Page 68 of Ghost of the Ton

“No, I can do that,” Mia said. “I’ll need to visit Ada to make sure she’s recovering, and I can give you a tea to brew to help with the pain, Mrs. MacLennan. She might experience some swelling around the joint, but that’s to be expected. The tea will help.”

“Och no, I cannae afford—”

“There’s no charge,” Mia said.

“But if ye’re a physician…”

“I’ve agreed with”—Mia glanced at Hamish—“with Lord MacLennan that as long as I’m here, I shan’t charge anyone needing medicine or treatment.”

“Really? Why’s that?”

Mia opened her mouth to reply then closed it again and caught a glimmer of guilt in Hamish’s eyes.

“That’s right,” he said. “There’s no need to concern yerself with payment. Just make sure yer lass is well again. And I’ll still send Elspeth to tend to yer lass while ye’re teaching at the school.”

“Do you teach the children?” Mia said.

The woman nodded.

“But if that Billy’s responsible for what happened to my Ada, I’ll not want him in the school,” Allan said. “What he needs is a damned good leathering on that hide of his, and if Murdoch won’t do it, then I will.”

“But what will that teach him?” Mia said. “Bullies never learn through being struck. Better to teach him the consequences of what he’s done.”

“Aye—a sore arse.”

“Lady MacLennan’s right,” Ada’s mother said. “I wonder…” she began, then she shook her head. “No, I cannae ask it.”

“Ask anything,” Mia said. “If it’s in my power, I’ll help.”

The woman curled her arms around her daughter and rocked her to and fro. “I wouldnae have known what to do for my Ada, ma’am. Would ye show me? And…I can show the children at school. Perhaps if Billy learned the consequences of hurting my lass, he’d not do it again.”

“I still think he needs a good leathering, Aileen, love.”

“Well, with Murdoch as his da, the lad already gets plenty of those,” Hamish said.

“Which perhaps explains why the boy bullies those he deems weaker than himself,” Mia said.

“That’s his da’s choice and there’s nothing a lass can do about it,” Allan said.

“Other than teach him a better way,” she replied, her temper rising. Why was it that a man was given free rein to beat his children merely because of his sex?

She turned to the woman and took her hand. “Mrs. MacLennan, I’d be delighted to show the schoolchildren something about medicine. Perhaps we can discuss it tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

“When I visit Ada to see how she’s doing,” Mia said. “Which reminds me…” She placed a light hand on Ada’s head. “Did I not say I was going to find something special for a brave girl?”

Ada’s eyes flared with delight. “Ooh, yes!”

“Are you fond of shortbread? I didn’t bake it myself—Mrs. McBride is to be thanked for that. But I think you’ve earned a slice. Or perhaps two. What do you say?”

“Can I, Ma?” The girl turned to her mother, hope gleaming in her eyes.

“Just this once, Ada, lass,” came the reply. “If ye’re sure, Lady MacLennan?”

Mia made her way to the kitchen, took three pieces of shortbread, then returned. “I’ve brought a piece for you, Jamie, for being such a gallant young man.”

The boy blushed and lowered his gaze.