“Go,” Daisy said, reaching up and squeezing his hand. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Jock nodded to Lachlan before following him out into the courtyard. They stood in the shadows, the starry sky above them the only light other than the weak glow of the candles in the infirmary. “Robin is holding a feast in two days time,” Lachlan said.
“So? You come seeking me out in the middle of the night to tell me this?”
“He is holding a couples’ feast to celebrate his house being finished in stone. He has sent an invite to you though he thinks you will not attend.”
“But he told me he couldn’t afford to pay his laborers.”
“Precisely.”
Jock ran his hand through his hair. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“I’m thinking he might be working his way through the money he stole from the treasury before you can get it back from him. He thinks you will not attend because you have no woman to bring.”
“You really think he did it?”
“Have you spoken to your father yet?”
Jock shook his head. “Not yet. I will do so in the morning.”
“Find out about the assignation when you do. He might just give us enough information to confront Robin.”
“See what else you can dig up in the meantime.”
Lachlan nodded but showed no sign of moving.
“Anything else?” Jock asked.
“Who’s that woman in there?”
“We’re done,” Jock said with a note of finality to his voice that would brook no further argument. He turned and headed back inside.
Alan was nowhere to be seen. Daisy was standing by the bed, trying to pull her top back over her head. It had gotten stuck as she tried to twist her arm.
“Is that you doctor?” she asked as Jock approached.
He almost said yes. The sight of her pale skin in the candlelight bewitching him. He stood for a moment saying nothing, looking at the swell of her chest in that strange contraption that held her breasts in place. Lengths of fabric ran around to her back, hiding yet revealing her form.
“It’s not the physician,” he said at last, forcing himself to speak. “What are you trying to do?”
“He found grazes on my back and cleaned them up. I’ve been trying to get this back on but my shoulder’s swollen and…can you just help me or do you like watching me looking this stupid?”
Jock crossed the remaining space to her. “Hold still,” he said. Taking hold of the top, he began to pull it down, taking a deep breath as he felt the warmth of her skin on his fingers, her scent entering his nostrils and lingering there long after he was done. “There,” he said. “Almost done. Keep still.”
“I’m trying. Ouch.” She gasped as he pulled the top past her shoulder. “That hurts.”
“It’s done,” he replied, looking at her and realizing how close he was standing to her. He could still smell her. The smell was intoxicating. “How do you feel?”
“My leg still hurts. Is it cut? I can’t tell in this light. Has there been a power cut or something? Why all these candles? Where are the proper lights? Didn’t pay the electric bill?”
He ignored her nonsense words, kneeling down and examining her legs. “Only slight grazing and some bruises,” he said, standing up again, wondering why his heart was pounding so hard. “Do you recall what happened to you?”
“One minute I was in the middle of the street, the next I was here. I still don’t know where I am though. What hospital is this?”
“You are in the infirmary at MacGregor Castle.”
She looked shocked, sinking onto the edge of the bed. “How on earth did I end up here?”
