The baby was lying on a light woolen blanket, very much enjoying the attention she was receiving from her mother and aunt.
“Oh, be careful, Joanna.” Ava giggled. “Yer aunt looks quite hungry. She might really mean it this time!”
The baby only laughed and gurgled in answer.
Thalia sat back on her heels, turning towards her sister with a sigh. “I cannae believe it’s already been three months since she was born.”
“Aye.” Ava nodded. “I daenae ken how the time goes by so fast. Before long, it’ll be her wedding day.”
“Daenae say that!” Thalia cried, placing her hands over Joanna’s ears in mock horror. “She’s goin’ to stay wee forever if I have anythin’ to say about it.”
Ava shook her head in amusement. “I daenae think even ye can stop the passage of time, Sister.”
“Just watch me,” Thalia replied with a grin as she scooped Joanna up into her arms. “What say ye, Joanna? Ye want to stay a bonnie bairn for all of yer days?”
Joanna merely stared up at her with the same wide green eyes as her mother. One tiny, chubby hand reached up to gently cup her aunt’s cheek.
Thalia sighed with contentment. She adored her niece. She loved her nephew, Nathan, too, but there was something about babies that brought out the best in people. They were so quick to laugh, so unburdened with the troubles that would come later in life.
She had meant it when she said she would keep Joanna like this forever if she could, if only to protect her from all of the harmful things that waited for her in this world.
Ava watched her sister curiously. “Have ye given any thought to havin’ a bairn yerself one day?”
Thalia huffed. “I’m nae in a rush to settle down with anyone. Besides, I have me work. I’d be just fine spendin’ the rest of me days healin’ others and makin’ them happy.”
“I ken ye would. I was only askin’, since ye’ve been such a blessin’ with Joanna. Sometimes it seems like ye’re wishin’ for one of yer own.”
A knock sounded at the door, and Thalia and Ava both looked up in surprise.
“Pardon the intrusion,” a young maid said. “But I have a letter here for Lady Thalia.”
“A letter? From whom?” Thalia passed her niece off to Ava as she stood up.
The maid shrugged. “I daenae ken. The messenger who dropped it off only said it was urgent.”
Thalia took the letter, breaking the seal and smoothing out the folds to read it better. Her eyes scanned its contents rapidly, before her hand flew to her mouth in shock.
“Nay,” she whispered. “Nay, nay nay.”
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Ava asked.
As if sensing something was amiss, Joanna began to sniffle and squirm in her mother’s arms.
“It’s Uncle,” Thalia explained. “He’s sick. I have to go. I have to help him!”
“Wait, Thalia, what’s going on?” Ava pressed.
Joanna’s cries grew louder, and Ava rocked her gently in an effort to calm her.
Thalia shook her head as she tried to calm her worried thoughts. “The letter says that he’s ill with a fever. He’s bedridden, and the healers there havenae been able to help him. They requested that I head to MacFinn Castle for assistance. I have to go, Ava!”
“Of course ye do,” Ava said without hesitation. She turned to the maid, who was still standing in the doorway. “Caitlin, go to the stables. Tell the boys to prepare a horse for me sister right away.”
The maid nodded and disappeared back the way she had come.
Thalia’s breath came fast, and her chest squeezed painfully as if all of the air had been punched out of it. “Ava, they said he’s very sick. What if… Because I wasnae there… What if he…?” She didn’t dare finish the question.
Ava placed Joanna back into her crib before turning back to her sister. She ran her hand through Thalia’s hair in a calming motion. “Enough of that. It’ll be all right. Ye’ll have our fastesthorse, and ye’ll make it there in nay time at all. Then ye’ll make him well again because ye’re the best healer there is.”
