Page 71 of The Highlander's Virgin Nun
“Same here, Eliza, if ye need me to fetch ye somethin’ or ye need to move him,” Conall chimed in.
As he spoke, he came to Rosaline’s side and moved her out of the way, sitting her down on a chair by the wall. He held her hand tightly, letting her know that he was there, that he would not leave her.
Michaela entered the room and went straight to Eliza, immediately recognizing her as the new healer.
“I couldnae tell what the poison was. Me vision isnae good these days, and neither is me memory, but maybe ye will be able to tell from these rashes around the wound.”
She wasted no time, pulling the covers back and Caelan’s shirt up. She lifted the dressing, which was still fresh and neat—clearly, it was changed regularly—and allowed Eliza to inspect it.
Eliza took a closer look, tilted her head this way and that, and moved her body to allow more light in.
“Has he been vomitin’?”
“He has been asleep through it, but aye. We have been keepin’ him on his side so he doesnae choke.”
“And his fever hasnae broken the entire time?”
“Nay, Me Lady. Nae a moment has there been nay sweat on his brow.”
Eliza nodded, reaching a conclusion already. “Belladonna.”
“Ye’re sure?”
“Certain.”
Rosaline had no idea what that meant. She had never heard of it before, and she immediately wanted to ask if it was deadly. But from the pallor of her husband’s skin, she assumed that it was.
“Ye have a remedy?” she asked instead, unable to keep silent any longer.
“Aye. Charcoal should work. I used it before. I only hope it hasnae been too long.”
Rosaline held her breath and dug her nails into her brother’s hand as the tension coursed through her body. He did not pull back or flinch, but he gave her his other hand to do the same to it.
“She is very good, Rosaline. Dinnae worry. I have seen her bring back folk much farther than Caelan. Just let her work.”
It was all she could do to trust Conall’s words. If Eliza had healed an entire clan, surely she could heal one healthy laird.
She bit her lip, tensed her thighs, and curled her toes. She had to clench every muscle in her body to sit still and let Eliza work. It was a near-impossible effort.
After a while of placing droplets into Caelan’s mouth and holding smelling salts under his nose, Eliza spoke, “Let’s give him time to absorb the antidote. I will stay by his side and monitor him closely. I will give him more if I feel he needs it. But please, Rosaline, go and have some rest. I will fetch ye the minute he wakes up. It is nay use to sit here and worry yerself sick.”
Rosaline could hear Eliza’s words, and if this were any other time and she were any other person in this situation, she would have seen the sense in them. But right now, they sounded ridiculous.
“Nay, I have to stay here. I’ve been gone all this time. Why would I leave again?” Her words tumbled after one another.
“Ye arenae leavin’, Rosaline. Ye will be right here in the castle. I just want ye to go lie down, eat somethin’.”
Rosaline shook her head, but the slowness of the movement showed even her how exhausted she was.
Conall pulled her to her feet and rubbed her shoulder with the arm he had wrapped around her. “Come on, lass, I’ll stay with ye. Eliza will come fetch ye if he wakes up.”
She sobbed and tried to resist, but her body was almost entirely empty of energy. And thus she allowed him to guide her out of the healer’s chambers. Alexandra appeared in the corridor, and when their eyes met, they dashed forward and threw their arms around each other. They spoke no words, only cried in one another’s arms.
Rosaline knew that the only person who shared her pain was now in her embrace.
“I’ll take her,” Alexandra offered. “Ye go fetch some food for both of ye from the Great Hall. Take a plate to yer sister as well. We shall all rest in the spare bedroom at the bottom of the hall and wait for me darlin’ braither to wake up.”
Rosaline detected a maturity in Alexandra’s voice that hadn’t been there before she had left the castle. While it had only been a matter of weeks, her sister-in-law sounded older, wiser, and more assured. Her brother’s illness must have made her step up, naturally, and it had altered her a little. But her sweet, pure heart still shone through.
