Page 10 of A Fine Scottish Spell (The Magical Matchmakers of Seven Cairns #2)

“Aye, Grennove.” With a reassuring smile, Inalfi took Emily’s tea away, returned it to the tray, then lifted that and held it aloft. “Once they get ye settled again, I shall have ye a fresh cup to enjoy. Daren’t ye worry,” she told Emily.

With less pain than Emily anticipated, Grennove and Breenoa soon had her settled on a pallet of warm, damp linens that worked as efficiently as a proper heating pad—even though the moisture was seeping through her leggings.

She wished they had used one of those resin cloths between her and the linens, but she supposed that would defeat the whole moist heat therapy idea.

Thank heavens they hadn’t pushed the shift issue.

She needed to be fully dressed when she tried the spell.

Inalfi once again presented a fresh cup of tea to Grennove for more herbs, then offered it to Emily. “Would ye like a biscuit or two? I brought shorties, treacles, and jam prints all. Some of Cook’s best.”

Emily was afraid to eat, especially with her plan of trying the serenity incantation again as soon as everyone left the room. “Just tea for now, thank you.”

Inalfi’s tranquil demeanor didn’t falter. She simply nodded and stepped back as though waiting to jump at Emily’s next command.

“Well, then,” Grennove said. “Breenoa and I shall be off. We will return in the morning to see how ye fared through the night. Inalfi can manage changing the cloths and seeing to yer comfort.” She bowed before hopping down off the wooden step stool.

“Good rest to ye, m’lady. Have Inalfi fetch us should aught cause ye concern. ”

“Thank you and Breenoa both.” Emily sipped her fresh tea, wondering how she could get rid of Inalfi, too, since it sounded as though the maid intended to stay in the room and watch over her.

After the healer and her assistant left, Inalfi flitted about the chamber, tidying anything that might be remotely out of place, even going so far as to return the large, round table that had been pushed over to the bed, back to its place in front of the window.

“Once all the heat leaves those linens,” the maid said, “we shall get ye into a nice fresh shift. That will help ye settle in for the night.”

Settle in for the night, my Aunt Fannie.

Emily smiled and nodded while holding the teacup to her lips, as if she could hide behind it.

She really didn’t want to change before trying the spell again.

She was more comfortable, more self-assured in her twenty-first century clothing.

They acted like an anchor, a trail of breadcrumbs back to her time.

Ishbel had often advised her to use something besides her beach vision to focus her thoughts.

Her clothing and her cell phone would serve that purpose just fine.

She finished her tea, then stretched to place the cup and saucer on the bedside table.

Inalfi jumped to take it from her. “There, now! Dinna hurt yerself. I am here to serve ye, m’lady. Please dinna hesitate to ask me for whatever ye need.”

“Thank you, Inalfi. I’m just not used to having someone jump to do everything for me.”

“Well, ye have me now.” Inalfi threw out her chest and preened like a tiny peacock. “I am proud Mrs. Thistlebran chose me to care for ye.”

“I’ll try to remember to ask for help.” Emily shifted her left leg and smiled.

The pain wasn’t nearly as bad as before.

“My hip already feels better because of everyone’s care.

I appreciate each of you.” She hoped they would remember that when they discovered she had disappeared back to her time.

Think positive. The spell would shoot her back to her time just like it had shot her here.

That would definitely grant her some serenity.

A slight misgiving niggled at the back of her mind.

What about Gryffe? She would never see him again.

She rubbed her knuckles up and down her breastbone, trying to erase the subtle burning ache that had settled deep in her heart at the thought of him.

How could she already miss him? She’d only known him a few hours.

It had to be heartburn from whatever herbs Grennove had added to the tea.

“Uhm…would you mind stepping out of the room for a little bit so I can use the chamberpot?” There had to be a chamberpot.

After all, this was the eighteenth century—even if it was an alternate reality.

Inalfi stared at her in befuddlement. “Ye will need my help, m’lady.

Yer leg might be feeling better, but Himself and Mrs. Thistlebran both said ye couldna walk.

” She nodded at the wooden privacy screen partitioning off a corner of the room.

“That there is a fair few steps for ye to make all by yerself. I can bring the bourdaloue to the bed for ye. Or do ye need the full sized pot for a hearty shite?”

“I can walk over there.” Emily tried to sound calm and firm without appearing too anxious. She didn’t want to arouse any suspicion. “I can do it. Really.”

Inalfi folded her arms across her chest, narrowing her eyes and slowly tilting her head. “Himself insisted ye should never be left alone.”

“But that’s when he thought I couldn’t walk. I can now.”

“Show me.”

Determined to hide any amount of pain or discomfort, Emily slid to the edge of the bed and stood, placing all her weight on her right side, but resting her left foot on the floor to look as though some weight was on it as well.

Her hip throbbed and sent off a warning zing of pain down her leg.

She gritted her teeth and forced a smile. “See?”

“Ye’ve nay walked yet.” Inalfi was obviously unconvinced.

Clenching her teeth even tighter, Emily forced herself to take a step without flinching, and then she took another, and another.

Cold sweat peppered her brow, and she was so glad she hadn’t eaten.

As it was, the tea was about to slosh back out as her stomach stormed with the pain ripping up and down her leg.

She tossed a victorious look back at Inalfi. “See?”

With her delicate features puckered in a displeased scowl, Inalfi shook a finger at the door. “I shall leave ye long enough to fetch fresh linens. Not a moment longer, and when I return, we will be changing ye into yer shift so ye can keep yer bare arse against the warmed linens, ye ken?”

Emily forced an even wider smile and gave the maid a thumb’s up. “Perfect. Thank you.” She held her breath until Inalfi left, then sagged to the floor, struggling not to vomit from the pain.

“I can do this,” she said, forcing the words through clenched teeth.

She closed her eyes and hugged her cell phone to her chest, forcing herself to think of nothing other than using her phone in twenty-first century Seven Cairns.

Yes. She had it firmly in her mind. This would work. “ Tranquillitas!”

A ring of fire exploded around her. The flames crackled ever higher as the raging inferno’s circle slowly closed in to consume her. Panic shot through her, fueling the blaze even more. “No! Help!”