Dazedly, somewhat warily, Catriona nodded. Which brought forth another round of curses.
"What a stupid, foolish notion-"
"Why did you send for your brother, then?"
"So he'd be here to protect you if I wasn't about to do it, of course! Lord-!"
Running out of curses, he leaned forward, grabbed her hand and hauled her onto the bed. Pins, needle and mending went flying. Catriona gasped as she landed amid the covers.
Before she could react, he'd framed her face and was studying it closely.
"You haven't been taking care of yourself-"
"You were the one poisoned-" She struggled to get free, to sit up; even in his weakened state, he held her easily.
"We'll sort that out later. You obviously haven't been getting enough sleep. Pregnant women are supposed to sleep more-I would have thought you'd know that. You've staff and helpers about you…" He broke off, then looked into her eyes. "How long have I been unconscious?"
"Five days," Catriona informed him.
"Five days?" Richard stared at her, then his gaze softened and dropped to her lips… "No wonder I'm so hungry."
This time, Catriona knew precisely which appetite he was referring to. She opened her lips-but didn't manage to say a word.
He kissed her, gently, tenderly, then with gathering rapaciousness. Catriona felt the covers about her slide, felt the pillows shift, felt his hand slide up her leg to her garter, then stroke the soft skin above. He leaned into her, pressing her deeper into the soft mattress; she clung to the moment, savored it briefly, then thumped him on the shoulder. Hard.
He shifted slightly-she managed to drag her lips free and gasp: "Richard! You're not strong enough!"
He raised his head and looked down at her-as if what she'd just said was utterly impossible-then he hesitated, considered, then groaned, grimaced, closed his eyes, and rolled off her.
"Unfortunately, much as it pains me to admit it, I think you might be right."
"Of course, I'm right!" Struggling up on one elbow, Catriona tugged the covers back over him. "You've been at death's door-literally!-for five days. You're not simply going to open your eyes and"-she gestured wildly-"get right back into things."
He caught her eye and waggled his brows at her; ignoring her blush, she humphed. "You just stay there and rest." She went to slide away, to back off the bed, but his arm, around her, didn't give. She looked at his face.
"I'll stay here," he said, gently, reasonably, "provided you stay with me." Catriona frowned; inexorably, he drew her closer. "You need to rest, too." Drawing her down, back into his arms, he settled her head on his shoulder, then pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Just let me hold you while you sleep."
He did. Swamped by relief so deep it shook her, touched that his last conscious thoughts, and now his first, had been for her, wrapped in his arms, with him safe beside her, Catriona slept.
Chapter 17
"I am not an invalid!" Richard eyed the mushy food on the tray balanced across his thighs with disgust.
"You are," Catriona declared. "And Cook made that especially for you-she's an expert at building people up."
"I don't need building up." His expression mutinous, Richard poked at the greyish mass with his fork. "I need letting up."
"I think you'll find you're mistaken."
Richard looked up. "Honoria!" His sister-in-law swept in, clearly intending to lend Catriona her support; Richard glanced back at the doorway, and to his relief saw the shadow he wanted darkening the door. "Thank God-come in commonsense."
Brows rising, Devil strolled in. "I don't know that I've ever been called 'common' before." He grinned. "You need a shave."
"Never mind that-have you seen what they're feeding me?"
Devil looked. "Better you than me, brother mine."
"You have to save me." Richard pointed to the mushy mass. "You can't leave me to this fate."
Straightening, Devil looked across the bed-at Catriona, staring mulishly, arms folded; at his wife, her expression implacable, her fine eyes on him. "Hmm-actually, in this case, I think I must defer to higher authority."
Richard stared at him. "You've never done that before."
"Ah-but you weren't married before." Strolling around the bed, Devil collected Honoria in one arm and turned toward the door. Looking back, he added, "And neither was I. I'll come back after lunch."
Richard glared at the empty doorway, flicked a glance at Catriona, then looked down at the mush on his plate. He scooped up a forkful and ate. Swallowing, he frowned at his wife. "I'm only doing this for you. you know."
"Good." Some moments later, she added: "All of it."
Richard complied. Aside from anything else, the food tasted a lot better than it looked-and he was hungry enough to eat a horse.
Both Devil and Honoria returned after lunch, after he'd cleared the tray and Catriona had taken it away.
"I have to say that seeing your eyes open is a great improvement." Devil perched on the end of the bed. "I've had quite enough of watching over you while you sleep."
Richard grinned. Devil was three years older; they'd shared a nursery-his comment harked back to the untold nights when, scared of the dark, he'd only fallen asleep because he'd known Devil was there to protect him from imagined monsters.
"You gave us a shock." Honoria leaned down and kissed his stubbled cheek. "At least you had the good sense to marry a lady who could save you."
Richard smiled and accepted the compliment graciously. Over the next half hour, they exchanged family news, heavily biased toward the emerging talents of one Sebastian Sylvester Cynster, Marquess of Earith, Devil's heir.
"We would have brought him," Honoria declared, "but we didn't know what the state of things here might be."
That, of course, was the cue for Richard to fill them in, which he did in glowing terms, quite unable to contain his satisfaction on that score-his happiness in his new life. "Now you're here, I'll be able to show you around."
"Once you're released from durance vile." Devil nodded at the bed.
"Tomorrow," Richard said.
Devil grimaced. "Don't get your hopes up. You didn't seem too strong while we were walking you yesterday."
"Walking me…?" Richard frowned, then shook his head. "I didn't even know you were here…" Still frowning, he glanced at Devil. "Actually, I do remember-was it you who warned me Maman was coming?"
Devil grinned. "We were testing to see if you'd respond."
Richard shuddered. "Just as long as it's not true." He caught Devil's eye. "You didn't tell her, did you?"
Devil raised his brows exaggeratedly. "What do you think?"
Rising, Honoria shook out her skirts. "Naturally, we left a note."
Devil's head snapped around. "We did?"
Honoria stared at him. "Well, of course. We couldn't simply leave and not tell Helena, not even leave a message-she is his mother, after all."
Richard groaned and fell back against his pillows.
Honoria turned her gaze on him. "She was away with the Ashfordleighs-she'd think it very strange to return to Somersham and find Sebastian alone with the staff. So I simply explained and told her not to worry."
Devil raised his eyes to the ceiling. "Honoria-"
Sudden shouts from outside cut across his words; a second later, the rattle of carriage wheels and the sharp clack of hooves rose from the courtyard.