She rose to her feet and looked up to find Kayden watching her with dark eyes. “This is Bramble. She gets rather territorial at times, especially when she senses I might be upset.”
His eyebrows rose higher. “And were ye? Upset?”
“Well, I was certainly engaged in rhetoric which you seem to be ignoring,” she said acidly.
He smiled. “Why would ye bring a pet with ye if ye were expecting to find the plague here?”
She shrugged. “It was not my choice. Bramble has a mind of her own and decided to stow away in the luggage.”
“So, she is much like her mistress.”
She shrugged again self-deprecatingly, but could not resist giving him a smug smile.
“Kayden.”
They both turned to see Jacob standing in the doorway.
Kayden cocked an eyebrow. “What is it?”
Jacob tilted his head to the side, looking between Kayden and Lilliana. “Something has come up that ye need to attend to at once,” he said.
Kayden nodded before turning back to Lilliana. “It is an honor to have met ye, Bramble.” He bowed to the cat and then to Lilliana. “Me Lady.”
Lilliana nodded in acknowledgement, and then he turned and left with Jacob.
She looked at her cat. “Well, that was different. I would say that we were almost cordial with each other. Would you not agree?”
8
“What is it?” Kayden asked as he walked away with Jacob.
His cousin sighed. “It is Young Mackenzie’s maither. She arrived from the village, demanding why we let asassenachtreat her son. She is causing quite a scene.”
Kayden shook his head. “Is the lad alright?”
Jacob looked at him in surprise. “Aye, he is well. But he is in a lot of pain and keeps complaining. His maither willnae let him drink the tonic yer wife left for him.”
Kayden sighed. “Ye cannae really blame her. The redcoats killed her husband.”
“Aye, well, what do ye mean to do about her?”
“Go and get Old Fergus. He will speak to her and let her ken the tonics are safe.”
Jacob nodded and headed off to the old healer’s house.
With another sigh, Kayden continued to Mackenzie’s croft. It was for exactly this reason that he did not want Lilliana traipsing around the village. Mackenzie’s mother was not the only one who would be suspicious of her or look at her askance. Especially with the illness sweeping through the village.
He arrived at the croft, bending almost double to step through the door. “Mrs. McDonald.” He nodded to Mackenzie’s mother. “What is the problem?”
“Me son is dying!” she cried, pointing to the groom, who was sweating profusely.
Kayden frowned, moving closer to touch him. His forehead was clammy. He moved the blankets out of the way and unbandaged the wound to have a look. It was swollen, but did not look red or inflamed.
“I daenae think he is dying,” he said as he rebandaged the wound. “I think he is in pain.” He pointed to the willow bark tea Lilliana had left on the table. “Will ye nae try that?”
Maisie McDonald turned her head to the right and spat. “I cannae trust me only lad with asassenach’s potions. Could ye nae get Old Fergus to see to him?”
Kayden let out a resigned sigh. “He is on his way.”
