Reckless Angel Read Free Page B

scrutiny.
    The crone crackled. “I’ve done ye no harm as yet, little maid.” She laid a hand on the girl’s brow, nodding with satisfaction before turning her attention to the wadded poultice fastened to the wounded shoulder.
    Henrietta relaxed, recognizing the touch and attentions as accustomed and comforting. “What day is it?”
    â€œMonday.”
    But which Monday? How long had she been lying here? One week…two? She tried to sit up, then decided rather rapidly that perhaps she wouldn’t bother. It made her feel far too peculiar.
    â€œY’are weak as a new-dropped lamb,” said her nurse. “But y’are young. Ye’ll get your strength back soon enough.”
    Footsteps sounded on the wooden staircase and another familiar figure from dreamland appeared at the head of the stairs. He was tall, very dark-haired, with sharp black eyes in a tanned face. Those eyes went instantly to the bed, then sparked with sudden relief. “Well, this is a pleasure.” His voice was deep and smooth, yet seemed to carry a chuckle in its depths, as if its owner found the world and its inhabitants in general amusing.
    Smiling, he came to the foot of the bed. “Is all well, dame?”
    â€œAye, sir, that it is. Fever broke last night and she’s been sleepin’ like a babe since. She’ll be right as rain once she’s got ’er strength back, so ye’ll not be needin’ me anymore.”
    â€œI’d not have you leave until y’are quite certain there’ll be no relapse,” Daniel said sharply.
    â€œThere’ll be none,” Dame Biddy declared. “I’ve other things to do, sir, than dance attendance on them what ’as no need of it. Five days of my time, ye’ve had.”
    â€œYe’ll be well paid for it.”
    The old dame merely nodded and began packing things into a basket. “The goodwife’ll know what to do to feed ’er up and change the poultice. I’m off now.” Without so much as a farewell gesture to the girl she had brought back from the edge of death, she creaked down the stairs.
    â€œI was afeard, at first, that she had the evil eye,”Henrietta said. Her voice sounded a little stiff, as if from disuse.
    Daniel shook his head with a smile. “A fearsome countenance, I grant you, but rarely have I seen such skill. Ye’ve good cause to be grateful.”
    â€œAye, I am aware.” She lay looking at him, not troubling to fight the insidious weakness of her limbs but simply enjoying the sensation of her body at peace. “And to you, too, Sir Daniel, I believe.”
    â€œSo you know my name.”
    â€œI seem to have heard it spoken.” She frowned slightly. “I suppose I was sometimes in this world.”
    He nodded. “Perhaps you will return the courtesy now and tell me how you are called.”
    That same calculating look crossed her face and he knew what he was going to hear before she spoke. “Harry,” she said firmly, closing her eyes.
    Daniel considered his options. At the moment they were somewhat limited and until she was fit to travel he did not really need to know her family. “And how old are you, Harry?”
    There seemed little harm in answering that truthfully, Henrietta decided, and the victory she had just gained could allow a little conciliation. “I turned fifteen on the first of August.”
    â€œAnd what was a fifteen-year-old maid doing at the battle of Preston?” he inquired in a tone of mild curiosity.
    â€œI went to be with Will.”
    â€œAh, yes.” He frowned. “So you did.”
    There was a moment of silence, then the girl announced, “We were to be married, only…only…”
    â€œOnly you ran into a little parental opposition,” he supplied helpfully. “Were you eloping when this battle intervened?”
    Henrietta shook her head. “Will would not elope. He went to fight