Lorna skipped away to her wooden wardrobe. “Was it nae ye who had the idea tae go tae the village? Come along then, Kyla. We need tae find just the right kind of gown, which will be perfect for women asking questions about two murders.”
Sighing from behind her, Kyla stood up and trudged over to the wardrobe, tacitly agreeing. Lorna was satisfied, excited to have some sort of purpose. Now with her mother ill, she needed to be even stronger, and she would work hard to help everyone. Her father tried to stop her from doing anything once again, rendering her helpless. But she wouldn’t stand for it. He was gone, and now she could do what she needed to do to help change her life and change others for the better.
Perhaps she could prove to her parents that she was grown, help her mother, and figure out who the killer was, all in one trip.
* * *
After Bryce woke, he trained with Athol and his men until he was sweating and breathing so hard that his mind felt light and clear. He even whistled to himself as he returned to his chamber to wash in the basin and to change his clothes. He hadn’t slept hardly at all, but he was energized with what he could accomplish that day. And to his delight, when he went downstairs for the afternoon meal, Tobias was waiting for him, and he received word that Laird Fergus was gone to find a healer.
“Aye, a servant told me that the Lady is ill. It is a shame and bad timing. I can only pray that my wife will not get ill during her confinement. The baby is due in another month or so, and I need to find a good healer or midwife before then.” Tobias’s face was streaked with worry.
“Sit, lad,” Bryce said with a smile. Tobias smiled and followed Bryce’s leading hand into a chair at the far corner of the hall. This way, they would not be overheard if servants were listening. And even though he and Athol had come to a sort of agreement the night before, Bryce was not eager to tell him everything.
“Thank you.” Tobias sighed. “I have hardly slept, worrying about this. And I know that I should be focused on the murders, but you can surely understand why my heart is first and foremost with my wife.”
“Of course. Nae one could blame, ye, Tobias. And ye have been working tae solve the murders. And the funerals are tae take place taemorrow or the day after. I believe the women are organizing the ceremony.”
“Good, good,” Tobias said with a sigh. “So, I have gone tae the village and asked questions, but as you can understand, many do not like the sight of an English coat.”
“Nae surprise there,” Bryce said with a chuckle.
“I’m afraid that I did not find anything much of use. There was surprise at the deaths and some mention of difficulty, but no one seemed really suspicious to me, except for the fact that they were often turning up their noses at me when I asked them question after question.” Tobias sighed and pushed a hand through his hair.
“I understand. Perhaps I could go and try, see what I can see. Learn a little bit more about any problems that people might have had with both the midwife and the healer.”
Tobias nodded tiredly. “I would like that very much. They may react better tae ye, even though ye are a stranger, simply because of yer blood. And,” he laughed, looking him up and down. “Nae one would dare refuse tae answer yer questions if ye were the one tae pose them.”
Bryce grinned. “Good then. Finally, me appearance as a rough and fearless warrior is going tae pay off.”
“Aye, so it will.” Tobias stood and stretched. “Good luck tae ye. Ye will go this afternoon?”
“Aye, and I will get a message tae ye tae let ye ken about me progress.” Bryce stood as well and shook Tobias’s hand.
“How is yer brother faring after his marriage?”
“Och.” Bryce’s smile fell. “Ye have reminded me that I need tae write the man a letter. I left after his wedding and have nae told him about staying around tae assist with this.”
“Well, I doubt that he is much concerned with your movements. What with a new wife is his castle.” Tobias gave him a wry grin and clapped Bryce on the shoulder. “I will let ye go. Good luck.”
“Thanks.” Bryce led him to the door and then returned to the hall to sit down to eat. Since his father was gone, Athol was out in the fields talking to some of the farmers, and Bryce had no idea where Kyla or Lorna was. He asked for a servant to bring him food and paper and pen, and while he waited for his meal, he scribbled out a letter to Watt.
He’d not even thought about Watt, except in reference to Lorna, in the last few days. He felt a little guilty, but Tobias was right. Watt would be busy with his new wife and would barely spare him a thought. Bryce smirked at his brother’s newfound happiness. He was always a good lad, and he deserved it.
Once he finished his letter, he folded it up and handed it to the servant who was just bringing his meal. “Send tae the MacDowell Laird,” he said. The servant accepted the letter, and after a bow, left the room.
Bryce ate in silence as he made his plans for the rest of the day. He would go to the village and ask questions. Now that he knew about Athol’s reason for his protectiveness of Lorna and his strange attitude, he could release that suspicion from his mind. But there was also Lorna, beautiful, sweet Lorna, who he’d both hoped and feared to see that day, and she hadn’t appeared.
A bad feeling settled in his stomach, but he pushed it aside. He would have to change now that he was returned from war. He couldn’t always think that the world was a terrible, dangerous place, full of evil, even though it seemed that way.
He finished his meal and was preparing to leave when he thought of Lady Arrin, ill upstairs. It was just one more thing to unsettle them all. He hesitated at the base of the stairs, thinking about what to do. During his time in war, he had learned a lot of things from traveling healers. It was in his best interest, in case he and his men were trapped far away from a near village, or if they were too injured or ill to get anyone to help them.
While Lady Arrin waited, perhaps he could offer some assistance? He didn’t like the thought of leaving her on her own while her husband left in search of a healer, and her son was a little too distracted to think of her. His decision made, he walked up the steps to find her chamber.
