Queen of Lost Stars (Dragonblade Series/House of St. Hever) by Kathryn Le Veque Page A

tears but it was difficult. Along with her relief at finally being safe, her sense of embarrassment was great. Gazing at the man, she could feel those torn feelings rising up again, feelings of warmth and excitement for Kaspian against feelings of mourning for Cairn. It was an internal struggle that was only growing worse as Kaspian gazed at her almost as if he were glad to see her.
    Almost as if he cared.
    “I… I would be a burden to you if I remained,” she sniffled, trying to fight off the idea that the man might actually care about her. “You were simply being kind by asking me to stay at Lavister, Kaspian, but the truth is that I do not belong there. You were right when you said a widowed woman would face a bleak outlook and it is not your responsibility to provide for me. You are too kind to send me away so I had to leave.”
    He just looked at her, greatly disheartened by her words. “So I did say something to chase you off,” he muttered, realizing his sense of lightheadedness was growing worse. “I suspected as much. Why did you not simply come to me and speak to me of your fears? I did not mean to offend or hurt you, Madelayne. Surely you know that.”
    Madelayne nodded, her tears calming and nearly gone by now. “I know you did not mean to intentionally offend me,” she said. “I never thought that.”
    His gaze turned soft and a gloved thumb stroked her cheek, ever so faintly. It was a gesture that sent a wild chill up Madelayne’s spine.
    “Then why did you run away?” he asked quietly.
    She averted her gaze. “I told you why. Because you were too kind to send me away.”
    That thumb stroked her cheek again. “I did not mean to…mean to….”
    He suddenly trailed off and his eyes took on a rather glazed look. As Madelayne and Dolwyd watched, Kaspian suddenly pitched right over into the grass and passed out cold.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Two days later
    S o softly sings, the wind, my babe; On the wings of angels, may you sleep, my babe; God watches over you, my arms embrace you; never are you more content than now; Sleep, my lovely, sleep….
    Madelayne finished the lullaby, a whispered sonnet. She had become accustomed to singing it to Kaspian over the past two days and it was coming to tenderly suit the man who had probably never known any tenderness at all. He had always seemed hard and cold that way. She gazed down at him, so still and silent on the bed, and her heart twisted with concern.
    “He hasn’t awoken,” she said. “It’s been so long, Dolwyd. Why doesn’t he wake?”
    The old man sat upon a stool and scratched his spotted scalp. “Because he did too much damage to himself riding about the countryside looking for you,” he snapped. “Had you not been so stupid, he would be well on the road to recovery now.”
    Madelayne turned her face from the churlish physic. She was feeling guilty enough without his added anger. “What’s done is done and yelling at me isn’t going to help.”
    “It helps me a great deal,” the physic exclaimed. “Maybe you won’t do anything like that again and wreak havoc all about Lavister.”
    Madelayne’s jaw was tight. “I know what I did. I do not need your lectures.”
    “’Tis not enough lecture you’ve had,” Dolwyd pointed a finger at her. “If Kaspian has any sense when he awakens, he’ll thrash you soundly.”
    Madelayne visibly perked. “Then you reckon he’ll awaken soon?”
    “I didn’t say that!” he barked. “I said you need thrashing!”
    “You’ll not speak to her like that.”
    It was a very faint, very muffled voice. It took both Madelayne and Dolwyd a moment to realize it was coming from Kaspian. With a gasp of delight, Madelayne bent over the supine form and pulled the pillow away from his face, giving him plenty of air to breath. He was horribly pale and licked his dry lips, but the blue eyes were open.
    “Kaspian,” Dolwyd leapt up and hovered over him. “How do you feel, man?”
    “As if I need to stay in bed