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fingers over every inch of her
body to ensure that she was indeed unhurt.  And once he was sure that she was
well he would kiss her senseless for giving him undue worry.  He clenched his
jaw knowing that he would not be able to touch Isobel beyond the decent
boundary of tending her wounds, no matter how much he longed to kiss her again.
    “What happened? 
Are you well, lass?” he asked tenderly as he crouched in front of her.  He cast
a quick glance over his shoulder to ensure that they were still alone.
    “Apple threw me
when she slipped her shoe,” Isobel said with a quivering chin.  “I wish that you
could hold me,” she stammered, feeling her face color as the bold request
slipped from her lips.
    “You know that I
cannot, milady,” Tristan whispered as he dipped the cloth in the cool water. 
His hazel eyes searched Isobel’s for understanding as he gently pressed the
cloth against her wound.  “But also know that I would like to,” Tristan admitted
as he graced her with his familiar lop-sided grin.
    “They are watching
us,” Isobel whispered as she smiled at her guards and gestured that she was
alright.
    “Watching you is
what they are paid for.  They are wise to do their job well,” Tristan said as
he dabbed the cloth against Isobel’s skin.
    She winced and
gritted her teeth.  The water caused the wound to sting fiercely.
    “Shh…lass.  It
will be alright,” Tristan cooed sweetly as he dipped the cloth in the cool
water and gently pressed it against her skin once more.
    His words calmed
her.  Isobel knew that he was trying to be painstakingly gentle.
    “Why did you
compare me to a horse?” she asked suddenly through her clenched teeth.
    “I did not!”
Tristan huffed as he arched an eyebrow incredulously.
    “You most
certainly did!  You said that you had a mind for such treatments on horses.”
    “Och, well, I
guess that I did say that,” Tristan relented as he flashed a devilish smile.  “I
just wanted to find a way to be alone with you,” he whispered.  “I needed to
know that you were alright.”
    Isobel’s heart
raced in her chest at Tristan’s tender words.
    “Ye are alright?”
he asked as he arched an eyebrow inquisitively at her.
    “Yes, I’m fine,”
she said quietly.  “Except for this,” she said as she looked down at her
shoulder.
    Tristan bent his
head as he worked diligently to clean the wound, being ever so gentle in an
effort not to bring her further discomfort.  He peeled back the shreds of her
gown and painstakingly washed the debris from her delicate skin.  His eyebrows
were furrowed with concentration as he focused on his task.  When he was
finally satisfied with his work, he withdrew the cloth and trailed his finger
lightly over the skin of Isobel’s collarbone.  She closed her eyes and
shuddered, but a small smile graced her lips.
    “I waited for you,
ken?” he said softly as his hazel eyes looked up to meet her gaze.
    “I couldn’t get
away,” Isobel whispered as she glanced over Tristan’s shoulder at her guards. 
She trusted Tristan, but she dared not tell him about her father.  Not yet.
    “I thought that
perhaps you regretted…” Tristan’s eyes were downcast as his words trailed off. 
“That you regretted allowing me to kiss you.”
    “No!” Isobel exclaimed. 
Her heart ached for Tristan.  Of course he would think that she did not desire
his attentions!  She had not shown up for her lessons as planned.  What else
would the man think?
    “Kissing you was
magical,” she admitted as her cheeks flushed pink.  “I simply could not slip my
guards.  I’m sorry that you thought that I had rebuked you,” she said as her
hand grazed over his.
    Tristan smiled
slightly.
    “I found it to be
magical too,” he agreed as his eyes boldly locked with Isobel’s.
    The desire in his
hazel eyes caused Isobel’s heart to race.  She wanted him to touch her again. 
Right now.
    “Tomorrow?” he
asked, his voice deep and