“No,” he groaned. “Wait. Let me just sit here for a moment.” Isa. The memory of what had happened to him flooded back. How long had he been out? “Is she still at the feast? With yer laird?”
“Aye.” The boy nodded his head. “They are all still there. But Mistress Isa grew worried when you dinna return and summoned me to go find you.”
Robert ran a hand over the back of his head, fingering a walnut-sized knot that had formed. He sat against the wall, tucked back in a corner and, from the smell of it, not far from a garderobe.
This certainly wasn’t where he’d been when he’d lost consciousness. Whoever had managed to get the best of him must have dragged him here. For what reason he couldn’t guess, any more than he could say the identity of who he’d fought, which made it all the worse. There were too many unknowns for comfort.
One thing he was sure of. Although he might not have any ideawhohad attacked him, he had a damned good idea ofwhy.
“Well, lad, what say we see if you can help me haul myself to my feet?”
Sliding his back up against the wall, Robert pushed to stand, pausing to let a wave of dizziness pass.
Slowly, with Jamie at his side, he made his way back to the hall, where music and the joyous noise of people filled with spirits poured from the doors.
His head was clear now. The danger to Isa was too great for him to take any more chances. Not until he had her in her room, behind a bolted door, could he allow himself to relax his guard.
“Yer not going in there like that, are you?”
Robert froze, considering Jamie’s words. He was likely a sight, if he looked at all like he felt, and drawing attention to what had happened was the last thing he wanted.
“Yer absolutely correct, lad. Would you mind going to fetch my sword and Mistress Isa? Bring them both here to me?”
“Aye, Master Robbie.”
The boy’s serious expression prodded Robert to stop him.
“Hey, Jamie. I just want to say, you’d make someone a fine squire.”
The boy turned to look at him. “Do you mean that? Honestly?”
When he nodded, Jamie’s look of disbelief cracked into a smile that all but broke Robert’s heart. One side of the boy’s face lit with joy while the other didn’t move at all, frozen as it was in a mask of scar tissue.
If only he could get Jamie back to his time. Maybe something could be done to save his sight or ease his suffering in some way. But those were considerations for another time. For now he had to focus on getting Isa upstairs and behind bolted doors.
In moments she was at his side, her shock at his appearance evident in her expression.
“What in the name of all that’s holy has happened to you? Who did this?” She whirled around as if to return to the hall, but he grabbed her elbow to keep her there.
“No. We dinna want any attention to this now.”
“Someone’s done this and they need punishing for it.” Her eyes flashed with her conviction.
“No now, Isa. Please listen to me.” He needed something, anything, to convince her to do as he wanted. “Just help me upstairs.”
“Oh!” Her mouth rounded in a little circle, her eyes opening wide. “What a fool I am. Of course. Yer injuries want tending. Come along.” She draped his arm over her shoulders as she sidled up close to him.
He should have remembered sooner. All he needed to do was let her think he couldn’t take care of himself. His ego wasn’t so large it prevented him from playing along.
“Here’s yer sword.” Jamie’s arms shook as he held the weapon out. “I have to go now. The stable master will be angry if I dinna finish my evening chores.”
Robert slipped the strap of the sword’s sheath over his arm and allowed Isa to assist him up the stairs. When they reached her bedchamber, he entered first, searching the room to make sure no one waited inside.
“The chamber is clear. When I leave, yer to bolt the door and allow no one entrance, no matter what they say.” He intended to find a spot in the hallway from which he could watch her door. Losing one night’s rest would be a small price to pay for knowing she was safe.
“Leave? Yer no leaving anywhere until I’ve had a look at what’s been done to you. Now sit yerself down on that stool and remove yer shirt while I light some more of my grandfather’s expensive candles.”
“There’s no a need for me be taking off any of my...”
