Creighton blinked at the mention of Nora’s sister. Perhaps like her, he was thinking about the conversation they’d had, probably only a few hours ago. She noticed that he was wearing what he had on the balcony—a loose shirt and a kilt, nothing that a person would sleep in—and wondered if he’d tried to go to bed at all.
“Kidnapping me sister is nae a good way to get me to help ye, lass,” he murmured, leaning down toward her.
She reddened. “I didnae kidnap her. Ye cannae seriously believe that…”
“I am teasin’ ye again, lass. Ye take the bait every time.” He straightened up with a sigh. “Wake her, she’s to go back to her room. And in future, I’d thank ye to take me sister back to her nurse if she comes callin’, aye?”
“Aye,” Nora muttered reluctantly. She leaned over, tapping Laurie’s shoulder. “Wake up, lassie.”
The little girl gave a tiny, almost imperceptible moan, but did not stir. Frowning, Nora shook her harder. Sheshouldhave woken by now. Frowning, Nora shifted up onto her knees, leaning over the girl. Gently, she rolled Laurie onto her back.
The little girl moved limply, head lolling back on the pillow. Her eyes shifted under her lids, frantically, and there was a sheen of sweat over her face. Her skin, clammy and gray, was hot to the touch.
Creighton sucked in a breath. “What’s wrong with her?”
“Fever,” Nora whispered. “A twilight fever.”
“Awhat?” Creighton gasped, leaning forward. His shoulder nudged hers, and he leaned forward over his sister. “Laurie, Laurie, lass, open yer eyes, look at me.”
“They’re more common in children than adults,” Nora stuttered. “We see them brought on more often by unseasonable heat, but often they just come and go with nay explanation.”
Creighton kneeled on the bed, grasping Laurie by the shoulders as if to shake her.
“Nay, daenae,” Nora said at once, pushing him back. “Let me help her. What healers do ye have in the Keep? Send for them.”
“We do not have many,” Creighton stammered. “Only Robert Tivvens is left in the Keep tonight, and I believe he’s... drunk.”
Nora bit her lip and said nothing. Now was not the time to complain about the state of Keep MacColl’s healing chambers. That could wait.
“Then I will help her,” she murmured. “Help me get her into the center of the bed. Somebody, open the window and let in some air. Nae too much, we daenae want her getting’ chilled. Fetch broth, clean warm water, and a tarrowfoot paste in yer apothecary, if ye have one. Wake Robert Tivvens if ye must, and have him fetch one out of ye.”
Creighton made a quick, angry movement of his hand, and the others sprang into action, rushing to obey him.
“I’ll get the paste,” Theo breathed, setting off at a run.
“Broth and warm water,” the nurse echoed, wiping her eyes again. Andrew rushed forward to open the windows.
“Should I fetch anyone else?” Dallas asked, his voice hard and grim. “I can send riders to fetch the healers who are out in the villages tonight.”
Creighton answered him, but Nora barely heard his answer. Leaning forward, she placed her hand over Laurie’s forehead. Her fever seemed hotter than before, if that was at all possible. When she pulled back the girl’s eyelids, her eyes were white,rolled right back in her head. Her breathing came short and sharp.
“We need to bring her around,” Nora announced, to no one in particular. “If she is conscious, we can keep her from fallin’ asleep again. Creighton, help me pull her into a sittin’ position.”
Creighton obeyed, his face white. Together, they maneuvered Laurie up so that she rested against a slope of pillows, the blankets tucked around her waist and a shawl around her shoulders.
“We daenae want her to get too hot or too cold,” Nora advised.
“And the tarrowfoot paste, will it help?”
“I shall mix it with some of me own medicines in the broth,” Nora explained. “A wee bit of sustenance will do her no harm, and I find that the broth makes it go down easier.”
She glanced up and found Creighton’s eyes fixed unblinkingly upon her.
“Ye have done this before?” he breathed. “Ye have nursed a bairn through one of these fevers?”
“Many times,” she assured him, holding his gaze.
“And do they survive?”
