“I haven’t told him what I learned today, since I haven’t seen him yet.”
Fergus nodded. “See that ye do. I’m sure he’ll have this woman apprehended as soon as possible.”
Lilliana pursed her lips. One of the boys she had treated was in bad shape. He was hanging by a thread at this point. The longer this woman was allowed to run free, the more risk people would be in.
“As soon as possible will not do. We need to stop her now.”
Kayden spent most of the morning in the lower yard.
The air was cold and bright, the sort that sharpened a man’s thoughts whether he wished it or not. He watched two lads struggle to mend a broken cart wheel, correcting their grip once and then stepping back to let them figure the rest on their own.
A laird could not do everything for his people. They had to learn to stand without him hovering over their shoulders.
“Ye will never get it straight if ye keep forcing it,” he said, nudging the spoke into place with the toe of his boot. “Ease it. Wood bends before it breaks.”
One of the lads flushed. “Aye, Me Laird.”
He left them to it and crossed towards the paddock, where the cattle were being counted. The steward handed him a slate, murmuring about feed stores and a broken gate near the southern ridge. Kayden listened, nodded once, and issued a few short instructions.
As he turned to go, a woman approached him hesitantly. He recognized her as one of the crofters’ wives from the village. She dipped into an awkward curtsey.
“Me Laird… I wished to thank ye. And Her Ladyship,” she added quickly.
He stilled. “For what?”
“She sat with me wee lass yesterday. Wouldnae leave her side even when the fever made the lass difficult.” The woman’s eyes softened. “The English may speak fine and act like they are keepin’ us safe, but they daenae always stay when things grow unpleasant. Yer lady does.”
Kayden inclined his head. “She does what she believes is right.”
“Aye,” the woman said. “And folks have noticed.”
He moved on without comment, but the words lingered.
Near the stables, he found Jacob leaning against a post, arms folded, watching him with too much interest.
“What?” Kayden muttered.
Jacob smirked. “Nothing. Just observing how often ye circle the castle doors like a hound waiting to be called.”
“I am inspecting the grounds.”
“Aye,” Jacob drawled. “And I am the King of France.”
Kayden shot him a flat look.
Jacob pushed off the post, falling into step beside him. “I spoke with Old Fergus this morning. Says the villagers near the loch are getting better.”
“That is good.”
“And he says yer wife was the one who noticed the pattern of the sickness.” Jacob glanced sideways at him. “Folks are starting to listen when she speaks.”
Kayden grunted. “They would be fools nae to.”
Jacob grinned. “Listen to ye. Two weeks ago, ye would have said they should be cautious of asassenachhealer.”
“Two weeks ago, I hadnae seen her work,” Kayden replied evenly.
Jacob laughed under his breath. “Aye. Work.”
