Page 19 of Highlander's Captive Bride
But she did not have much time to dwell on it, for Elodie soon complained of stomach pain again and was shortly thereafter very sick, indeed.
* * *
“I’ve told ye already,”Bellamysaid forcefully as he faced his councilmen once again. “There’s nae risk at all with the healer being here. I’ve taken care of it.”
“Can ye nae tell us more, M’laird? I mean, how exactly have ye dealt with the matter?” Donal questioned him in his usual calm and, sometimes, immensely irritating manner.
“If ye must ken, I’ve written to her family to tell them of the situation, so there’s no question of them attacking us. Everything is under control,” Bellamy lied brazenly, hanging onto his temper by a thread. “And she’s here of her own free will.”
“Then why is it that Jamie has been following her about the place, as though she’s likely to make a break for it?” asked the old sergeant, Colin Moore.
“I’m just being careful that no harm come to her while she’s me guest, before she’s done treating me daughter,” Bellamy told him. “Is that nae what ye want? To send her back to her family in one piece, eh?” he added, turning their argument against them.
Mutters rang across the table.
Before anyone could ask any more uncomfortable questions, he quickly threw in something he knew was bound to distract them. “Now, gentlemen, ye ken what time of year is approaching fast. ’Tis almost time for the Beltane celebrations.”
It worked just as he had known it would. Their interest quickly switched to the annual celebration of the coming of summer at the beginning of May. Though it was all largely symbolic these days, the Church turned a blind eye to the pagan celebration, only the most pious of clergy begrudging the people the excuse to eat, drink, and make merry.
“I’ll leave ye to discuss that with Jamie here while I attend to some important business,” Bellamy told them, leaving the room as quickly as he could under the cover of their excited chatter. He wanted to go and see what progress the healer had made.
Daisy. Her name is Daisy.
But when he stepped out of the council room, he saw Daisy walking and talking with Poppy. They appeared to be about to head upstairs. He lengthened his stride and caught up with them.
“Thank ye, Poppy, ye can return to Elodie now,” he told the surprised servant, who bobbed a curtsey, glanced at Daisy, and then set off up the stairs to do as she was bidden.
Bellamy looked down at Daisy, noticing her serious expression. “Will ye take a walk with me?” he asked.
After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded and followed him as he led her out of the keep and onto the castle green. They walked side by side across the turf and onto one of the many gravel paths leading off the green expanse.
“How is she today?”
“The same. She was sick earlier,” she answered. Then, she added in a tense voice, “But I gave her a draught, and she seemed a bit better afterwards.”
“So, any idea what it is yet?”
She shook her head, her brow creasing. He could tell she was very concerned.
“Nay, it’s still too early to tell. At this point, it has more to do with eliminating what it isnae than finding the root cause. That’s what takes the time.”
“And what isnae it?”
She glanced up at him, her small lips pursed. He sensed anger in her.
“That would take too long. I havenae found out much yet, but what I can say with some confidence is that it’s likely not some family illness that’s been passed down to her. ’Tis nae her heart or lungs, and I can see nae sign of any disease. She should be a healthy child, from what I can tell. But her stomach and digestion are clearly being badly affected by something, and her urine shows definite signs of a problem.”
“How d’ye ken that?” he asked curiously.
Daisy explained briefly, and he was astonished at the forthright language she used.
“Something is making it impossible for her to keep anything down—perhaps some irritant in her bowels or stomach. That’s what I’m going to investigate closely,” she told him, impressing him with her knowledge as well as the fact that she seemed quite upset she could not make a diagnosis.
He was touched by her obvious concern for his daughter. At least, he hoped it was for his daughter.
“Well, I wish ye had better news to give me. But it sounds like ye have a lot of work to do,” he commented.
“Aye.”
