“Well, you locked me in. I couldn’t exactly go anywhere.”
“That didn’t stop you vanishing from the infirmary did it? I think it’s maybe time you and I had a talk.”
“I don’t. I think it’s time I go home.”
“And where is home?”
“Edinburgh, not that it’s any of your business.”
“You would travel that far on foot? At this time of night? You will be picked off by outlaws before you’ve made it five miles off our land.”
“I won’t be walking. I’ll be driving.”
“Driving? Driving what?”
She ran a hand through her hair, shaking her head as she did so. “Eccentric isn’t the word,” she said quietly before raising her voice. “My car. Or let me guess, you don’t know what a car is?”
“I have never heard the word before.”
“Then allow me to show you it. You’ll be amazed.”
She walked toward him, stopping dead in front of him. He felt a sudden urge to kiss her and wipe that stubborn look off her face but he managed to resist it, stepping aside and watching as she walked out of the room and down the stairs. He followed in silence as she made her way out to the courtyard.
“I’m ignoring all this,” she said, waving her arm at the buildings they passed as they made their way to the front gate. “It’s not here.”
The gate was still open, the messenger struggling to get his horse inside. Three grooms were fighting to still it but Jock’s patience was too thin to leave them to deal with the problem.
Shoving past, he grabbed hold of the horse’s reins, muttering to it as it came to a halt. “Shush,” he said, “be still.” Turning to the nearest groom, he handed him the reins. “If you cannae do your job, I’ll move you to the laundry,” he snapped, turning back to find Daisy had gone.
He picked up his pace, finding her outside the castle, spinning on the spot and looking bewildered.
“Where is it?” she asked. “I don’t understand. What have you done with it?”
“Where’s what?”
“My car of course. Where’s it gone?”
“What is this car you speak of?”
“Four wheels, engine. Red color. It was right here and okay, where’s the parking lot gone? This is just grass. What happened to the gravel?”
“Are you all right?” he asked as she suddenly staggered. He caught her before she fell but her eyes had already rolled into the back of her head. Picking her up into his arms he carried her back inside. Whatever was going on, she hadn’t been able to take it anymore and had passed out.
He thought about taking her to the infirmary but after his previous encounter with Alan, he decided against it, taking her back to his bedchamber and laying her out gently on the bed.
The cords that had bound her still lay there like coiled snakes, making silent accusations against him. He tossed them into the corner of the room before draping a blanket over her.
That done, he called for a servant, sending them to fetch cold water and enough herbs to soothe her head. She had a high fever, her forehead coated in beads of sweat. She tossed and turned on the bed, muttering to herself though the words were indecipherable.
It was an hour before she opened her eyes again. When she did, he felt a strong urge to wrap his arms around her, hold her tight, she looked so scared.
She sat up, moaning quietly. “I’m still here. Tell me this isn’t real.”
“Drink this,” he said. “You look like you need it.”
“What happened?” she asked, taking the tankard from him and staring into the interior. “Why am I here?”
“You passed out by the gatehouse. Do you remember?”
