Read Online Highland Champion by Hannah Howell - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Hannah Howell
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until his leg grew strong again.
Her mind suddenly filled with images of a naked Liam, and she was the one helping him bathe. She could almost feel the muscles and taut skin beneath her hands as she soaped his fine, broad chest. Keira shook her head and cursed herself for an idiot. Liam did have a fine, manly chest, but it was obviously one that had been touched by far more female hands than she cared to think about.
A strong urge to weep swept over her, and she scrubbed herself vigorously until it passed. The man was not worth her tears, although a few of her dreams had been so sweet she supposed they were worth grieving over. Worse, she had the sinking feeling it would be a long time before she could banish the man from her dreams. Keira doubted those dreams would be pleasant ones now either, for her mind seemed to have tenaciously grasped the thought of what Liam had done with all those other women and kept tormenting her with far too many clear images. Now she would probably find that her dreams of him were more like nightmares.
Somehow, she would find the strength to tear the man out of her heart and mind, she promised herself. It had been foolish to allow him to wriggle his way in, but she was through being a fool. From this moment on, Liam Cameron would simply be that man with a broken leg, someone she was helping in her capacity as a healer.
Keira hoped she could act with all the confidence she was bringing forth in these lectures to herself. Liam was hard to resist, even when she was angry with him. Even when fulsome brunettes flung themselves into his arms, she was more hurt and disillusioned than angry. Her gallant knight had feet of clay, and she could almost hate him for that.
Once done with her bath, Keira wondered what to wear as she dried herself. Since Liam had seen her in her night shift and robe many times, she decided to wear them. As soon as he was done washing himself, she would rinse her clothes out in the bathwater to rid them of the dust and the scent of horses gained from their ride.
She was just braiding her damp hair when Liam returned. He brought in a tray heavily ladened with bread, cold mutton, cheeses, oatcakes, and apples. It was plain fare, but Keira’s stomach still growled with anticipation.
“Dinnae wait on me, lass,” Liam said as he set the tray down on a table, inwardly sighing when her only reply was a cool, stiff nodding of her head.
Keira was just about to sit on the stool by the rough-hewn little table when Liam stripped to the waist. She had to clench her teeth to hold back an involuntary murmur of pleasure. The man was dangerous, she thought crossly as she hastily moved her stool so that her back was toward him.
Liam glanced at Keira as he washed and almost smiled. Her back was so stiff andstraight he was surprised it did not hurt her to sit like that. That she was so angry with him was not amusing in the least, but the way she showed her anger was, if only just a little.
What troubled him more was that he had the strongest feeling he had disappointed her in some way. He doubted she was unaware of how men behaved, especially young men with no wife or betrothed, so exactly how he had disappointed her was somewhat of a puzzle. That she believed he had cuckolded Lord Kinnaird could be some of it, but he doubted all of her kinsmen were innocent of that sin. She had apparently formed some strange idea of him as some perfect, genteel knight, chivalrous and pure. Well, the last few hours had certainly shattered that image.
That, at least, was a good thing, he told himself firmly. If she had envisioned him thus, it was a role he could never play for long. He was better natured than many of his kinsmen, was more able to think before he acted, but he had as many faults as any other man. After living with him for a month, he was surprised she did not know that, but then, he had been on his best behavior.
He could explain Maude, and felt confident that he could get Keira to at
Her mind suddenly filled with images of a naked Liam, and she was the one helping him bathe. She could almost feel the muscles and taut skin beneath her hands as she soaped his fine, broad chest. Keira shook her head and cursed herself for an idiot. Liam did have a fine, manly chest, but it was obviously one that had been touched by far more female hands than she cared to think about.
A strong urge to weep swept over her, and she scrubbed herself vigorously until it passed. The man was not worth her tears, although a few of her dreams had been so sweet she supposed they were worth grieving over. Worse, she had the sinking feeling it would be a long time before she could banish the man from her dreams. Keira doubted those dreams would be pleasant ones now either, for her mind seemed to have tenaciously grasped the thought of what Liam had done with all those other women and kept tormenting her with far too many clear images. Now she would probably find that her dreams of him were more like nightmares.
Somehow, she would find the strength to tear the man out of her heart and mind, she promised herself. It had been foolish to allow him to wriggle his way in, but she was through being a fool. From this moment on, Liam Cameron would simply be that man with a broken leg, someone she was helping in her capacity as a healer.
Keira hoped she could act with all the confidence she was bringing forth in these lectures to herself. Liam was hard to resist, even when she was angry with him. Even when fulsome brunettes flung themselves into his arms, she was more hurt and disillusioned than angry. Her gallant knight had feet of clay, and she could almost hate him for that.
Once done with her bath, Keira wondered what to wear as she dried herself. Since Liam had seen her in her night shift and robe many times, she decided to wear them. As soon as he was done washing himself, she would rinse her clothes out in the bathwater to rid them of the dust and the scent of horses gained from their ride.
She was just braiding her damp hair when Liam returned. He brought in a tray heavily ladened with bread, cold mutton, cheeses, oatcakes, and apples. It was plain fare, but Keira’s stomach still growled with anticipation.
“Dinnae wait on me, lass,” Liam said as he set the tray down on a table, inwardly sighing when her only reply was a cool, stiff nodding of her head.
Keira was just about to sit on the stool by the rough-hewn little table when Liam stripped to the waist. She had to clench her teeth to hold back an involuntary murmur of pleasure. The man was dangerous, she thought crossly as she hastily moved her stool so that her back was toward him.
Liam glanced at Keira as he washed and almost smiled. Her back was so stiff andstraight he was surprised it did not hurt her to sit like that. That she was so angry with him was not amusing in the least, but the way she showed her anger was, if only just a little.
What troubled him more was that he had the strongest feeling he had disappointed her in some way. He doubted she was unaware of how men behaved, especially young men with no wife or betrothed, so exactly how he had disappointed her was somewhat of a puzzle. That she believed he had cuckolded Lord Kinnaird could be some of it, but he doubted all of her kinsmen were innocent of that sin. She had apparently formed some strange idea of him as some perfect, genteel knight, chivalrous and pure. Well, the last few hours had certainly shattered that image.
That, at least, was a good thing, he told himself firmly. If she had envisioned him thus, it was a role he could never play for long. He was better natured than many of his kinsmen, was more able to think before he acted, but he had as many faults as any other man. After living with him for a month, he was surprised she did not know that, but then, he had been on his best behavior.
He could explain Maude, and felt confident that he could get Keira to at
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