Chapter 44

The moment her husband’s arms were around her, Isobel felt every ounce of strength and energy leave her. As he gathered her close she leaned into his warmth and closed her eyes. At first, she was amazed that she felt so absolutely safe in a man’s arms, but then she realized that was not the only reason her body relaxed so much. She had not been well at the start of her journey and she’d not stopped to rest along the route except when the horse had needed to. She wasn’t just relaxing, she was going to pass out. She had done too much, too soon after her illness.

“Cus,” was all she managed to whisper before her mind and body fell into nothingness.

Pleasantly warm, Isobel smiled and took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the scent of pine on a hot summer day and something else that was familiar but in her drowsy state she couldn’t quite recognize what it was. Not wanting to wake just yet, she willed her body and mind to relax again. It would have worked too; if the sound in her ears