Page 26 of Never Fall for a Highlander

“I need to swing my sword or I will kill someone.”

“Are ye sure ye are up to it?What does Helena say?”

Robin stopped and placed his hands on his hips.“I doona ken whatMiss Rosssays, and I’m already sick of hearing about her.If I decide I want to practice in the lists, I will do exactly that.”He turned on his heel and left the keep, slamming the door.

It took no more than about an hour for Robin to admit to himself that he was not only out of practice, but exhausted.Damn and blast the mon who sliced his side.His only reward had been when he plunged his sword into the shite-eating worm’s neck.

He managed to last a short while after that.Then in his weakened state, one of his warriors swung at him, and managed to hit his wound, causing Robin to fall to the ground.He swore, grabbing his side, feeling blood.

Craig walked over to him and extended his hand.Robin grasped it and rose to his feet.“Ye are quite pale, laird,” Craig said and then looked down.“And ye’re bleeding.”

God’s toes, would this ne’er end?He felt his side, sticky with blood.He grimaced as he strode back to the great hall, ignoring the pain in his side.Once he was inside, he grabbed the first lass he saw.“Please find Helena and ask her to see me in my solar.”

She glanced at his side and her eyes grew wide.“Aye, Laird.I will fetch her now.”

He kept himself straight and walked normally until he reached the top of the stairs, then placed his hand on the heavy stones that made up the wall and took a deep breath.His vision started to fail, but he shook his head, refusing to flop here in the main hallway for anyone walking by to see.

Taking a deep breath, he made it slowly to his solar where he collapsed into the closest chair.

* * * *

Helena sat at one of the worktables in the kitchen, separating the herbs she’d just collected from the gardens.Most of them would go to Maude for cooking, but others she would use for medical purposes.

She felt more rested than she had almost since the time she’d arrived.Having her own bedchamber had been a blessing.Not only did she have more room, but she had privacy now, and then so did Jena and Blair.If the little one was fussy, she could take him to her room so Jena could get some rest.Then once she got the bairn settled in Jena’s room, she returned to her own and enjoyed peace and quiet.

Her attention was taken by one of the maids who entered the room looking excited.“Miss Ross, the laird would like to see ye in his solar.”

“Is something amiss?”

“Aye.Ye probably need to bring yer medicants with ye.The laird is bleeding.”

What the devil did the fool mon do now?He was supposed to be either in his solar or bed.In fact, she didn’t even like the idea of him getting out of bed.The cut he received on his side was healing nicely, but he still needed to be caeful.

“I will be right there, Muriel.”Helena gathered up the herbs and placed them in a large basket so she could continue her work once she tended to the laird.She made a quick stop at her bedchamber and picked up her medicant basket.

She knocked lightly on the laird’s door.

“Come,” he called.

Helena took one look at him and frowned.“Yer bleeding!”

“Aye, lass.Doona ever let anyone tell ye that ye are no’ verra observant.”

She thumped the basket down and glared at him.“How did ye hurt yerself?”

He waved his hand.“Ne’er mind.Just see to this scratch.Remember I am yer laird.”

“Aye.My foolish laird.”

“I should have ye whipped.”He leaned back in the chair and sighed.

Helena moved closer to him.“Am I to assume ye were at the lists?”She pulled his leine from his trews and looked at the cut.“Ye broke a few of yer stitches.”

“How can that be?This injury was last week.”

“Aye, but I told ye because of where the cut is, ye can easily injure it again.And swinging a sword was the perfect way to do it.”

He looked up at her, his eyes narrowed.“Sew it right this time.”