Gathering some yarrow, honey, and a few other spices, she made a poultice that she applied to the wound, then she dribbled some of the decoction down Darraghe’s throat and hoped for the best.
“Miss Collins,” Jenson said gently from his spot by the fireplace, where he had been standing since they had returned Darragh tohis bed. “Ye daenae need to stay here all night. I can look after him. I promise to send for ye if there are any changes.”
Talia looked back at Darragh. His face looked better, gaining back some color. His body was no longer hot with fever, but she did not trust that the fever would not return while she was away.
For some reason, fevers were more likely to claim their victims at night, so she was going to stand watch to wrestle him from the hands of the fever if it returned.
She knew her thoughts were not rooted in medical facts, but her fear for his life now far outweighed her logic. She would beg God to perform a miracle, anything it would take to have Darragh back.
“I am fine,” she said with a smile, ignoring the ache that bloomed in her back from bending over him throughout the night as she checked his temperature and dribbled more decoction down his throat. Her pain was nothing compared to the pain he was enduring. “It was me fault, after all. He wouldnae have gotten hurt if he didnae try to protect me.”
“Nonsense,” Orlagh said, stepping into the room. “Ye didnae ask that fool to attack ye. It isnae yer fault that he lacked the sense God gives freely. Daenae let guilt win. Me son needs ye to be stronger more than ever, and if ye ever need a break, be assured that I would care for him well. I kind of served as a healer for a long time before ye arrived. Trust me, I wouldnae let me son die that easily.” She reached out and squeezed Talia’s arm, smiling.
How could she smile, with her son lying there, injured by his fiancée’s stalker? And she was the one consoling her?
Ridiculous. Talia had expected her to rage and blame her. A part of her had been grateful when she realized Orlagh was not home when they first returned with Darragh, and even as she cared for Darragh, a part of her had been dreading meeting the woman and explaining the cause of her son’s life-threatening injury.
Now that her defenses had no purpose, she burst into tears. Immediately, she felt Orlagh’s arms wrap around her.
She marveled at the love this family bestowed on her. It was almost too good to be true.
Talia jerked awake, staring around the room dazedly before remembering that she was still in Darragh’s room after caring for him the whole night. But she must have fallen asleep after Orlagh left to get some rest.
She turned to look at her patient, and her mouth dropped open in shock.
“Well, good morning to ye too, Miss Collins,” he said, his voice scratchy.
“Ye are awake,” she returned dumbly, her eyes falling to their intertwined fingers. That must be what had woken her up.
“I am, and I am mighty happy to be alive. At some point, I was quite sure it was the end. Willnae want to?—”
She threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. She felt as if the weight of the world was suddenly lifted from her shoulders, and she broke down in tears.
“I am sorry for scaring ye,” he whispered, stroking her hair lightly. “Ye did well. It must have been verra difficult. I am mighty pleased to see yer face and hold ye again.”
He peered into her tear-stained face when she looked up at him. Gently, he wiped away her tears.
“Promise me,” she said tightly. “Promise me ye will never do that again.”
“Do what again?” he asked gently.
“Promise me ye will never put yer self in harm’s way again.”
“I am sorry,” he murmured. “I couldnae lose ye. I would walk into death’s den for ye. I love ye, Talia.”
“I couldnae bear it. If anything happens to ye, I willnae be able to go on.”
“What about me? Do ye think I will be fine in a world where ye are gone?”
“Ye are a laird. Ye eventually need to marry and have children.”
“I wouldnae be able to forgive meself if anythin’ happened to ye, Talia,” he replied hotly, attempting to sit up, before collapsing back with a groan. “I surely willnae marry if I am nae marryin’ ye.”
And that was when Talia realized that she was lying across his chest. She immediately jumped off him.
“I am sorry. It was wrong of me to argue with ye and crush ye when ye are still healing,” she said, turning to leave.
But he caught hold of her hand, stopping her.
