Page 118 of Ghost of the Ton

“That’s very kind, thank ye.”

Iona smiled and disappeared into the kitchen.

“She’s in good spirits,” Aileen whispered. “I’m glad she has a friend in ye. She was always a little…” She made a random gesture as her voice trailed off. “Not that I wish to offend anyone, but she’s always been a bit of a handful. The old laird was always too harsh with her.”

“Iona’s been a great help with the vaccinations,” Mia said. “She was the first to take it after I returned from Glasgow, and though I was concerned about her health, she made a quick recovery.”

“Her health? Is she sickening for something?”

Mia cursed her folly. Iona’s secret would not be such for long. Though she had taken to wearing multiple shawls, her thickening waist wouldn’t be easily concealable for much longer. But it wasn’t Mia’s secret to tell.

“I’m concerned about the health of every patient I treat,” she said, as Iona reappeared. “Ah! Here’s the shortbread. Who deserves a slice?”

“Me!” the children chorused.

Iona held out a package, which Ada grasped, her eyes wide as she inhaled the sweet scent of freshly baked biscuits.

“Mind ye dinnae eat yer ma’s slice,” Iona said. “If ye’re good, I’ll let ye have two slices next time ye visit. Or I could ask Mrs. McBride to show ye how to make it at the castle. What do ye say to that?”

“Ooh, yes!” Ada said, trembling with excitement.

“Good lass. Now, mind ye tell all yer friends to come and take the vaccine. There’s plenty of folk hereabouts who haven’t.”

“Is that so?” Aileen said. “Tell me who they are and I’ll speak to them.”

“They’ll come if they want,” Mia said.

“Aye, but sometimes they need a good kick up the arse,” Aileen said. “It’s not the women, it’s the men, who think they rule the world. Take poor Evie—she wants to take the vaccine, and give it to her bairns, but that fool Murdoch won’t let her.”

“Och, Murdoch won’t listen to anyone but himself,” Iona said. “I thought he’d listen to me, but he said I was…” She shook her head. “It disnae matter what he said. He’s an arse.”

“Ma,” Ada said, “what’s an—”

“That’s enough, Ada!” Aileen said.

Iona blushed. “Forgive me for cursing in front of yer bairn.”

“No matter, lass. Ada hears worse from my Allan.”

“Couldn’t yer Allan persuade Murdoch to take the vaccine?” Iona said.

Aileen shook her head. “He wouldnae hear a word from Allan on the matter—not even when Allan told him about young Donald’s sweetheart.”

“Donald?” Mia said, flicking through the papers on her table. She ran her thumb along the list of names. “Ah, there he is—I thought I recognized the name. He came for the vaccine a fortnight ago. What’s his sweetheart’s name?”

“She’s not one of us. She’s a MacDouglas. Donald said she’s had to stay at home to take care of her grandma, who fell ill a day after her ma. He said she’s not expected to last long, but she’s an old ’un. Eighty summers, they say she’s seen. My ma only lasted seventy, and she was as hale as the best of them.”

“Perhaps I should visit the MacDouglases,” Mia said.

“Ye dinnae want to do that, lass. Folk there are unwelcoming toward outsiders—Sassenachs in particular.”

“Folk here aren’t too welcoming either,” Mia said before she could stop herself. “Oh, forgive me, Aileen, I didn’t mean you.”

Iona colored and picked up Mia’s papers, shuffling through them. Her gaze wandered over the list of names, then stilled, and her mouth set in a firm line. Moisture glittered in her eyes.

“Well, I’ll leave ye two in peace,” Aileen said. “Shall I send Allan over with a leg of mutton for yer supper?”

“That’s kind, but not necessary,” Mia said. “I don’t expect payment for my services.”