A moment later there was a thud outside his door. It fell open and her unconscious form slumped into the room, lying still on the rug. He ran to her and scooped her into his arms, sprinting out for the infirmary.
“Passed out near your bedchamber?” Alan echoed back. “I see.” He lifted the herbs up and sprinkled them into a cup, adding water from the kettle above the fire. “Were there any visible wounds?”
“I cannae tell. She was passed out and didnae wake until just now.”
“You did the right thing bringing her down to me.” He took the cup through to the main infirmary chamber, Jock following him. Daisy had her eyes closed once more.
“She lives?” Jock asked.
“Aye, though the sleep is best for her. When she wakes again make sure she drinks that. I must speak with the priest at once.”
“Why?”
“I was not born yesterday, my laird. She is clearly a witch.”
“She is nothing of the sort.”
“Her clothes are those of the devil. She is not of this clan and she had no reason to be in the keep so late at night. She can only be a witch.”
Jock grabbed the blankets and pulled them down, lifting Daisy’s chemise to expose her stomach. “Do you see the devil’s mark there?”
“I see no mark but look at the fabric you hold in your hand. It is like nothing I ken. I will not treat a witch until I speak with the priest.”
Jock raised the blankets before turning to Alan, his eyes narrowing. “You will tend to her on the orders of your laird or you will find yourself treating lepers out on Dogwood Island by sunset tomorrow. Do you understand me?”
Alan’s face turned pale. “But I could burn in hell if I-”
“Tend to her. That is your job.”
“But-”
“Do it!” His raised voice was loud enough to wake Daisy. She blinked her eyes open and looked up at the two of them.
“Where am I?” she asked. “Is this the doctor? Why is he dressed so funny?”
“I might ask the same question,” Alan replied, passing her the cup. “Here, drink this.”
She sipped at the contents, grimacing and then coughing loudly. “What is that?”
“It will placate your humors,” Alan replied. “Now tell me, what do you remember before passing out?”
“I don’t know. I’d gone to pick a parcel up and then I think I got hit by a car or something. I’m not sure. Where am I?”
“You’re safe in the infirmary. Are you in pain?”
My back and my arm. I think I cut my leg too.”
“Let’s take a look then,” Alan said, pulling the blankets from her.
Jock couldn’t help but stare at her legs as they came into view. When he’d come across her stricken form in the corridor outside his room he’d been in too much of a hurry to get her to the infirmary, he hadn’t had time to look at her properly. He could see what Alan was talking about though.
She had the thinnest fabric covering her top half and her skirts fell above her knee. No one wore such clothing outside the marital bedchamber. This situation just kept getting stranger.
He heard a noise behind him and turned to find Lachlan walking in on them. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” Lachlan said. “We need to talk.”
“It can wait,” Jock replied. “I’m in the middle of something.”
“It will only take a moment, my Laird.”
