Around the bend in the road, avoiding the animals and people. Rory wanted to pick her up and run even faster. A cure. A cure. Was it possible?
‘My clothing is what you want to talk about?’
He wanted to discuss everything. He wanted to stop time and hold his wife longer. His legs were unsteady, the fullness in his chest at his good fortune, making it hard to breathe. The moment she’d swiped that parchment, the look of unfettered joy and fear in her eyes...
‘Ailsa, tell me.’
‘In a moment, I can’t...’ She ran out of breath.
He shoved open the door to the kitchens. While she frantically grabbed mint, cloves, she ordered a servant to find Hannah and procure hot water and salt.
She hurried back to the keep, her arms full of herbs, and he followed her. Running up the stairs, she barged into Paiden’s room. Mary was there, a tincture in her hand, a spoon lifted to his lips.
‘Stop!’
Mary jerked, the wooden spoon flew and thumped against the wall.
‘How much did you give him?’ Ailsa demanded.
Stumbling in her haste to stand, Mary blurted, ‘Nothing yet.’
‘Yet?’ Ailsa felt her legs give under her and Rory was suddenly by her side. His arms steadying her though he couldn’t know what was to come.
Mary’s brows rose. ‘Yet. I just lost the spoon.’
Ailsa pushed away from Rory and grabbed the spoon. It smelled of water, but the handle...
‘It was you.’
She couldn’t believe it. She trusted Hannah and Mary. They’d held conversations on scheduling Hamish’s care, ensuring that they were all well rested. It was rare that Ailsa actually sawMary. Their schedules didn’t usually meet, except it happened recently when Rory arrived.
‘I thought you wanted me to give constant doses of water to keep him hydrated.’ Mary glanced to Rory, then back, her face calm, but something flickered in her eyes.
Fear? Most likely.
‘Water, yes. Rosemary, no.’ Ailsa brandished the crumpled parchment, handing it to the servant, who blanched, but quickly handed it back.
‘It’s only rosemary,’ Mary said. ‘Do you want me to administer—?’
‘Stop. Did you give him rosemary today? I need to know.’
‘You want to talk about herbs?’ Mary clenched and twisted her fingers.
‘Rosemary wouldn’t harm anyone,’ Rory said.
‘High doses of it will,’ Ailsa answered. ‘Concentrated and continuous and a person might not wake up.’
She charged around to Paiden’s bed. Smelled his breath, his hand, his clothes, the bed linen. ‘It’s all over him.’
The door slammed open. Frederick stormed in with Hannah carrying a steaming bucket which she placed on the floor.
‘Rory, you’ve got to change his clothing and the linens. I won’t be able to move him. Hannah,can you gather fresh ones, but smell them first. There can be no rosemary, do you understand?’
Hannah’s wide eyes glanced to Paiden, then Mary. ‘I’ll go now.’
Ailsa pointed. ‘Father, bolt the door and stand by it.’
Mary’s eyes darted towards the exit, but her father didn’t question her request. Once Hannah left, they were all locked in a room that suddenly was as silent as a tomb and just as ominous.
