That, out of all of this, was the most perplexing. So why was he visiting Paiden this morning, why wasn’t he confronting Frederick, why even now did his feet take him to Hamish’s room first?
He feared that it was because of Ailsa. Because without thinking this through, he had married her. Without thinking, not even once, if he proved the poisoner was Frederick, how could he face his wife?
Not his wife.
A thought that didn’t sit well with him. Rory raked his fingers through his hair. However, it was possible by not consummating the marriage, he’d done something right by her clan. He’d only thought of Paiden and Clan Lochmore, but he realised now Ailsa had a chance out of the marriage as well.
A deed done for the rightness of Clan Lochmore, for Clan McCrieff. To have a chance to right wrongs to their clans.
He wondered, however, if by denying them both last night, what wrong he’d done by them?
Chapter Ten
‘Idon’t know why he is like this today.’ Ailsa snapped the linen off Hamish’s bed.
This was a task she would have delegated to others, but Hamish wouldn’t have it and so, along with his waste bucket, she often replaced his ruined clothing and sweat-laden sheets. She didn’t do it because he was the Chief, she did it because it was her duty to God and to her craft. Hamish ordered her to do it because she was the Tanist’s daughter.
‘Last night, I couldn’t rouse him for the pain tincture,’ Hannah said, grabbing the other side of the fabric.
That was unusual. As was him still sleeping on the mattress that was laid on the floor as they replaced his bed with the new mattress. To keep his sores at a minimum, they did this often,and he just as often complained. Now they exchanged mattresses and he didn’t once wake.
For him to remain sleeping this long was concerning. He also hadn’t been awake last night when they went to talk to him before the marriage.
‘I thought you were seeing to Paiden?’ Ailsa said.
‘I was, but he was sleeping so I checked on Mary...just in case. She, I and Kit also helped get Hamish to the floor this morning before Kit left and Mary went to care for Paiden.’
It would have been helpful to have had Kit, the falconer’s son, stay to also get Hamish back on the new bed. ‘Did Hamish wake at all?’
‘Mary said that last night he woke to relieve himself and take some broth, but that was all,’ Hannah replied.
‘Anything else?’
Hannah scrunched her lips. ‘His breathing has changed since yesterday.’
Hamish was sick with an illness that was deadly and painful, but familiar. His uneven breath and deep slumber wasn’t usual. Something was wrong. ‘You should leave now, you’ve been up far too late and have done too much going from room to room.’
‘If I leave, who will help you with the mattress and Hamish?’
‘It’s not as if you can help lift him, either, and you need your sleep.’
‘I have slept some,’ Hannah said quietly.
‘You did?’ Ailsa said. ‘You never sleep. What brought that on?’
A pale blush went to Hannah’s cheeks.
‘Is there something you aren’t telling me?’ Ailsa said, dripping much humour into the words. Hannah with her generous curves loved to flirt and was pursued by many a male. If Ailsa didn’t find her at her duties, it was because some interest pulled her away. Maybe the blush was why Kit didn’t stay...
‘It wasn’t—’ Hannah flapped her hands in front of her. ‘I slept some because I didn’t know how long you’d be gone. I thought I’d help Mary with the linens this morning. It was your marriage night. I didn’t expect to see Rory enter Paiden’s room or for you to help with Hamish so soon.’
At the reminder of her marriage night, it was Ailsa’s turn to blush. As for the rest, she knew that Rory would go to Paiden first. He said he would and nothing in his countenance made her believe he lied. In fact, he forsook the marriage night altogether to see to his friend.
Her emotions were as tangled as her laces. Her reason warred with her heart. She’d exposed all of her body and part of herself to him, and she felt—No. She didn’t want to think about last night.
She’d think about here, now, and that Rory should be with his friend, but not Mary. ‘If Mary’s there and you’re here, we don’t have enough help for the daytime.’ Old Rhona would have planned their care better. But Rhona didn’t have to marry without a moment’s notice.
With Hamish on the floor and needing care, she couldn’t keep an eye on Paiden as well. There was no possibility Hamish would allow the Lochmore to share his chamber so that she could care for them both. ‘We’ll have to sort our shifts. Is it possible you could sleep—?’
