Chapter Ten
‘I don’t know why he is like this today.’ Ailsa snapped the linen off Hamish’s bed.
This was a task she would have delegated to others, but Hamish wouldn’t have it and so, along with his waste bucket, she often replaced his ruined clothing and sweat-laden sheets.
She didn’t do it because he was the Chief, she did it because it was her duty to God and to her craft.
Hamish ordered her to do it because she was the Tanist’s daughter.
‘Last night, I couldn’t rouse him for the pain tincture,’ Hannah said, grabbing the other side of the fabric.
That was unusual. As was him still sleeping on the mattress that was laid on the floor as they replaced his bed with the new mattress. To keep his sores at a minimum, they did this often, and he just as often complained. Now they exchanged mattresses and he didn’t once wake.
For him to remain sleeping this long was concerning. He also hadn’t been awake last night when they went to talk to him before the marriage.
‘I thought you were seeing to Paiden?’ Ailsa said.
‘I was, but he was sleeping so I checked on Mary...just in case. She, I and Kit also helped get Hamish to the floor this morning before Kit left and Mary went to care for Paiden.’
It would have been helpful to have had Kit, the falconer’s son, stay to also get Hamish back on the new bed. ‘Did Hamish wake at all?’
‘Mary said that last night he woke to relieve himself and take some broth, but that was all,’ Hannah replied.
‘Anything else?’
Hannah scrunched her lips. ‘His breathing has changed since yesterday.’
Hamish was sick with an illness that was deadly and painful, but familiar. His uneven breath and deep slumber wasn’t usual. Something was wrong. ‘You should leave now, you’ve been up far too late and have done too much going from room to room.’
‘If I leave, who will help you with the mattress and Hamish?’
‘It’s not as if you can help lift him, either, and you need your sleep.’
‘I have slept some,’ Hannah said quietly.
‘You did?’ Ailsa said. ‘You never sleep. What brought that on?’
A pale blush went to Hannah’s cheeks.
‘Is there something you aren’t telling me?
’ Ailsa said, dripping much humour into the words.
Hannah with her generous curves loved to flirt and was pursued by many a male.
If Ailsa didn’t find her at her duties, it was because some interest pulled her away.
Maybe the blush was why Kit didn’t stay...
‘It wasn’t—’ Hannah flapped her hands in front of her. ‘I slept some because I didn’t know how long you’d be gone. I thought I’d help Mary with the linens this morning. It was your marriage night. I didn’t expect to see Rory enter Paiden’s room or for you to help with Hamish so soon.’
At the reminder of her marriage night, it was Ailsa’s turn to blush. As for the rest, she knew that Rory would go to Paiden first. He said he would and nothing in his countenance made her believe he lied. In fact, he forsook the marriage night altogether to see to his friend.
Her emotions were as tangled as her laces. Her reason warred with her heart. She’d exposed all of her body and part of herself to him, and she felt—No. She didn’t want to think about last night.
She’d think about here, now, and that Rory should be with his friend, but not Mary. ‘If Mary’s there and you’re here, we don’t have enough help for the daytime.’ Old Rhona would have planned their care better. But Rhona didn’t have to marry without a moment’s notice.
With Hamish on the floor and needing care, she couldn’t keep an eye on Paiden as well. There was no possibility Hamish would allow the Lochmore to share his chamber so that she could care for them both. ‘We’ll have to sort our shifts. Is it possible you could sleep—?’
The door to the annexed room burst open. A few heavy footfalls and Rory strode into the bedroom. Ailsa didn’t know why she should be surprised—after all, she was here when she had promised she’d care for Paiden.
‘I’ll be done here soon enough,’ she informed him.
He peered at Hamish on the floor. ‘What is he doing there?’
‘We’re changing his mattress. Sometimes it gets wet despite our efforts and it isn’t good for his skin.’
Rory glanced from her to Hannah and returned to Hamish.
‘He still sleeps,’ he said.
‘When I’m done, I’ll help with Paiden.’
‘I’m not here for you.’
He was here for Hamish. Why? She could read nothing from his manners now.
Fully clothed, his expression impenetrable, even his hair which curled was held back.
Controlled. This wasn’t the man who had been in her bed.
This was a man who grieved. She shouldn’t have avoided seeing Paiden just to avoid seeing Rory.
‘Is Paiden worse?’ she asked.
‘The same.’ He pointed to Hamish. ‘Can you wake him?’
‘No,’ she replied and that was troubling. Hamish’s breath was uneven, but he wasn’t restless or curled in pain. In truth, there wasn’t much she could do other than to observe him. ‘It’s better for him to sleep. Shouldn’t you be talking with my father?’
He frowned. ‘It’s early yet and I didn’t know whether he was about.’
‘He always wakes early to break his fast, you can find him in the hall.’
‘I didn’t see him there.’
It was her turn to frown. Her father was old and set in his ways. At this time of day he was always in the hall. Something...perhaps everything, wasn’t as it should be.
Turning to Hannah, she said, ‘Who else could we call upon to help with Paiden right now?’
‘Beth, perhaps,’ Hannah replied. ‘She won’t know all what we do, but she’s dependable and can fetch water and food if necessary.’
‘Go find her and get her to Paiden’s room.’ She turned to Rory. ‘Help me get him on the fresh mattress.’
‘Won’t that wake him?’
‘He didn’t wake when they moved him to the floor and hasn’t stirred since. I doubt we could wake him now.’
Rory looked to Hannah, who scrambled around the bed to the door. ‘I’ll find Beth.’ When the door closed behind her, he said. ‘What is wrong with him?’
‘It’s a sickness I’ve seen once before. There’s no remedy for it.’
‘Is the sleeping common?’
‘It’s not uncommon.’
She lied. Rory knew it. ‘I’ll help you with him.’
‘He’s tall.’
‘But half my weight. I can move him.’
‘If you wish,’ Ailsa said without looking at him.
Rory bent and laid Hamish on the newly made bed. Carefully he arranged him, all the while the Chief of the McCrieffs remaining silent.
Pulling the covers over Hamish, Ailsa gestured to Rory to follow her into the adjoining room.
He did, watching as she partially closed the bedroom door.
It was enough to give them privacy, but also enough to hear if Hamish woke.
Feeling restless, Rory didn’t sit when she indicated for him to join her on one of the two chairs.
‘Why are you here, Lochmore?’ she said.
‘Rory,’ he said automatically. This room was too small to pace—with the barest stretch of his arm, he’d touch the ceilings and all the walls just by standing in the centre. ‘I need to talk to Hamish. We both do.’
‘You want to talk of who poisoned your friend.’
‘Talk is too light a word for what I want to do for my friend,’ he said. ‘Whoever did this needs to be found. Since we are married, it does no good if there is someone undermining it. This is a matter for McCrieff’s Chief.’
‘We’re not ma—’
Rory held up his hand and, after a stunned moment, Ailsa’s hand went to her belt. No doubt her shears were there. ‘You think to harm me?’
‘I should after last night. Do you think to shame me further by coming here today?’
‘Shame? I protected your reputation and have said nothing. Your honour is still intact.’ Unlike his own which felt frayed.
‘You’ll never claim me. And you’re a fool thinking I care for my reputation. I told you I’ve been around males. I’m a healer and have more freedom than many women in this clan.’
‘Then what is this about?’
‘So you ask questions of me. Do you know what marrying you cost me?’
‘It cost nothing. McCrieffs gained everything with our marriage.’
She pulled her shears and pointed them. ‘We. Are. Not. Married.’
Not married. It was the truth, but he wouldn’t say it out loud and it was best she didn’t either. Especially here. Hamish might appear to be asleep, and they kept their voices low, but who could truly tell?
‘Quiet, or you’ll sacrifice everything.’
‘Don’t talk of sacrifices, Lochmore. You aren’t the only one with conflicts or burdens.’
In the meantime, it was essential that everyone believed they were married, at least until the one who had poisoned Paiden was found. Until then, he had to remember they weren’t. If in the end it was her father who’d harmed Paiden, well... He’d address that if that time came.
For now, he knew Paiden was still alive and it appeared that Hamish was as well. He should leave to find Frederick, except Ailsa was here, and he found himself reluctant to leave her just yet. It didn’t sit well how he’d left her last night.
‘I should tell you my family received my message regarding our marriage,’ he said. ‘My mother sent her congratulations along with a trunk and I had it moved to our room. We could go open it if you wish. There would be gifts in there for you. I suspect something of great value, too.’
‘Gifts? Do you think me that simple?’
Simple, never, but what was between them warred with what must be.
Conflicts. Betrayal. Treachery. He’d married her to gain control over his future, over his life—instead, he was even more powerless than before.
He wouldn’t apologise for what he’d done because he’d done it out of loyalty and honour to his family and clan.
However, this woman was his wife in name at least, she’d been working since his arrival and he knew she’d gotten little sleep.
‘Do you need food?’
‘I need to stay here.’
‘Won’t a servant return?’ When Ailsa shook her head, he asked, ‘What of your sisters? Do they not help?’
‘They’re young. Twins.’
‘I don’t remember seeing them at evening meal.’
‘They weren’t there,’ she said.
‘Because Lochmores were dining?’
‘What do you think?’