Page 22 of Stolen by the Rival Scot (Tartan Trails of Love #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“ O ch, me God,” Morgana cried, gawking at Edward as he held Evelyn in his arms. “What is going on? Why is this happening?”

Edward had no time for her questions. He had to get Evelyn help. Shunting her up his body, he managed to get a firm grip on her. Only after that, did he move with great intention through the great hall.

Lifting her past the gawking faces and gasping guests who parted at his approach, Edward stormed out of the great hall and headed for the bedchamber. Behind him, Morgana and James ran to try and keep up with him.

“What can we dae, Edward?” Morgana cried.

“Fetch the healer, Morgana. Get him now. Send him tae our bedchamber.”

“Alright,” she replied, before running back the way she had come.

As calm as he wanted to remain, panic flooded through him as he climbed the wide staircase. He had no idea what was in that cake, but as Fergus said, the squire had been poisoned. Clearly, Evelyn had suffered the same fate.

“I cannae lose ye, little bird. I cannae lose ye. Nae now. Nae when ye’re only beginning tae spread yer wings. Please, Evelyn. Please stay with me.”

“It’ll be all right, Edward,” James said, now striding beside him.

But neither of them knew that to be true.

James hurried forward and opened the bedchamber door. Once inside, Edward laid her on the bed. Her face was pale, and her lips appeared to be turning blue. Edward was beside himself with worry, and letting his emotion rule him, his mind went blank.

“There must be something I can dae. There must be.”

James looked on aghast, for it appeared, he too, was clueless.

“The boy in our castle,” Edward blurted.

James knew exactly what Edward was talking about, and nodded. “The lad who ate the poison berries.”

“Aye,” Edward said.

“There is hope,” James replied.

“Nay. Nay, I dinnae care about hope,” Edward scowled in frustration. “I’m trying tae remember what the healer did.”

For another few seconds, Edward wracked his brain.

“Contamination,” he suddenly blurted.

“What?” James looked confused.

“They removed his clothes in case o’ contamination.”

James took a step back and shook his head. “I dinnae think it is me place tae help ye undress yer wife, Edward. Tell me what else I can dae.”

“Get Caitlin.”

Without a second of hesitation, James turned on his heels and headed for the door, leaving Edward to begin loosening Evelyn’s clothing. No more than a few minutes passed when the bedchamber door burst open again.

James remained at the doorway while Caitlin hurried inside.

“She was already on her way up,” James announced. With another glance at Evelyn, he added, “I’ll wait out here until ye are finished.”

Edward nodded as James closed the door.

“Och, me laird,” Caitlin cried. She was now beside the bed and her worried eyes were gazing down at her mistress.

“Help me, Caitlin. We need tae get her out o’ these clothes. They might be contaminated.”

Thankfully, Caitlin was a pragmatic girl, and though she was clearly distressed at the circumstances, she did not allow herself to be overcome with emotion.

Between them, they tugged at the laces of Evelyn’s corset, removed her ankle boots, shunted her frock from her body, and discarded her underclothes. Caitlin lifted Evelyn’s nightgown, and between them, they slipped it on her just in time for the arrival of the healer and Morgana.

“Me laird,” Fergus lamented, once Edward had welcomed him into the room. “This is most distressful.”

“It is. I need ye tae help her, Fergus. I cannae lose her. I just cannae.”

Fergus was a man in his sixties, his white wayward hair hanging low down his back. His beard and moustache were the same color, giving him a look of a wise old man. Tiny eyes were set into his head, and yet, they were calm, very much like the man himself. From what Edward had heard over the time he had been in the castle, Fergus was well versed in healings, tonics, and cures. He only hoped all that was true, for Evelyn’s life now rested in his hands.

“What are we tae dae?” Edward pressed.

Fergus approached the bed where Evelyn lay. Without a word, he took a long time examining her skin, her lips, her fingertips, and her eyes. Lifting each eye lid and examining what was beneath.

Edward could only stand by and watch. Caitlin did the same, but careful not to encroach, she remained at the far end of the room near the fireplace, pacing back and forth across the rug, twisting her hands. Morgana hovered near the bed, but still gave Fergus enough room to do what was necessary.

Eventually, Fergus approached. “Well, there is good news and bad news,” the old man said.

“Tell me the good news,” Edward blurted eagerly.

The old man nodded. “It appears Lady Evelyn has the same affliction as the young lad. The poison is the same. I cannae say what it is for certain. Nae yet, at least, but neither Lady Evelyn nor the young lad have ingested enough for it tae be deadly. And, from what I can see, too much would have killed them.”

“Thanks be tae the gods,” Caitlin breathed.

“And the bad news?” Edward pressed.

Fergus looked at him sadly. “It is going tae tak’ her a few days tae recover. She’ll likely have a fever, perhaps some sickness. But the sickness is good in a way,” the old man said as he shrugged. ‘Tis the body ridding itsel’ o’ what shouldnae be there. I will procure a tonic, but she shouldnae be left alone.”

“She willnae,” Edward declared. As an aside, he added. “Perhaps make more o’ that tonic than ye think ye might need, Fergus. I have a feeling Evelyn and the squire willnae be the only ones affected.”

“Aye, me laird. Freya is with the boy now. She will be a great help tae me and me assistant. Already, I can tell she has skills in the healing arts.”

“Good. Ye’re going tae need all the help ye can get if more are afflicted.”

Fergus turned and moved toward the door. “I will away, but I will return as quickly as I can.”

No sooner had the healer left, than another knock came at the door. Edward stormed toward it, pulling the door wide. There before him were James and Craig.

“Come in. Come in,” he said, standing back and beckoning them into the bedchamber.

James and Craig immediately looked over to the bed, their worry and despair evident on their faces at the sight of Evelyn lying there unconscious.

“How is she?” Craig said, already taking it upon himself to walk towards the bed.

Edward followed him as did the others. Eventually, all of them were stood around the bedside.

“She’s lucky,” Edward said. “According tae Fergus, she has been poisoned, but nae enough tae be life threatening.”

“God’s teeth,” Craig hissed.

Edward looked at his advisor. “I have a job fer ye, Craig.”

“Anything,” he replied eagerly.

“I need the castle locked down. Order the guards that nay one is tae leave the castle. Nae the guests, nae the staff, and particularly, nay one from the kitchens.”

Craig looked distressed, understanding the meaning behind Edward’s order. “Ye think it’s one o’ the servants?”

“I dinnae ken who it is,” Edward said firmly. “But I’m damned well going tae find out. It may have tae wait until the morrow, fer me concern is fer Evelyn’s wellbeing right now. Can ye dae that, Craig? ‘Afore any one has a chance tae leave?”

“O’ course,” Craig said. He cast a final glance at Evelyn. “She’ll recover, Edward. She’s stronger than she looks.”

“Let’s hope so.”

The two men clasped their arms together, and then Craig hurriedly left the room.

“What can we dae?” James said, after Craig had left.

Edward shook his head. “There’s naething ye can dae.”

“Well, I’ll be damned if ye think I’m leaving ye here tae deal with this alone. I’m staying here with ye.”

“That mak’s little sense, brother,” Edward replied. “What use is it if four o’ us are awake? That only means there will be four exhausted people wandering around the castle on the morrow.”

“Then, we’ll tak’ turns,” Morgana countered. “Ye’re nae alone in this, Edward. We can tak’ shifts.”

The three of them looked at him, waiting for Edward’s response. He could hardly stop them. And besides, it was obvious they were determined to help.

“Very well.” Edward nodded.

James seemed satisfied with that answer. “I will come and relieve ye in a few hours.”

“Nae,” Edward said determinedly. “I ken ye want tae help, but at nay time will I be leaving me wife’s side.”

The three looked at each other, but none of them tried to convince him otherwise, which Edward was grateful for.

Sometime later, Fergus returned to the bedchamber to find Edward, Morgana and Caitlin at Evelyn’s side. Like Edward, Caitlin refused to leave, telling Edward that she wouldn’t be able to sleep at any rate, so she might as well stay.

“I’m sure I’ll be useful fer something,” she said. “Even if only tae change the water.”

Edward understood Caitlin’s desire. She had been Evelyn’s maid for a long time, and the two were more than maid and mistress. He knew Evelyn saw Caitlin as a confidant and friend.

“How is the boy?” Edward asked, as Fergus set down a couple of brown colored bottles on the dresser.

Fergus sighed and shrugged. “Like Lady Evelyn, he is still unconscious. I cannae treat someone who cannae swallow. I have left him with Freya. He’s in good hands. She is worried about Evelyn, but she kens that she cannae be in two places at once.”

“O’ course, she cannae. It is good that she is able tae help ye. It’s better if she stays with the lad,” Edward said.

Fergus lifted his eyebrows. “Och, I can well see her coming up here sooner or later.”

Over the following hours, Edward sat at Evelyn’s bedside. Fergus remained with him, and though the men spoke for a little while, the conversation eventually ran dry. Morgana also remained, keeping a close eye on Evelyn’s temperature. At times, when she felt she was getting too hot, she and Caitlin would work together, the maid providing the water, and Morgana holding a cold, damp cloth to Evelyn’s head.

Several hours passed, and James arrived to relieve his sister. Morgana was reluctant to go, but James talked sense into her.

“If Evelyn needs ye tomorrow, how will ye be able tae help her if ye are exhausted? Please, Morgana. Go and get some rest. If we need ye, I promise, we’ll call fer ye.”

“Fine, I will go. But I am returning in a few hours,” she said determinedly.

Fergus also stood, announcing his departure. “I will relieve Freya. I’m sure she is tired too.”

“Thank ye, Fergus,” Edward said. “But be certain tae get some rest yersel’.”

The old man smiled. “I can rest when I’m dead.

Once Morgana and Fergus were gone, James made small conversation for a while, but again, the men eventually fell silent.

A little while later, Freya arrived, to the surprise of both men.

“Ye are meant tae be getting some rest,” James argued.

“And I will,” she replied softly. “But I wanted tae come and check on Evelyn.”

There was no point arguing. Clearly, all the women in this family were as stubborn as each other. After checking Evelyn’s forehead, Freya pulled a chair over and sat beside her husband, resting her head on his shoulder. There was nothing any of them could really do but wait. A new day arrived, and dawn broke. As promised Morgana arrived to relieve James. She was surprised to see Freya, and the women shared a few words, but soon afterwards, James and Freya left together. Caitlin was now dozing on another chair.

“Ye look exhausted, braither,” Morgana murmured quietly, looking sadly over at him after she had lowered herself into one of the vacated chairs. “Perhaps ye, too, ought tae rest.”

Edward shook his head firmly. “I cannae. I need tae be here when she wakes.”

“Then lie beside her,” Morgana countered, nodding to the space where he usually slept. “This is yer bed, after all.”

“Perhaps later,” Edward compromised.

An easy silence fell between them for a while, and then Morgana said, “Ye love her, dinnae ye?”

Had any other asked him that question, he might have reacted differently. He might have been annoyed at their impertinence, or denied their assumption in order to keep his business to himself. But it was Morgana, his baby sister. A lass whose outlook on life could, at times, be na?ve to say the least. And yet, whatever way she looked at things, she always appeared happy.

She had been that way since she had been old enough to walk. A happy baby, a happy child, and now, grown and blossomed into a woman who always saw the good in people, and looked at life in a way others found difficult to see.

Looking across the bed, he gazed at her, a soft smile dancing at the corner of his mouth.

“Ye dae, dinnae ye?” she pressed. “I wasnae sure when I first arrived here. In fact, I was worried that ye were utterly miserable. But something has changed in the last few days. An I think I ken what it is.”

Edward was curious now. “Go on.”

A flash of doubt crossed Morgana’s face, and she hesitated for a second. Then, taking a steadying breath, she said, “I think it was the attack, Edward. Maybe ye doubted how ye felt ‘afore it, but the attack has put things intae perspective fer ye.”

He considered her conclusion and nodded at her.

“I kent it,” she blurted with a grin.

“But ye are only half right.”

The smile fell from his sister’s face. “What part did I get wrong?”

Edward gazed at her. “The part where I only came tae the conclusion that I was in love with her after the attack.”

Perhaps he would never have thought about it had Morgana not brought it up, but in their conversation, Edward realized that he had actually been in love with Evelyn for a while. The fact that Evelyn had made things so difficult between them had likely not helped his clarity on his feelings, for every day had been a battle. But now, as he sat there by her bedside, wondering what their future held, he knew it to be true.

“Daes she ken?” Morgana asked.

“Nae,” Edward shook his head.

His sister’s eyes widened. “Ye havenae told her?”

He smiled sadly. “It’s been complicated.”

“Or, ye’ve been too scared,” she challenged.

“Scared isnae the right word. Ye have tae understand, Morgana. Evelyn didnae want this union. But while she’s fought me every step o’ the way, I think it’s because she’s been frightened. She’s lost so much that I think she’s resisted even more because she’s terrified o’ allowing herself tae get close tae anyone again.”

Morgana did not reply to that, and for a long time, the two of them sat in silence. Edward couldn’t know what might be going through his sister’s mind, but he hardly cared. He had enough things going through his own.

Strangely, it was only as those words echoed around his head that he really allowed them to sink it. Evelyn had lost much. She had lost her parents in the most dreadful way. Over the weeks, Craig had elaborated on what he had told him in the stables that night. When Edward had discovered that her parents had been robbed and beaten to death while Evelyn had hidden in the carriage, hearing it all, he had been both stunned and appalled. How did a tiny child deal with or get over that?

And then, she had lost the man who had taken their place. The man who had offered her the comfort she so readily needed, guiding her, loving her, and raising her as his own. Was it any wonder she didn’t want to attach herself to any other? And angry at his clan for taking her uncle away from her?

He heard a light mumble as Morgana’s voice broke into his thoughts.

“What?” Edward said, not hearing her the first time.

“I said, ye should tell her.” His sister looked at him with a determined gaze. “The way forward fer ye two is tae be honest with each other. She needs tae ken how ye feel.”

“And then what?” Edward shrugged. “Scare her half tae death? We’ve only got tae the point where we’re finally connecting.”

“How can ye telling her that ye love her make that any worse? It actually goes against what ye are saying, Edward. If ye are connecting, telling her how ye feel will only connect ye further.”

“I dinnae ken if that’s true, Morgana. Nae with Evelyn.”

His sister hitched her eyebrows. “Well, ye’ll nae find out unless ye try.”

“I dinnae relish the idea o’ terrifying her so much that we go back tae the way things were ‘afore. Maybe she just needs time.”

“Aye. Or maybe, ye’re just a coward.”

As the silence fell between them again, Edward had to consider that possibility. Was his sister right? Was he just a coward?

He contemplated that for a long time, his mind going back and forth, arguing with himself. By the time the sun had risen, and Craig and James arrived at the bedchamber to see how Evelyn was, he was still no closer to an answer.

“How is she?” James asked, walking to the side of the bed and gazing down at Evelyn.

“There hasnae been much change, I’m afraid,” Edward said, stifling a yawn.

James gave him a stern look. “Ye need tae rest, brother. This is madness. Freya and I have both had a few hours’ sleep. She is back with the boy, and I can sit with Evelyn.”

“Nay,” Edward said stubbornly. “Truly, I am grateful fer what ye and Freya are daen. But I willnae leave me wife.”

Edward then turned to Craig. “I trust ye carried out me instructions last night.”

“I did, Edward,” Craig replied. “I need tae warn ye. Some o’ the Council members are nae happy about it.”

“I dinnae give a damn about the councilmen’s feelings,” Edward spat. “A traitor is in our midst. A traitor who could have killed me wife, and God only kens how many others.” Edward suddenly stopped in his tracks, his eyes flying wide. “Are there others who are sick?”

Craig nodded. “Aye. About eight altogether, nae including Evelyn and the boy.”

“So, ten then,” James concluded.

“And the councilmen are worried about the guests, are they?” Edward spat angrily. “Well, we’ll see about that. I want ye tae call a meeting. Everyone is tae be ready in a half hour.”

With a single nod, Craig left the room.

“Are ye sure ye’re up fer this braither?” James pressed.

“If the Council want tae question me decision,” Edward scowled, “they’ll bloody well dae it tae me face. This kind o’ an attack in me own castle willnae be something I will tolerate.”