Page 24 of Stolen by the Rival Scot (Tartan Trails of Love #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

W hen Evelyn stirred, her head felt fuzzy and light as though she were going to faint, even though she was still lying down. Her mouth was so dry, she struggled to swallow. Flickering her eyes open, all she could see was a thin stream of light bleeding into the dark room. She concentrated on the light for a moment, trying to decide from whence it came.

Eventually, she realized that the drapes were not fully closed. She also concluded that it must only be dawn, for as bright as it was, the light appeared weak. It took her eyes another moment to adjust to the darkness of the room, and then, she turned her head slowly, her movements hesitant for fear she would feel even more dizzy than she already did.

Beside her, she saw the outline of a man in a chair. She didn’t need to see him clearly. She knew who it was.

“Hi,” she croaked.

Edward leaned forward then, allowing her to see him more clearly.

“Hello, little bird,” he murmured back.

She went to speak again, but found it difficult to swallow.

“Here,” Edward said, swiftly reaching for the jug beside him.

After pouring the water, he slipped a hand gently behind her head, lifting it a little so she could take a sip. Even that action was painful, and she winced before the cup reached her lips.

The cold water slid down her throat, feeling like nectar, as though she had walked a thousand miles without a drop to drink. Immediate relief came after a couple more sips, and then she nodded that she was done.

“I can hardly believe I am so thirsty,” she said, her voice still sounding hoarse.

“Well, ye havenae drank fer a couple o’ days,” Edward replied.

Evelyn frowned at his words, for they made little sense. “A couple o’ days?” She continued to gaze at him, trying to understand. “So, this… this isnae the day after the wedding feast?”

Edward smiled, shook his head, and leaned forward, stroking a stray hair from her cheek.

She looked at him more intently then, as though seeing him for the first time. Dark shadows hung under his eyes, his face drawn, and pale. Immediately, she knew why.

“Ye havenae slept.” It was a statement, not a question. “Have ye been here the whole time? Fer two whole days?” she croaked.

“I havenae been here the entire time,” he said softly. “I’ve had a little help from Freya, Morgana and James.”

“Still, ye havnae slept. I can see how very tired ye look,” she countered.

Evelyn then shifted, and pushing her hands into the mattress, she made a great attempt at sitting up a little more. Her head went dizzy as she did so, and she let out a small sound as the room seemed to spin.

Edward frowned at the effort it took her. “Please, Evelyn. Ye need tae tak’ it easy.”

“I’m fine,” she tried to argue, waiting for all the furniture to settle back in place.

“Aye, I can see that,” he quipped dryly.

“At any rate, I’ve clearly had more rest than ye. Ye cannae survive on nay sleep fer two nights, Edward. Ye just cannae.”

“Dinnae worry about me. Besides, I dozed a little last night. I couldnae keep me eyes open.”

“In that chair?” she balked. “That’s hardly a place tae rest at all.”

“It was enough. Besides, I couldnae leave ye, little bird. I was too worried about ye. Nor will I rest properly until I find out who did this.”

Confusion flashed across her face.

“Ye were poisoned, Evelyn. Dinnae ye remember? Ye, the young boy, and at least eight others suffered.”

“Are they?—”

“Everyone is being taken care o’. Like ye, they’ll take a few days tae recover. But I need tae get tae the bottom of this. First ye were attacked while on yer picnic, and then, they tried tae poison ye.”

Tilting her head a little, her eyes widened. “Ye think the two events are connected?”

Edward nodded. “I dae. Think about it, Evelyn. Ye’ve been targeted twice in the same month. Something is going on, and I willnae rest until I get tae the bottom o’ what it is and who is behind it.” He paused a beat. “Nor can I ignore the fact that this has all happened since we married.”

He looked so very serious as he spoke. Clearly, he had been anxious, which came as no surprise. She had been lying in that bed for two whole days. He had probably been out of his mind with worry. And he had not slept a wink.

Gazing at him, Evelyn could not help but admire his valor and determination. A soft smile rose on her lips as she considered that after all the sadness she thought this marriage would bring her, it had actually been the opposite.

“What are ye smiling about?” he asked, clearly confused, likely because of the subject matter.

She shrugged and let out a soft sigh. “I’m just glad I married ye. I am considering how lucky I am tae have such a protective, caring and kind husband. There are women thrown intae marriages who are less fortunate and end up with a brute.”

The corner of his mouth lifted and his eyes danced a little. “I was under the impression that ye did think me a brute,” he teased.

Without giving her a chance to answer, Edward then leaned forward and lightly pressed his lips against her forehead.

“Now, little bird. I need ye tae rest some more.” Edward stood from the chair and gazed down at her. “Ye are nae back tae full strength yet. Ye dinnae need tae worry. I’m going tae catch whoever did this, so they can never harm another hair on yer head.”

She watched as he turned from the bed, and only then, did she realize he was making his way to the door. “Are ye leaving?”

He turned at the plea in her voice. “Only fer a little while. I’ll send Caitlin tae tend tae ye, so ye’re nae left alone.” His hand was now on the door handle. “There are two guards outside this door.” He nodded towards the dark wooden oak. “Ye’re safe. The only ones allowed passed this threshold are yer maid and those o’ me family.”

He paused as he gazed back at her. An expression flashed across his face. Evelyn was nearly certain it was sadness. But then, it left as quickly as it had come.

“I’ll be back soon.” And then he turned the door handle, opened the door, and was gone.

Evelyn was left to sit there and ponder the fact that she had been unconscious for more than two days. She imagined the whole castle was worried sick, for she was not the only one who had been affected. Her mind wandered to the young lad who had collapsed in the great hall. According to Edward, he and the others were like herself. They had suffered, but at least they were recovering. Poor Edward had really had a difficult few days.

A soft smile crept to her lips at the thought of his tender care and affection. So worried for her had he been, he had refused to sleep. While she wished he had taken some rest, it still gave her a warm, glowing feeling inside that she meant so much to him. That he had sacrificed so much just to make certain she was tended to and looked after.

A little time later, Caitlin came rushing through the door. At the sight of Evelyn, her eyes flew wide.

“Och, me lady,” she gushed, rushing to the bedside. “Och, ye had me so worried. I thought I was going tae lose ye forever. Ye were so ill. It scared me tae death that I might never get tae see yer smiling face again.”

The words tumbled out of her like a fast-moving river, and Evelyn had to take Caitlin by the hand to comfort her.

“Caitlin. Please. I am fine. Ye have nay need tae worry.”

“That’s well fer ye tae say, me lady,” the flustered maid came back. “But sitting at yer bedside, with yer body succumbing tae the poison, wasnae easy fer any o’ us tae watch.”

Evelyn could not imagine how difficult that might have been, but perhaps more so for Caitlin. She had been her maid since Evelyn was a young girl of only eleven, and thus, they had shared many things together; secrets, experiences, pains, as well as the intricate journey of Evelyn blossoming into a woman.

“I’m sorry I worried ye so, Caitlin.”

That seemed to fluster the lass even more. “Och, dinnae say such things.” She shook her head. “It is ye who have suffered, me lady. Nae I.”

“Well, I assure ye, I feel a little better now.”

The maid gave her a long look. “Aye. Ye are looking better too, but ye are nae fully well just yet. I have me orders from the laird. Ye are tae tak’ things easy. Now, ye must be half starved, fer a morsel hasnae entered yer mouth in two days. What would ye like me tae get ye from the kitchens?”

Evelyn frowned at the idea of eating anything that might do her harm. Upon seeing her expression, and deciphering it, Caitlin quickly shook her head.

“The laird has guards in the kitchen now, me lady. They are watching the preparations o’ the food closely.”

“Edward thinks it was Cook?” Evelyn gawked.

“Nay. Nay. Nae at all.” Caitlin swiped a dismissive hand. “In fact, the laird spent all day yesterday questioning all the servants, including Cook. It took hours, but from what I hear, the he was satisfied it was nay one involved in the everyday preparing o’ the food.”

He has been busy, Evelyn thought to herself.

“Still,” Caitlin continued, “he was so angry at ye being poisoned, I think everyone was a suspect there fer a while. Most o’ us have been let off the hook, but the laird is determined tae discover the culprit.”

“Aye, so I hear,” Evelyn replied.

“Anyway. The important thing is, ye’re awake and looking far better. So, what can I bring ye from the kitchen?”

“I cannae say I’m very hungry,” Evelyn replied, smiling knowingly, “but I will tak’ a little something, if only tae halt ye from fretting about me.” .

Caitlin rewarded her with a smile of her own, her entire face lighting up at the realization that her mistress was truly recovering. Clearly, if she was fit enough to tease her maid, she had to be getting better.

“I swear, it will only be something light,” Caitlin called over her shoulder as she hurried across the stone floor to the door. “I willnae be long.”

And then, like Edward before her, the maid slipped out of the door and was gone.