Page 43 of It Happened in the Highlands
The doctor was particularly interested in her observation about the change in Charles Barton.
“No doubt, Mr. Barton is now accustomed to your company. And enough people have been addressing you as Lady Josephine or Lady Jo in his presence. It’s possible your name has registered with him,” Dermot mused. “But the shift of sketching you instead of what he holds in his memory is very exciting. More and more, the curtain separating the remembered from the real appears to be falling away.”
“But what is Garloch?” she asked, thinking of the words he shouted. “Barton kept saying ‘Garloch.’”
“Garloch?” Wynne repeated, looking at the doctor. “Isn’t that the name of a village north of here?”
Dermot nodded. “Yes, about three hours by carriage if the weather is good. The place isn’t even half the size of Rayneford. Most of the farms have given over to raising sheep, I believe. Haven’t been there since I was a lad. A fine river runs through it that my uncles used to fish in before they were seized with their golfing fever. Beyond that, I don’t know much about the place. I can ask the vicar or the Squire; they may know more.”
“But why would Mr. Barton shout the name?”
The doctor shrugged. “Difficult to say. Garloch is quite a way from Tilmory Castle.”
“You say it’s about three hours north of here?”
“Indeed,” Dermot answered. “Are you thinking of going there?”
Jo decided it was time to tell them of her decision to leave. “Since you say this village is in the direction I’m traveling, I’ll make a stop there on Saturday while I resume my journey to Torrishbrae.”
The doctor’s protest was immediate and pronounced, but Wynne’s darkening expression was what Jo fixed on. He held her gaze. She imagined the questions running through his mind. He abruptly stood and went to the window.
“But you can’t leave right now,” Dermot exclaimed. “We need you here. Mr. Barton’s progress clearly depends on your presence.”
The doctor continued to protest. Watching Wynne’s profile, she saw the clench of his jaw.
“My family expects me in Sutherland,” she said in a reasonable tone, her words directed at Wynne. “And I believe I’ve accomplished all I can here.”
“Hardly. We have finally broken through his silence. And another week’s delay in your departure could make substantial difference in Mr. Barton’s condition.” Dermot turned to the captain as if he was noticing his silence for the first time. “Talk to her, Melfort. Talk reason. You’re good at that sort of thing. Don’t you want Lady Josephine to stay?”
He glanced over his shoulder at her. His penetrating blue eyes revealed his wishes before the words left his lips. “I do.”
“There you have it,” the doctor announced as if that were all she was waiting for.
Jo shook her head, still thinking it was wiser to put some distance between them. They were moving too fast.
Wynne turned from the window and joined the conversation. “That village is not on your way. You’ll still need to travel toward the coast to go north to Sutherland. But if you stay, I’ll go with you to Garloch and return here. This will give you the opportunity to investigate and see what connection exists between Barton and the village.”
Wynne’s offer to take her had its merits. An unknown Englishwoman stopping at an out of the way village in the Highlands made less sense than having him traveling with her, considering his connection to the Abbey and the McKendrys.
“But what shall we do once we get there?” she asked him. “We don’t even know if there’s a tavern or an inn where we can ask about Mr. Barton.”
“Most every village in the Highlands has a church.” Wynne looked at Dermot, who nodded confirmation. “That will give us a place to start. We can ask the vicar what he knows. Perhaps even get a letter of introduction from him.”
“I hate to think of you leaving your duties here,” she persisted, her pulse rising at the thought of being alone with him for a full day.
“She’s quite right,” Dermot agreed. “I’ll take care of this. I can have my uncle write a letter and I can escort Lady Josephine to Garloch.”
Jo thought the captain’s response most interesting, for he first sent her a questioning look, as if seeking her approval, and she nodded.
“My dear McKendry. Over dinner recently, I heard you eloquently affirm your commitment to this hospital. About your devotion to the patients who need your care and attention. Lady Josephine would never allow you to sacrifice your valuable time.” Wynne turned his attention back to Jo. “I happen to be at my leisure on Saturday, m’lady. We can leave at dawn and plan on returning before dark, if that suits you.”
Jo accepted the offer, somewhat astonished at how easily she’d been persuaded to extend her stay once again. She’d need to send off another set of letters to her family, inform them of her plans, and try to avoid any reference to Captain Melfort.
Chapter 14
On Friday night, Wynne stopped in Cuffe’s room to ask if he’d care to accompany them on their excursion in the morning.
“What does she hope to find in Garloch?”
