“Nay, Da. Never. But perhaps he misunderstood…”
“He seems possessed of an astute mind. And he says he canna determine whether the healer is a devil’s spawn or a God-given gift.”
Aftyn didn’t know what to say to that, so she didn’t say anything. But her knees were quaking with the urge to find Jamie and warn him to leave.
“Verra well, go on with ye. I can see ye’ll shed nay more light on this. I’ll have to discuss this with the healer himself.”
“Ach, Da, would ye accuse him after all the good he’s done for us and for the abbey?”
“Accuse? Nay. But I will ken what secrets he keeps. Perhaps then he can be convinced to remain here.”
Aftyn blanched. Just as she’d feared when she heard what the abbot told him, her father saw Jamie as too valuable to lose. If he could not entice him to stay, he’d use other means. She didn’t know what those would be, but her father was ruthless when he wanted something. And he wanted Jamie Lathan.
So did she, but not at the risk of making him her father’s prisoner.
15
The herbal’s door was closed when Jamie arrived. He knocked once to be polite, then listened.
“Come,” Aftyn called.
He opened the door, not surprised to find Aftyn inside, but so was Braden. “I ken I’ve asked ye once today, but am I interrupting?” he greeted them as he entered.
Aftyn spun about to face him, surprise lighting her face. And something else. “I thought ye had gone to the abbey.”
Jamie didn’t have time to consider what he saw there before Braden stood and moved toward the door.
“I’ll leave ye two to continue yer work. Thank ye, healer. And good day to ye, healer Lathan.”
“I didna mean to interrupt,” Jamie said.
Braden shook his head. “Ye didna. I was just leaving.”
Jamie nodded and turned to Aftyn as Braden left the herbal. “What are ye working on?”
Aftyn colored and turned away, gesturing at the worktable. “I was about to prepare some willowbark for tea. Treating Niall depleted my store to fight fevers.”
Nothing about that simple task should cause her distress, yet her color was still higher than normal. Why had Braden been here and what had they been talking about? Braden seemed in a hurry to leave.
“I’ll try again with the journal, then,” Jamie told her, and moved to the side table, where he kept it with his notes for Aftyn. “What did Braden want? Does his arm still bother him?”
“Only a wee bit. He moves it well and says it doesna hurt, only aches a bit if he uses it too much.”
He didn’t believe that was the only reason for Braden’s visit, but Aftyn had turned back to her work. Jamie said, “That’s good, then,” and opened the journal to continue, hoping a new day would give him insights into the notes that had frustrated him the last time he attempted it. He’d spend an hour here, giving him time to win Aftyn’s confidence and find out what he could, then go to the abbey as he’d planned.
A few minutes later, Braden returned. “I apologize for disturbing ye,” he said, his gaze on Jamie rather than Aftyn, who stood up. “My father wishes to speak with ye in his solar.”
Jamie nodded. He’d been expecting this summons. “I’ll be down in a moment. Thank ye.”
Braden nodded and left. Jamie turned his attention to Aftyn. Her gaze was still on the doorway where Braden had been. Her fists were clenched and her face had whitened. “Are ye well, Aftyn? Ye are pale.”
She shifted and turned back to her table. “Nay, I’m fine. I’ve been standing too long in one place.” With that, she sat on the stool she’d been on since Jamie entered.
He let the lie slide by and stood. “Best I go see what yer laird wants. I’ll come back to work on the journal if I have time, but I plan to pay a visit to the abbey today.”
“Is the priest better?”
“Aye. He’s fortunate his robes protected him as well as they did.”
