poor bargain he made."
"Hmm," Bess muttered, then raised an eyebrow as Averill peered down at herself.
"I am in my nightgown," she said, surprised, though she supposed she shouldn't be. After all, she had been in bed. She was just amazed that she hadn't woken up for it.
"Aye, you are, and I am not going to the trouble to dress you at this hour." She pulled a fur from the bed and hung it over Averill's shoulders. "There ye are, now go on."
"But 'tis not decent," she protested.
Bess shrugged. "What can they do if they catch the two of you together like this but order you to marry?"
Averill narrowed her eyes on the woman. "You would like that, would you not?"
"Aye, I would, and so should you," Bess said firmly. "He'll be a much better husband than any of the others your father has dragged here to Mortagne."
Averill scowled at her briefly, acknowledging that it was true. Kade would make a much better husband than any of the rude, cruel men who had rejected her to date. He was kind, and sweet, and funny, and she enjoyed talking to him, and thought him handsome, and...She couldn't bear to see the same disgust on his face as had been on the others. She had to talk to him, but Bess obviously would be of no help. Averill half suspected that if she did go to Kade's room like this, the woman would go fetch her father and bring him to the room to ensure the marriage had to take place.
"The morning is soon enough to talk to him," she announced grimly, throwing off the fur and climbing back into bed. "I shall just have to be sure to wake early and speak to him before he and Father can sign the contracts."
Bess relaxed and nodded as she began to tug the linen and furs up around Averill. "A sound idea, and I shall wake you."
Averill snorted with disbelief at the claim but closed her eyes and forced herself to relax.
"Good sleep, my lady," Bess said quietly.
"Good sleep," Averill answered grimly, and listened to the rustle of the woman crossing to the chamber door. She heard it open, and close, then the patter of footfalls as the maid moved away up the hall. She waited another moment before opening her eyes.
The room was dark and still. Bess had taken the candle with her, and it was summer, so there was no fire in the hearth. Unlike her old nursemaid, Averill did not care for a fire in the summer. 'Twas a damned shame, she thought now, for the light would have been helpful.
Grimacing, she sat up and peered around the room, hoping her eyes would adjust. She had no intention of waiting until morning to speak to Kade. She didn't trust Bess to wake her in the morning in time to stop the signing of contracts either.
Her eyes weren't adjusting any, Averill acknowledged with a small sigh, and forced herself to start moving. She knew her room well and should be able to find her chest and don a gown without light to aid her.
Averill found the chest by stubbing her toe on it. Crying out, she grabbed for her foot and hopped twice on the other foot before crashing into the second chest and tumbling to the floor with a curse. She lay still for a moment, taking inventory, but onc
