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Helen cracked open her eyes and stared at him with a glittering, sickly, unseeing gaze.

“We need to go,” he said softly, his fingers playing with her hair. “Can you move?”

She nodded and struggled to sit up. Ian helped prop the pillow against the headboard and Helen leaned against it. “London?” she croaked out with a hoarse voice.

Ian took the cup of broth he brought from the village and brought it to her lips. “Drink,” he commanded and she complied easily. “Not London, bonnie lass.”

She frowned at him, but clearly had no strength to show her protest in a more aggressive way.

“I can’t take you to London. And I can’t just send you off on your own. You have to come with me.”

She shook her head.

“You are sick. You can’t make the journey on your own.”

She licked her lips. “It shall pass.”

“How soon?” A slight hope arose in his chest.

“A few days,” she croaked.

“A few days? You want me to leave you here for a few days? You are mad!”

The stubborn woman shook her head.

Ian gritted his teeth. “I know you are angry with me for using you to get to the viscount. I know that you have no reason to trust me. But I swear to you, nothing is more important to me than your well-being. I shall take care of you. And when we get to Scotland, I shall bring you the best doctors.”

She shook her head again. “No doctors.”

He couldn’t understand why she would be against seeing doctors, but at least, this time, she didn’t protest against him taking her away. So he took it as a win and brought the cup of broth back to her lips. “Drink up. We are leaving in a few minutes.”

Once she finished her broth, he helped her into the woolen dress and hauled her into his arms.

“I can walk,” she protested, but Ian shook his head.

“I need you to collect your strength. It is going to be a long journey.”

Sadness enveloped her gaze, and she bit her lip. “Perhaps it’s for the better.”

Ian frowned. “What do you mean?”

She shrugged. “I don’t want Laney seeing me sick. And perhaps it’s better if she starts getting used to me not being there.”

Ian’s frown deepened. He doubted little Laney would agree it was better that her mother wasn’t with her. “I can get her if you want. I can ask—”

Helen looked up at him and shook her head. “I don’t need some strangers taking her from the only home she knows. Besides, the St. Johns love her. They will take good care of her. ”

Ian couldn’t understand why she spoke as though she was never going to see her daughter again, but decided not to question her further. She was obviously in pain, and perhaps that made her have a pessimistic outlook on life. Maybe she knew their journey would not be short. And after her escape with him, perhaps St. John would try and take her child away from her.

Something tightened inside his chest. Ian would help her get Laney back. He would.

Still, he was the reason why a little girl would not see her mother for weeks. One more thing to feel guilty about.

Hopefully, she was too young to remember this separation for long. As soon as he brought Helen back home, they would resume their loving relationship.

He didn’t need to worry about that now. There was nothing he could do about it. His main concern was to get safely back home. And to figure out how to send proof of St. John’s involvement with the treacherous secret society The Shadows to the King.

As soon as the proof was received and he was reinstated back into the ranks, his safe passage back to London would be guaranteed. And then they would all resume their carefree lives.