Her gaze shot to her sister’s. “I beg your pardon?”
“You heard me correctly. I have been subjected to the same treatment you, Máira and Ailsa were, and that is why I am determined to ensure Edeen and Robbi do not endure it in silence as the four of us have done. As it is, Ailsa and I have made strides to ensure neither are treated poorly ever again.”
“You told Ross?”
“Of course not. Can you imagine how many men he would have to murder?”
“How many?”
“Are you counting bodies before he piles them up?”
“No. I’m wondering how many sods you’ve saved from certain death.”
“From what Máira and Ailsa have told me, the five gentlemen the three of you encountered along with the three I encountered.”
“Eight members of the ton? I don’t think even a duke could get away with that many murders.”
“As it turns out, two of the gentlemen were already accounted for among the knotty-patted fools the three of you encountered, but you are correct. Six murders of the peerage would be frowned upon by our Regent. Especially when the murders would be done in the name of the scandalous sisters.” Iseabail puckered her lips and gave a saucy waggle of her brows as she mimicked the ton talking about the Blair sisters, and Caillen couldn’t help but laugh until she coughed.
And remembered Astley. “How is he?”
“Who?”
“Astley.”
Iseabail sighed. “Ross said the fire has exhausted him. Since we had already believed Astley was not long for this world, Ross thinks his condition is nothing short of a miracle.”
She shoved the bedding to the side and swung her feet to the floor. “I must go to him.”
“What?”
“Astley needs me.” And she needed to know who was attempting to destroy the evidence Astley had about their father’s death.
“His servants can take care of him now. You have a family.”
“Do you have a gown I can borrow?”
“Slow down, Caillen. Astley is fine.”
She turned on her sister. “He is not fine! The man was tortured for months for something related to our fa—” She closed her eyes and began coughing, wave after wave assaulting her chest and throat as she sat at the edge of the bed.
An arm slipped around her shoulder, but she shrugged it away, unable to bear even her sister’s loving touch. Iseabail remained at her side as she leaned over to breathe in the fuming pot’s steam.
“Better?”
She nodded, adjusted herself on the bed, and accepted the cup of tea.
“It’s the middle of the night. Let Astley rest. You can go first thing in the morning.”
It made sense to let him get the rest he needed and, if she were being honest, she needed to rest as well. Her eyes grew heavy and her hand wobbled with the teacup. Iseabail reached over and took the cup.
She was assailed by an onslaught of fatigue. “Did you drug me?”
“Yes, I put laudanum in your tea.”
“That’s a dirty trick,” she said as she rested her head on the numerous pillows in the bed.
“Yet, it was necessary. You need to rest.”
