The Fire's Center by Shannon Farrell Page B

broad shoulders, all heavily muscled, his chest lightly furred with crisp dark curls.
     
    She caught a tantalising glimpse of a narrow waist as the rest of his body disappeared under the water. She handed him the towel wordlessly, and scampered away over to the hearth, where she resumed reading the paper, with one eye on it and the other on the screen.
     
    He emerged from behind the screen in his dressing gown a short time later. "Now that I’ve washed my hair again, you’ll have to put some more of your favourite lice lotion on me. I’ll just go get it, if I may."
     
    "Fine," Riona nodded, secretly looking forward to making contact with his lovely hair again.
     
    After she had administered the medication, she said, "If you don’t have anything to do yourself, you could sit and read the paper to me while I have a good long soak. I must admit I'm as stiff as a board after that long freezing coach ride."
     
    "All right," he said a trifle hesitantly, "but I’ll dress first, and then I need to go out before the shops close to see if I can find you some warmer things to wear."
     
    "Please, you’ve already spent more than enough on me," Riona argued.
     
    "It's my pleasure. Now get in the tub."
     
    Once he had finished dressing on the opposite side of the screen, Lucien took her vacated seat by the fire.
     
    He read the paper to her as she bathed, and then at last, about an half an hour later, she came out from behind the screen in her dressing gown. She tugged open the door as the servant brought in the tea things and then cleared the tub and water cans away.
     
    Riona poured out the steaming brew and then put some pie and cakes onto Lucien’s plate. She took a small slice of toast for herself and nibbled at it delicately.
     
    Lucien put down the paper after a time and frowned. "You’re not eating very much, Riona."
     
      "To tell you the truth, Lucien, my head aches, and my throat feels a bit scratchy. It might be a cold coming on."
     
    "I just hope that’s all it is. But I suppose a walk in the pouring rain and your sitting in that freezing coach can’t have helped. I tell you what, we can stay over an extra day here, and then head on when you're a bit more rested," Lucien proposed.
     
    "No really, Lucien, I'm sure you are anxious to get home, and staying at an inn is only costing you money, as well as being far less comfortable than having all your own things around you. At any rate, the weather might get worse rather than better. Please don’t concern yourself on my account."
     
    "All the same, I'm going to go into my medical bag to get you something, and then I want you to get in that bed with as many hot water bottles as will fit, and stay there. Doctor’s orders."
     
    "Yes, Doctor Woulfe," Riona said meekly.
     
    "I’ll be back in a moment."
     
    "Oh please, finish your tea at least."
     
    But Lucien’s hand came up to touch her forehead. "You're a trifle feverish my dear, so no arguments. Get in that bed."
     
    Riona did as she was instructed, pouring herself a cup of tea, which she placed upon the small table beside the bed.
     
    Lucien was back several minutes later fully dressed, and with a glass of cordial which he made her drink down at a gulp.
     
    "There now, get under those covers, and I'll look in on you again as soon as I come back from shopping."
     
    Lucien pecked Riona on the forehead, and with a last tug at the covers, so that they were up to her chin, he left her.
     
    Riona was overwhelmed by Lucien’s kindness and attention, and even more stunned when he came back about half an hour later with a thick flannel nightdress and robe, and a heavier black woollen cloak, as well as a thick pair of leather gloves and a fur lined black muff.
     
    He had also purchased three more dresses, one a dark green with a high cream lace neckline and collar, one a deep wine gown which complemented her unusual hair, and the last a heavy woollen gown in black watch tartan.
     
    Lucien banked up the