Charlie sucked in a deep breath, forcing her heart and mind to settle a bit. “You’re right, of course. I just lost my head for a minute.”
Along with fear had come the sudden realization that they’d—she’d—left Johnny exposed. Had Sir Leslie tried to hurt him again, or even made an attempt on his life?
Kade gently chafed her hands. “You’re fine, sweetheart.”
Angus came puffing up to join them. “Yer ma and Melissa are in there. Yer housekeeper, too. They’ll be lookin’ after wee Johnny.”
Kade winced. “Melissa is in a sickroom?”
“I know it seems strange,” Charlie said, “but Melissa has been a surprisingly good nurse when any of us has fallen ill.”
“She was a right mess when Johnny fell, though,” Angus commented in a skeptical tone.
“She was simply startled. Besides, we could all tell right away that Johnny wasn’t really in danger. It’s when Melissa isn’t hysterical that one has to worry.”
Like now.
Angus grimaced. “That’s nae good.”
Riven with guilt, Charlie squeezed her eyes shut. “This is all my fault.”
Kade gently tugged on her hands. “Charlie, how could this be your fault?”
She opened her eyes, staring miserably up to meet his infinitely kind gaze. “Because I should have been keeping a better eye on him. What if Sir Leslie got in during the night and did something to him? Tried to . . .”
Poison him.
Her throat constricted around those words. If that brute had hurt Johnny in any way, she would never forgive herself.
“Lassie’s got a point,” Angus admitted. “The timin’ is too suspicious for my likin’. I wouldna put anything past that scabby varlet.”
“Nor would I,” Kade replied. “But Sir Leslie didn’t leave his room last night, so I’m not yet sure if we can blame this on him.”
Charlie blinked. “How do you know that?”
“Because I locked him in after he retired. I unlocked his door shortly after dawn, once I knew the servants were stirring.”
“How did you manage that?” she asked. “The keys are kept in the butler’s quarters.”
Kade shrugged. “I didn’t need a key to lock him in.”
Angus tapped the side of his nose. “Spycraft, I reckon.”
For a moment, Charlie was diverted. “That sounds very interesting. Will you teach me how to do it?”
“Of course, love,” he said with a fleeting smile. “I hope you won’t use it on me, though.”
Angus rolled his eyes. “We have nae time for yer flirtin’, laddie boy. We’ve got to find out what happened to Johnny. I still have my suspicions that Sir Leslie somehow got to the poor fellow. We need to be keepin’ a close eye on the varlet, in case he gives anythin’ away.”
“He’s a canny one,” Kade replied, “so I doubt he’ll express any emotion other than concern for Johnny. Still, we must certainly watch him.”
Just then, Charlie’s father hurried toward them from the other end of the hall. He was dressed in his riding gear but looked rather disheveled, as if he’d started to change but had then hastily thrown his clothes back on.
“What’s this I hear about Johnny?” he asked, clearly agitated. “Is it the fever? What in God’s name is going on?”
When Kade threw Charlie a warning glance, she gave him a slight nod in return. Obviously, he wasn’t yet ready to raise suspicions against Sir Leslie.
She pressed a reassuring hand to her father’s arm. “No, it’s not a fever. But apparently he was quite lethargic this morning.”
