“As long as ye’re being careful, I willnae say anythin’,” Jeane promised, making a move as if to button her lip.
“Thank ye,” Lottie breathed. “Is it time for me supper medication already?”
“Aye. I just got the herbs to make some more, for both ye and Aiden’s brother. How has young Ian been since I saw him last week?”
“On the mend,” Lottie said. “Or as close to that as Ian gets, Aiden says.”
Jeane smiled sadly. Ian would never be completely well, but she was glad he was doing better than before. He had been on death’s door when she had seen him.
Lottie made a face when Jeane popped open the draught and handed it to her.
“This one always makes me cough. And it tastes horrendous.”
“Poor Lottie,” Jeane commiserated. “But I promise this one is the one that helps ye most. It helps ye cough out all the bad.”
Lottie nodded and shot it back, grimacing as she doubled over and started to cough. She spat into a handkerchief and showed it to Jeane, who smiled.
“Nearly clear,” she said. “Ye’re gettin’ better.”
Lottie smiled, her cheeks flushed from coughing, but her color good otherwise. “Thank ye, Liliana. I wouldnae have been able to do it without ye.”
“Well, ye’re nae out of the woods yet,” Jeane warned. “Keep takin’ yer medicine and doing those breathin’ exercises I taught ye, aye?”
“Aye,” Lottie promised, smiling. “And ye promise nae to tell me brother I broke his only rule?”
“I promise,” Jeane said, taking Lottie’s hands in her own.
“He likes ye, ye ken.”
Jeane froze, unconsciously squeezing Lottie’s hands tight. “What? Who?”
“Fergus, of course,” Lottie said with a giggle.
“He sure has a funny way of showin’ it.”
“That he does,” Lottie agreed. “But he’s always been like that. He lives to tease me, and I suspect it’s the same with ye.”
“Maybe. He certainly likes to make me angry,” Jeane mumbled. But then he had held her hand so sweetly, had kissed her so passionately. What did he want from her?
“If he didnae like ye, he wouldnae tease ye at all,” Lottie said. “In fact, I’ve never known him to speak more than two sentences to any woman.”
Jeane just nodded, not sure what to say.
Did Fergus really like her? Or was he just using her to heal his sister? Was he cruel and her kidnapper? Or her future husband?
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The morning after their walk in the garden, Jeane was examining Lottie when Fergus appeared in the doorway, looking oddly nervous.
“How’s she doing?” he asked, nodding toward his sister.
“Better every day,” Jeane said with a smile. “Her lungs are nearly clear.”
Lottie beamed. “Does that mean I can go ridin’ soon?”
“Soon,” Jeane promised. “But nae quite yet. Another week or two.”
Lottie pouted, but Fergus chuckled.
