Chapter Thirty-Two
When Mia arrived at Glenblath Castle, Eilidh ushered her inside.
The older woman looked as if she’d aged ten years since Mia had last seen her.
Her face pale, forehead lined with distress, eyes glistening with unshed tears, she stood in the doorway, swaying from side to side as if she might faint any moment.
“Forgive me for sending for ye so late, Mia. Has my son told ye the news?”
Mia glanced at the huge Highlander who’d returned to her doorstep a broken man, not half an hour after they’d parted. Then she placed a hand on the older woman’s arm.
“You should rest, Eilidh. Take some sweet tea. I can see to the girl. It’s Ailsa, isn’t it?”
“I’ll take ye to her,” Hamish said. “She’s in the maids’ chamber on the top floor.”
He led her along the stone passageway, then up a series of winding staircases until they stood before an arched wooden door, which Hamish knocked on, then opened to reveal a chamber with three beds. The bed beside the window was occupied, and beside it sat a thin, gray-haired woman.
“Elspeth?” Mia entered the room, removing her shawl. “What’s happened here?”
“It’s young Ailsa, ma’am,” the maid said. “She wasnae feeling good last night, so I sent her to bed early.”
Mia approached the bed and suppressed a cry. The young maid’s face was flushed with fever, her forehead glistened with moisture, and her hair clung to her face in damp curls. With each inhalation, she shuddered.
There was no doubt as to her ailment. Her face and neck were dotted with angry red sores that stared mockingly at Mia to remind her of the sores she’d first seen on her father’s face, and then in the mirror—marks to herald the onset of a siege from the Grim Reaper himself.
“It’s smallpox, isn’t it?” Elspeth asked. “I can see it in yer eyes.”
Mia took Ailsa’s hand, which lay limply in hers. “I’m afraid so.”
“Devil’s ballocks!” Hamish cried, his expression filled with horror.
“You need to leave,” Mia told him.
“But the lass is my responsibility. I’m her laird and it’s my duty to take care of everyone. And ye’ll need help. I should stay for her sake.”
“You must leave for your sake,” Mia said, tempering the swell of fear as she met his gaze. “You’ve not had the vaccine. You’re not safe.”
“Th-then what…?”
Mia’s heart almost broke at the desolation in his eyes, and she took his hand.
“The best thing you can do for her—and for everyone—is to keep yourself safe,” she said.
“Go to your chamber, or your study. Remain there until I can be certain that there are no more infections. Mrs. McBride can send you food, and when I’ve treated Ailsa here, I can vaccinate you.
Everyone who hasn’t taken vaccine is at risk. ”
“Then I must warn them,” he said. “Sweet Lord Almighty, why did I not order them as laird to take the vaccine? I have failed them—and I’ve failed ye.”
“Protect yourself, Hamish, and you will not have failed anyone.”
He lowered his gaze to her hand where she’d taken his.
“I’ll do as ye say,” he said. “Elspeth, I command every soul under this roof to obey my wife’s commands, without question. She’s the only one who can save us.”
“Aye, Master Hamish.”
He squeezed Mia’s hand and released it. Then he placed his hand over his heart.
“Elspeth,” Mia said, “tell me what happened to Ailsa.”
“Aren’t ye going to treat her?”
“Yes, but the most urgent task is to understand how she caught the disease and from whom, so we can ensure it doesn’t spread.”
Elspeth nodded. “She took ill last night. I sent her to her chamber, but when I came up later, she was quiet, and I didnae think to check on her. Och—it’s my fault!”
“It’s nobody’s fault,” Mia said. “If she was already infected, there’s nothing you could have done.”
“I could have sent for ye.”
“I’m here now, and I’ll do everything I can. Now, where did she go before last night? Did she meet anyone?”
“She had her Sunday afternoon off with the young lad who’s courting her.”
“Who?”
“One of the MacDouglases. She said his ma had been taken ill.”
“And Ailsa came straight here afterward?”
“She’ll have visited her family first,” Elspeth said. “Ailsa might be a flighty lass, but she’s fond of her ma and her wee brother, even if her da’s a big brute.”
“Evie…” Mia whispered, ice-cold fingers of fear clawing at her stomach. “We must send a message to Murdoch—tell him to keep his family at home until I can visit them.”
“Let me,” Hamish said. “Murdoch’s a stubborn fool, but he’ll not ignore an order from his laird.”
“Very well,” she said. “And you must send messages to every family that has not taken the vaccine and tell them to do the same. I have a list at the cottage.”
He nodded. “Aye, I saw it. I’ll go myself.”
“No!” Mia said. “You must remain inside.”
“Then I’ll send Brodie and Lachlan. I saw them outside earlier.” He approached the door, then paused. “What if anyone’s showing signs of sickening?”
“Have them brought to me at Riverview Cottage,” Mia said. “I’ll use my parlor as a hospital.”
“Och, no, lass, ye can have a chamber here. Ye’ll need all the help ye can get. Elspeth, see to it, will ye?”
The maidservant glanced at Ailsa, then rose and bobbed a curtsy before exiting the chamber.
“Do ye need anything?” Hamish asked.
“Some water and clean cloths,” Mia said. “I’ve brought everything else I need.”
“I’ll bring ye some.”
“No, you cannot return.” Mia gestured to the sick girl in the bed. “It’s not safe for you.”
“Tomorrow, then? Will it be safe tomorrow?”
She shook her head. “If we can contain the infection, it might be safe in a few days. But if it’s spread, it could take weeks, given how many people hereabouts are not vaccinated. That’s why it’s important to isolate not only the sick, but those who are not protected.”
He took her hand, then lifted it to his lips.
“Mia, forgive me for not taking the vaccine sooner—and for not persuading others to do so.”
“There’s nothing to forgive,” she said. “You love the people here in your care. I’m sorry if I ever implied otherwise.”
“I’m a fortunate man to have ye. I lo—” He hesitated, then nodded. “Thank ye,” he whispered. “I’m glad ye’re here. I’m proud to call ye wife, even if I’ll soon no longer be able to do so.”
She curled her fingers around his, and his nostrils flared. But before she could respond, the door opened and Elspeth returned.
“Mrs. Bron is organizing the great hall for ye, ma’am,” she said. “She’s asked if ye’ll be wanting to stay here at the castle while ye treat the sick.”
Mia turned to Hamish, and saw nothing but the most intense need in his eyes.
“Please,” he whispered. “We need ye—I need ye,”
At length, she nodded, and her heart swelled at the flicker of hope in his eyes.
“Mrs. Bron says we’re all to be at yer disposal for as long as ye need us,” Elspeth added.
“Thank you,” Mia said. “I pray it shall not be for long.”