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Chapter Three
After what seemed like an interminable meal of embarrassment, Charlotte took herself to the library to continue her research. She knew that it was Julia’s last night for many weeks, but Julia would understand that the mysterious illness was very pressing and needed her immediate attention. Besides, Julia would be busy packing all evening, but they’d promised they’d see each other at dinner.
Besides, she needed a place to finally exhale to calm her nerves after the slightly embarrassing discussion of entertainment. Charlotte Andrews was no stranger to flirting, but this time, the insinuation was clear, and it gave her a little thrill. She was annoyed that it stuck in her mind, but it was partially true.
She did need something to entertain her while she lived her life out here in the wilds. At least here, she had freedom over her time, whereas in the barracks or back in London, she might have some freedom, but there would be other restrictions and activities she would be duty-bound to participate in.
She sighed and then took a deep breath of the lovely smell of leather and paper as she entered the library. Books were like holy artifacts, and both she and Julia were completely in awe of their power. They had both been blessed with a good education, and now, for Charlotte, it felt like she could never learn enough. She had depended so on her intellectual powers all these years, and now, with this illness confounding her, she felt weak and unprepared. It was similar to the way that Angus made her feel when he stared at her for too long.
Men and books are nothing alike. Why am I comparing them?She thought with frustration.
She began to scan the shelves, searching for The Anatomy of Humane Bodies by William Cowper. It was a book she had used in her own library at home after she had been taught some of her medical knowledge by a distant cousin. After Charlotte’s mother died, this cousin had taken pity on her grief and taught her all that he had known, as a doctor himself. But, then, he too, had died a few years later, and Charlotte continued to learn, grasping for any medical resources that she could find, leaving her father unaware of her new endeavor.
She finally found it and squealed with delight. She pulled it down from the shelf and moved to a desk in the far corner to open the tome and scan its pages. She was busy moving her fingers expertly across its yellowed pages, and her heart was thrumming with excitement. She knew the book so well, it felt a little like being home again. She knew each of the different diagrams. She remembered when she had first picked it up and was amazed at its weight as well as the drawings of body parts and functions. She was so lost that she did not hear footsteps behind her until a throat cleared.
She gasped but then turned to see Calum next to her, his arms behind his back. She clutched a hand to her chest. “Calum! You mustn’t scare anyone like that! I could have had a heart attack right here in your library just before you left on your trip!”
He chuckled. “Sorry, lass, I just wanted tae come and tell ye something.” He paused, and Charlotte turned, looking into his kind face.
“Is everything well?” she asked, wondering why her friend’s husband was looking concerned in front of her.
“Aye, all is well. I’m glad that we’ve asked ye tae stay on, if ye can, until our return. It is very important tae me that ye try and keep an eye on the clan, of course. The Campbell men might try tae come and see how we are faring while we’re away. If they see that many of the villagers are ill, it could bode ill against us. The Campbells may think that they’re dying of starvation and we arenae living up tae our deal.”
Charlotte nodded, attempting to appear casual. The mention of the Campbell name made a cold shiver start at the back of her neck and work its way down. Would it be like this for a long time? Remembering the man’s face who had almost taken her virginity without permission? The smell of him, the sweat upon his face as he pulled up his kilt, and the look of his tool, staring at her coldly, ready to plunge into her.
“Charlotte? Are ye all right, lass? Ye look pale.” Charlotte’s attention was taken back to the present when Calum called her name.
“Oh, yes, sorry, I was just thinking about the patients, of course.” She smiled, hoping he wouldn’t tell Julia anything that he noticed amiss. “I understand your concern about the people. I do hope I can sort it out quickly. I shall do my utmost.”
“Well, the other reason I wanted tae talk tae ye is tae say that I hope ye can stay tae help Angus too. Julia has a lot of duties with the clan, and since ye know them, I thought perhaps ye could take them on? Angus is very nervous about doing a proper job while I’m away. He is a better man than me, in more ways than one, but he doesnae believe it, and it will keep him awake at night, fretting about the clan. Help him, will ye nae?”
Charlotte uncrossed her arms and looked at Calum in surprise. “You want me to help your brother with bringing the clan back to rights?”
He nodded. “Aye. I know ‘tis a lot tae ask, but Julia and I dinnae know how long we will be away. The trial could take weeks or more. She doesnae know that I’m letting ye know all of this. She wouldnae want tae put too much on yer plate.”
She nodded slowly. “I will do my best. I will try to convince my father. I have prepared a letter to send out as soon as possible.”
“Thank ye, lass. My brother will be in need of a strong partner such as ye. But be careful; he would never admit it.” Calum smiled and winked and then left the room. At the desk, Charlotte sat poised over her book, surprised at what she had just heard.
She knew that it was appreciated that she stay to help with the healing, even though she was not a properly trained healer. But she thought Julia had mainly asked her to stay because she wanted to help Charlotte avoid the boredom and entrapment of barracks life. Charlotte didn’t expect this. A request from a laird to help his brother. It felt so purposeful, and it felt nice to be needed. Charlotte couldn’t avoid the pleasure of that feeling. It grew on her like a fever, and she felt the glorious joy of belonging somewhere, and she wished that her father would never ask for her to come and stay with him.
It wasn’t that he didn’t love her or that she didn’t love him. But he wanted her to be a perfect young lady. And she fit the bill in every sense of the word, except she knew she always wanted more than that. She wanted a life filled with something else. That’s why she never told him about her knowledge of medicine. And why she wrote in her letter that she was needed to help Julia in her female duties as lady of the clan while her cousin was away.
She knew that was something her father would approve of. Charlotte turned towards the book and fingered the pages lightly. Tears pricked at her eyes, annoying her. She had never been asked to help in any way before. It touched her, and she wished more than ever that she could make a success of her brief time as a healer before she would need to go. But she would have to study as hard as she could. She turned the page and came across the drawing of a man’s body.
She found herself staring at it, thinking once again about the Campbell man who had pushed her to the ground. The member in the picture was much the same, but instead, it hung limply against the man’s body, and Charlotte was intrigued by it. She was so intrigued that she didn’t notice a new shadow coming towards her in the library, and she jumped once more at the sound of her name.
She turned and saw Angus. Her heart fluttered for a moment before she said, “Ah, come to tell me you’ve changed your mind about keeping my secret? You almost gave me away at the meal! Why would you do that? I thought we were in agreement?”
She looked so desperate, and she put her hands to her hips to further her point. Angus hesitated for a moment, his eyes wrinkled in concern, but then his expression smoothed. “Charlotte, it might be a good idea tae go and live with yer father. At the barracks, ye can be protected. Here, I am only one man. I cannae be everywhere with ye at once!”
“No matter how hard you try. I see you shadowing my every movement.”
“And it is good that I did so! Is it nae?” He let the question hang in the air until he saw her nod sharply and almost imperceptibly. She sat down with a huff.
“Angus, I need to figure out what ails these people. You know I cannot just let them lie ill without assistance! It wouldn’t be right. I am all they have at the moment.”
He sighed. “Then, I will have tae double my protection. I will send Liam with ye if ye’d prefer his presence.”
