Cinders and Ashes by Rebecca King

done by dragging him home? Somehow he
doubted it, but was loathe to point out the brutal facts. He didn’t
want to scare her. Not while she was so clearly distressed. He
watched her lithe frame move gracefully toward the fire, tugging on
a rough woollen shawl as she went.
    “ I need to stoke the fire again, and then gather some more
wood before it gets dark,” she mumbled without looking at
him.
    Sebastian remained silent and reluctantly watched her leave.
It was only when the door closed behind her that he realised he had
told Amelia everything about his current circumstances, and what
had led him to her door; but had yet to learn Amelia’s
story.
    What had
happened to enable her to live alone, in a tiny, ramshackle little
cottage? Ostensibly isolated from the background she had been born
to live in?
    Making a
mental note to ensure he got the answers as soon as she returned,
Sebastian closed his weary eyes and slept.

 
CHAPTER
THREE
     
    “ Amelia!” Sebastian cursed roundly when she didn’t
twitch.
    The room
was so cold he could see his breath fog out before him. Despite the
gnawing pain in his side, he gritted his teeth and drew himself
onto one elbow. Scowling across the room at the small bundle of
rags curled up in front of the now cold hearth, he cursed fluidly.
He was frozen even beneath the blankets. God knew how cold Amelia
was.
    She was
lying upon the stone floor with little to protect her from the
elements but the thin dress she wore and a threadbare blanket. What
the hell did she think she was doing? Did she want to be ill? If he
was not much mistaken, she had given him all but one of the
blankets she owned.
    “ Amelia!” If she didn’t answer him
this time, he would bloody well get out of bed and get her, he thought as he glared at her.
    “ Amelia. For God’s sake, woman!” His bellow echoed off the
stone walls of the small, almost empty cottage. She still didn’t
move.
    Fear
began to grow. Was she unwell? Had she fallen ill because she had
continued to go out into the storm to collect wood while being
exhausted and inadequately clothed?
    Sebastian gritted his teeth and swung his legs over the side
of the bed. Immediately, the cold night air swept over his warm
flesh, snatching all remnants of warmth from his body with
relentless fervour, until he began to shiver.
    His eyes
were locked on her as he lurched to his feet, dragging a thin
blanket around him to protect his modesty, and Amelia’s
blushes.
    God, he
was so weak. He had spent at least two days lying on his back in
bed, and he had legs like a newborn foal. Shaking his head at his
own decrepit state, Sebastian shuffled over to the
hearth.
    “ Amelia, darling, wake up for me.” His knew his voice was
almost pleading, but at that moment didn’t care. He needed her to
wake up and confirm she was alright. Fear tightened in his gut, as
he contemplated what he would do if she had become ill. She was too
precious to lose.
    Shocked
by the depth of emotion that began to unfurl inside his chest,
Sebastian edged towards her.
    “ Amelia. Darling, wake up.” His persistence was rewarded when
Amelia suddenly jerked, and moaned softly in discomfort.
    “ Wake up for me, please?” Sebastian leant his hips against the
table for support. He knew that if he gave in to the urge to drop
to his knees before her, he probably wouldn’t have the strength to
get back up again. But he hated to see her lying on the cold, hard
floor. Curled up tight to protect herself and preserve what little
heat she had. His heart ached at her sacrifice.
    Amelia
ached all over, and was so very tired she struggled to form any
thoughts, let alone move. So why was she awake? She was
contemplating getting her aching legs to uncurl when a rich,
masculine voice, so very close, snapped her awake.
    “ If you don’t get up and off that floor this instant, I will
drag you up.” His voice brooked no argument.
    It had
the desired effect upon Amelia, who suddenly jerked upright with