“Of course. I’ll go fetch some lamb’s mint. It’s good for the stomach.”
She left, closing the door behind her. Kerry sank into the bed, pulling the covers up to her chin. “Relax,” she told herself out loud. “Just relax. There’s no need to panic. What would Marty McFly do? Probably try and get off with his mom, that’s not much use to me. What about the Terminator?” A thought occurred to her. “Maybe it’s more like Quantum Leap. Maybe I’m here to change something about the future. Ah, but Doc told Marty never to change the future. Which is it?”
She pulled the blanket over her head, shutting out the world above as she worked out what to do next. “One thing for sure, I can’t do much until my memory comes back. If I’m here to change things, I better wait and see what pops up. What else can I do but wait? I sure can’t get home until I work out how I got here.”
With a decision reached, she let her head emerge from the blankets again. The pain in her skull ebbed away, as if it had been waiting for her to choose to accept the reality of where she was.
“I’m in the past,” she said, smiling broadly. “I get to see what it was actually like then.” Her smile faded as she thought of her father. He would have killed to have been in her position. She felt a wave of sadness as she realized that even if she did make it home, she’d never be able to discuss it with him.
He was dead. That was something she remembered. He was a medieval history professor and he’d died of cancer four years ago. Well, four years ago and eight hundred years in the future. He hadn’t even been born yet. That thought made her head hurt again. What about her mother? She had just spoken to her before this happened. What had they been talking about?
Nothing else came back to her before the woman reappeared holding a bunch of strong smelling mint. “Nibble on this,” she said, passing it to Kerry. “One leaf at a time.”
“What’s your name?” Kerry asked. “You didn’t say before.”
“I’m Sheena. Are you hungry yet? Dinner is not for another couple of hours but I could have the kitchen prepare something cold for you if you like?”
“I would love that, thank you.”
“I’ll go tell them at once.”
“Can I come with you?”
“Do you feel strong enough?”
“I think so.”
“Then I shall fetch some proper clothing for you. I’ll be right back.”
She returned a few minutes later bearing an armful of things. “You might have to help me dress,” Kerry said, not sure what part belonged to which. “What are these things?”
“This is a kirtle,” Sheena said, dropping something a lot like the nightshirt over her head. “Do you really not know that?”
“I’ve forgotten a lot,” Kerry covered. “Would you mind telling me what this lot is?” She put her arms up for the dress to go over the kirtle.
“The girdle helps bunch it up,” Sheena said, wrapping a thin woolen belt around her waist. “The fashion at the moment is for lots of folds. Try it this way. That’s it. Now put the hose on.”
Her legs were clad in plain hose and then she was provided with loose fitting leather shoes, seams on the outside.
“What’s that?” Kerry asked as Sheena picked up the last item, a white linen box.
“Your hat or do you want the world to see your hair and think you’re available? Only young lassies looking for a man have their hair on show around here.”
Into the hat, Sheena shoved most of her hair before passing her a pair of detachable sleeves that buttoned onto the dress. They hung down low from her arms and Sheena shook her head as she looked at them.
“The latest fashion,” she said by way of explanation. “I’m not a fan, myself but then I’m out of touch about most of the newfangled stuff that comes from Europe. How does all that feel?”
“Heavy and hot,” Kerry said before apologizing. “Sorry, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. It looks lovely.”
“You’re only hot because of the fire in here. Wait until you get out into the wind outside. One thing though, we better avoid Callum. He doesnae want you wandering the castle.”
“Why not?”
Sheena looked torn, as if trying to decide what to say. “He doesnae want to see you.”
“He said that?”
“Aye, I saw him while I was getting your dress. Said you’re not to speak to him and he’ll not speak to you. When you’re well, he wants you to go home at once.”
“And where is my home?”
“Why, back on the mainland of course. Are you sure you’re well enough to go walking? Your memory is as patchy as my sewing skills.”
“I think the fresh air will do me good.”
“You’ll not get much of that in the kitchen but I suppose we should get some food in you. You’ve been out for seven days, did you ken that?”
“Seven days? No wonder I feel weak.”
“Weak for a week.” Sheena chuckled at her own joke. “Come on then, let’s go get you something to eat.”
