“I dae nae think anyone has ever talked tae her like that,” Jemina said. Ellie jumped out of her skin for a moment forgetting the younger girl was still in the room.
“I’m sorry ye had tae witness that, lass.” The last thing Ellie wanted was Jemina to think she was ungrateful or spiteful. After all, marriage to her father or no, Ellie was still a guest in the keep, and she should not have challenged the clan healer in such a way. Especially not in front of the Laird’s daughter.
“Nay, it was magnificent,” Jemina replied as she helped Ellie move the bowl with hot water and the poultice materials closer to Aidam’s bed. “Old Mathilda has been me Da’s lapdog for too long. It’s about time someone spoke up tae th’ old hag.”
Ellie was shocked to hear such language from Jemina, and making a mental note to address it with her later, gave the younger girl a soft smile. “What’s important is Aidam doesnae catch his death,” she replied. “Help me wipe his forehead.”
“Of course,” Jemina replied. Ellie rolled up her sleeves and could not hide her smile as Jemina did the same. Aidam would not take on a fever on their watch. Not on this night.
* * *
Ellie was unsure how much time had passed when she collapsed next to Jemina on the plush carpet in front of the fire in Aidam’s chamber. They had to wrestle with him as he came almost to coherence more than once. Not enough to realize where he was or what was happening, but enough to thrash and give them trouble as they changed the poultice on his leg. More than once, Ellie snapped at him.
“It would serve ye right if yer wound were tae fester, Aidam,” she yelled at one particularly difficult moment when he pulled away from her hard enough to knock the water bowl and linen cloth from her hand.
“Do ye think the worst of the danger has passed?” Jemina asked, wiping her brow and trying to secure her loose braids.
“Aye,” Ellie replied. Aidam’s fever had broken within the last hour, and he slept peacefully. “But when he wakes in the morning, he’ll have a banger of a headache.”
Jemina giggled behind her hand. “I’m sorry, I dae nae mean tae laugh. I ken ‘tis serious.”
“Nay,” Ellie reassured. “The seriousness is over. Often after a long ordeal, laughter is the best way tae recover. At least that’s what me own Da used tae say.”
“Who do ye think is th’ lass that happened tae make Aidam drink so much? It’s not his usual style. I’ve seen him with loads of lassies. He never speaks of love. Unless he speaks of the lass from his youth. Do ye think she’s back? Mayhap he saw her in the village with another lad? Maybe that’s why he drank tae excess, and mayhap that’s who he fought?”
Ellie sucked in a deep breath. Rather than answer the lass right away, she busied herself with folding Aidam’s discarded clothing and placing it near a chest. She lifted the lid and was surprised to see all of Aidam’s clothing neatly folded and organized in tidy piles. She would have expected to see plaids and shirts piled haphazardly, but Aidam’s attention to detail impressed her.
It had given her a moment’s pause when Aidam mentioned a lass and love in his ramblings. A small part of her wishing it was her he was speaking about. But now, with Jemina giving voice to what was obviously true, Ellie was unsure how she felt. Of course, the lass who had so captured Aidam’s heart must have been in the village. As the firelight danced in the hearth, Ellie saw a vision of a beauty, perhaps enjoying an evening stroll and upon seeing Aidam out and about casting him sly looks as she danced with another man.
Jemina made sense. Aidam, once seeing the woman he desired in the arms of another, would easily fall prey to the drink. It would have been no fault of his. Ellie knew he was brash and impulsive. How could he withstand the flirting temptation of the woman he loved with another man? Who knows what foul-tongued taunts came from the other man’s mouth to torture Aidam so. Perhaps had Ellie been there, she could have soothed her friend’s temper, thus avoiding his getting hurt. For that was what Aidam was to her, simply a friend.
Ellie shook her head. She could not allow her imagination to run away with her. She had to see Aidam’s healing. “Let us worry about the mystery lass another night. Why don’t ye seek yer rest, Jemina? You’ve done so much tae help this night, and it grows late.”
“But,” Jemina argued. “What about ye? Are ye nay tired as well? Who will stay with me cousin?”
“I’ll stay,” Ellie said, surprised by her own determination. “I am tired, but I will stay and make sure Aidam does not develop fever or infection. But you, dear girl, you need yer sleep.”
“Yer more than kind, Ellie,” Jemina said. “Yer so full of love.”
Jemina bowed and gave Ellie a genuine smile as she left the chamber, leaving Ellie to wonder at what the girl had meant. It was not love that bade her stay with Aidam, merely concern for her friend. She looked back to the bed where he was lying. He let out a low moan, and Ellie rushed back to his side, linen in hand.
“Shh now,” she said lightly as she ran the cool cloth over his forehead before dipping it into the healer’s water bowl and repeating the action. He seemed restless. Yet, his bandage looked clean, tight, and there were no signs of fever that she could tell.
She moved a nearby chair closer to his bedside and placed her arms over his warm chest. Slowly his chest began to rise and fall in a more steady rhythm, and Ellie felt herself relax. He was asleep.
“Och, ye fool,” she whispered. “Over a lass of all things.” Even though she hoped beyond hope that it could have been her that captivated him so, of course, she didn’t want him to fight for her. But the thought of Aidam being so lovesick over another woman made Ellie feel something. Even if she were too afraid to admit what that something could be.
She felt her eyes grow heavy and lowered her head. She should really rest herself for just a moment. How nice it would be to disappear into a dreamless sleep. She no longer cared to worry for herself, her family, or Aidam’s long-lost love. She listened intently—focusing with her eyes closed—to Aidam’s gentle breath as he exhaled in his slumber. Counting to herself, she made sure the breaths came even and that they did not have the ragged quality of fever until finally sleep came and took her away.
