“What…” she began, closing her eyes as a sharp pain shot through her head. “What happened?”
“Ye fainted,” Hazel said softly, rising and grabbing a linen. As she dipped it in a bowl of water, she murmured, “Ye gave us all quite a fright. It seems we should have given ye the full day to rest in yer chambers before takin’ ye to the great hall.”
“Do ye have any pain?” Isla asked, going to the rows of tinctures. “Did ye irritate yer injuries any?”
“Just me head,” Amelia said. She tried to sit up, but Hazel gently pushed her down, draping the cloth over her forehead.
“Have ye had any faintin’ spells before?” Hazel said, accepting a vial when Isla passed it to her.
“Nay. Nay before me time in the tower,” Amelia murmured, obediently opening her mouth so the woman could drip some of the herbal liquid beneath her tongue. “I’ve nae had anythin’ like that happen to me before when I wasnae hungry.”
Mrs. Rowan came into view then. She had her hands on her hips, her eyes scanning over Amelia’s body. “Did anythin’ happen before? Somethin’ that may have brought it on?”
Darragh’s questioning returned to her in vivid detail. The more he had pushed, the less in control of herself she became. It had felt as if her brain was shutting down.
“Nay,” she said after a beat too long, closing her eyes so she wouldn’t have to look at any of them. “Nay, nothin’ brought it on. One minute, I was speakin’ with Laird Fraser, and the next, I woke up here.”
Mrs. Rowan made a noise, a cross between acceptance and disbelief. “I see. We’ll keep ye here until yer headache subsides. Then ye’re goin’ back to yer chambers. Ye’ll stay there and rest. I’ll inform Larid Fraser that ye need to take yer meals there for the next day or so.”
“Faintin’ is nae good for yer recovery,” Isla said before Amelia could respond.
“She’s correct,” Hazel agreed, giving Amelia a soft smile when she opened her eyes again. “But sleepin’ is.”
“Ach, then I suppose I have nay choice but to rest,” Amelia muttered as she looked up at the ceiling. Though she was removed from the situation, the probing and the accidental exposure sat on her chest like a physical weight.
He cannae ken the whole truth. Nay one needs to ken.
* * *
Darragh paced his study, his hands clasped behind his back. After seeing Amelia faint, he couldn’t sit still, nor could he stand to be around others.
How can I protect her from somethin’ I cannae strike?
Three sharp knocks brought him out of his thoughts. His head snapped to the door, and he gruffly commanded, “Enter.”
Mrs. Rowan stepped inside, her face betraying none of her emotions. She raised an eyebrow at his pacing, crossing her arms as she studied his posture. Finally, she said, “Ye requested me?”
“Aye,” he confirmed, gesturing for her to take a seat as he went to his own. “I’d like to ken how Amelia is doin’.”
“Physically, she’s doin’ well. I already see a bit of improvement in the wounds she arrived with,” she said as she settled into her seat, perched at the end of it. “Hazel and Isla are workin’ with her wonderfully.”
“Do ye ken why she fainted?”
The healer sighed, scratching at the back of her hand before meeting his gaze again. “I daenae ken why exactly. She says she dinnae suffer from spells like this before the hunt. It could be the malnutrition catchin’ up with her.”
“Ye sound as if ye’re nae convinced.”
Mrs. Rowan raised her eyebrow, crossing her arms as she said, “Well, I cannae be sure, but perhaps, she’s carryin’ wounds that cannae be healed with tinctures and proper meals.”
“I’m nae sure I ken what ye mean,” Darragh replied, his eyes narrowing.
“Her injuries go far beyond the ones inflicted on her body,” Mrs. Rowan explained slowly. “I heard from Jinny, ye were askin’ Amelia questions about her past before the incident.”
“I was,” he replied, crossing his arms over his chest. “I daenae see how that’s related.”
“I believe it was yer pushin’ that brought on the faintin’ spell,” she said, her eyes never leaving his. “Pressin’ her for answers too quickly may do more harm than good.”
“Well, I’m meant to be findin’ her family,” he pointed out gruffly, pushing back against the notion that questions could have caused a physical reaction. “It’s me duty to find out if shebelongs somewhere and then return her there safely. I cannae do that if she doesnae share any information with me.”
