Highlander's Bride (Heart of the Highlander Series Book 1) (22 page)

When the men gaped at her, she explained.
"'Twill help the laird breathe easier. Now, I have work to do in the
kitchen preparing a poultice. I want this
done
by the time I
return."

The determined tone of her voice and angry
expression must have convinced the men, for they immediately set to do as she
bid. The only sounds they uttered were strained grunts as they lifted and
carried Alexander and his massive bed to the window. She nodded and left the
room.

By mid morning, she had made a strong poultice of
dried coltsfoot, nettles, powdered boneset and camphor. She ground the herbs
with raw oats and mixed in boiling water until it made a thick paste. As soon
as it had cooled enough not to burn Alexander, she returned and applied the
aromatic gooey mass to his chest.

After she finished the task, she looked down at
the front of her gown and frowned. Sweet saints, she had nearly as much of the
strong-smelling mixture on her as he did. Glancing across the room, she said,
"Malcolm, come watch over your lord while I change my clothes and prepare
a soothing drink for him. Make sure he does not fall from his bed with all his
moving about."

Grinning, the brawny man walked over and stood
beside the bed. "Aye, my lady. Ye have naught to fash o'er with me here.
I'll see he stays put like a wee bairn snug in a cradle."

Confident the man would do as she asked; Katherine
smiled back, went to her chamber and quickly washed her hands and donned a
fresh gown. Then she proceeded to the kitchen where she mixed a small draught
of valerian and chamomile in a bit of water steeped in hops. Returning to the
laird's room, she and Malcolm managed to administer most of the soothing tea to
Alexander. It would ease his pain and allow him to sleep peacefully.

For the rest of the day and night, she alternated
between bathing her husband's hot face and hands with cool water and reapplying
the smelly poultice. Luckily, the herb tea kept him calm enough that he was
able to sleep most of the time without thrashing about.

She continued to care for Alexander through the
second day. By evening, he showed no signs of improvement. As she made another
batch of poultice in the kitchen, she heard some of the servants muttering
about her methods under their breath.

The cook was more vocal in her opinion. "Lady
MacGregor, why dinna ye send fer the healer from the next village? He kens much
about sickness and can bleed the evil poisons from the master. Ye dinna need
fash, for he willna quit until the healin' is done." She nodded with
enthusiasm. "Why, I seen him bleed one of the crofters three times before
the devil fled from the mon's blood and he was cured. 'Twas a shame the crofter
didna last but a day after that. But he went to God's bosom a clean mon wi'
nary taint of the devil on him."

Katherine shuddered at the thought. She too had
seen the practice so commonly used and did not agree that it held much merit.
Shaking her head, she said, "No, I do not wish to have the laird bled. I
will care for him."

But as she carried the freshly ground herb and
oats mixture back to Alexander's chamber, she worried. Sweet Mary, what if she
was wrong? Her method might not be the best way. What if she wasn't able to
save him? By the saints, why was there no healer at Ironwood?

The Gordon castle was not nearly as large as this
one, and yet there had been a healer there for as long as she could remember.
She looked down at the mortar and pestle in her hands. They had once belonged
to her nurse. The sharp tangy smell of the bowl's contents reminded her of the
last time she'd seen her.

Her nurse had beckoned to her, whispering in a
feeble voice. "Lass, I wish ye to take me bowl and grindin' stone. Use
them to help others as I taught ye. I willna be needin' them any longer."

Katherine held the woman's frail withered hand and
sat beside her on the edge of the bed. "'Tis no hurry for that. You will
be up and about soon."

"Nay this time, lass. Promise ye will do
this."

She nodded, pressing her friend's hand to her
cheek.

The old woman smiled and said, "Now sing once
more for me as ye did when ye were a wee thing. I wish to hear it again."

For a moment, Katherine could only sit in silence
as she swallowed against the tight lump in her throat and blinked back tears
that threatened to break free.

"Oh,
the bonnie wee bairn's a cryin' dear mother. Oh, the bairn's a cryin' this morn
to be sure. And what should I do for the wee one, dear mother?  The milk cow's
got loose and run out on the moor.  Biadh an leanabh. Biadh an leanabh..."

Katherine felt the gnarled hand slowly slide from
her grasp and she looked down at the old woman lying silent and still. The
words caught in her throat. There was no need to continue singing for her
friend could no longer hear her.

"No! Don't leave me."

Sobbing, she had laid her face on the woman's
chest. The coarse woolen tunic still felt warm. Salty tears that she'd held in
check soaked into the woven material and disappeared. She gently kissed her
nurse's cheek, picked up the mortar and pestle and pressed them to her heart.

With a bittersweet smile, she thought of how the
old woman used to comfort her and dry her childhood tears with the end of her
apron. She could still hear her words.

"Stop yer cryin' me lambkin, ye'll shrivel me
apron to be sure. And I've nay more wool to be addin' to it. Things will come
aright if ye willna despair."

Katherine looked down at the stone bowl she now
carried. She had promised to use it. And she would. 

By the third day, Alexander's condition had
worsened. Even the herb tea didn't calm his agitated movements. At times he
coughed so much that his breathing became labored. His weakened body lay
listless and still. Then the fever returned. It set him to thrashing so
violently in his bed that Lord Drummond and Malcolm had to restrain him while
she dosed him with stronger remedies. Eventually, the more powerful herbs took
effect and he dozed fitfully.

Katherine looked over at the two men who had aided
her. She gave them a faint smile. "Thank you for your help. I think he
will sleep for some time now."

Malcolm nodded and left.

Drummond pulled a chair close to the warmth of the
fireplace and motioned for her to sit. "My lady, I thought I would stay to
keep you company for a while in case Alex should awaken. Even sick, his
strength more than matches your own. Och, when he is fit, 'tis probably more than
mine. But we willna tell him so. His arrogance doesna need strengthening."
Grinning, he poured a mug of wine for her and himself, and then sat in a chair
near her. Stretching out his legs, he sighed.

Other than the occasional sounds of the crackling
flames, the room was silent. After several minutes Katherine glanced at the man
beside her. "Tell me, Lord Drummond, how long have you and my husband been
friends?"

He looked up and smiled slowly. "Ah, ever
since we met, lass. He and I were sent to Edinburgh to train for knighthood
when we were barely more than lads. I fear my mam wanted me trained more
strictly than I felt compelled to be. When I saw Alex's, uh, shall we say,
adventuresome nature, we became instant companions. We've had many interesting
times together to be sure. In fact 'tis because of them that I've learned to
trust him with my life."

Empty desolation rose up within her. How she
wished Alexander and she shared such fierce loyalties for each other. She gazed
longingly over at her sleeping husband then back to Drummond. "I know so
little of him. Please tell me about one of your adventures."

Nodding, he stared into the fire and began to
talk. "One evening when we were twelve, we ventured out on our own into
Edinburgh. We were approached by one of the whor- uh, women who frequent the
streets there. While she caught our attention, two thieves set upon us. The men
were intent on stealing whate'er we had and didna care if they had to kill us
to do it. At one point, Alex could have run away and left me to fight alone,
but he stayed. We stood back to back and fought wildly."

Drummond chuckled. "We yelled and made more
noise than any battle we have fought in since. The thieves and the wench ran
off before the commotion could bring attention to their misdeeds. Alex and I
vowed lifelong friendship that day and have come to rely on our trust in each
other ever since."

A wistful smile touched Katherine's lips. "It
must be wonderful to know you have someone you can depend on so."

The Scot cleared his throat and took a quick drink
of his wine. "Aye, but 'tis not an emotion I alone own. Alex respects all
his loyalties. Give him time lass."

When she didn't answer, he rose, leaned over and
patted her shoulder. "Well, 'twould seem he is going to sleep for a while
so I will leave you now. If you have need of me, send someone to fetch
me."

"Aye. Thank you."

Katherine returned to Alexander's bedside and
bathed his head with a cool cloth. Then she sank wearily onto the low seat next
to him. She dozed off until the sound of voices outside the chamber door
brought her awake with a start. Looking up, she saw the cook open the door.
"What do you want?"

 The woman ignored her and spoke to someone in the
corridor behind her. "See if 'tis not as I spoke when I sent fer ye. Ye
must tend to the laird."

The cook entered, leading a ragged-looking
stranger in. She crossed her arms over her ample chest and looked about the
room with a frown. A short thin man with dirty hands and a soiled tunic stood
nodding beside her.

Katherine watched the cook's scowling face from
across the room and a tingle of apprehension ran through her. "Why are you
here? I didn't call for you."

The woman propped her hands on her hips. "I
have brought the healer to bleed the laird."

"What? How dare you!"

The cook shook her finger at Katherine. "I
dinna believe in yer ways. This mon is a true healer." She smirked.
"He will cure the laird."

"You have no authority here. Get out of this
room. Now!"

The cook raised her chin and glanced quickly about
the chamber once more, the frown never leaving her lips. Then she turned and
stomped from the room.

The words didn't seem to convince the unkempt man.
Without acknowledging her, he walked up to the bed and reached for one of
Alexander's arms. He pulled a stained and chipped dirk from a sack tied at his
waist.

Katherine shouted, "No. Don't touch
him!" She grabbed the stranger's hand, wrestling with him to keep the dirk
from Alexander.

The wiry little man shouted as he attempted to
free his wrist from her frantic grasp. "Ye crazed wench, leave off! I ken
what to do. Naught is goin' to keep me from me work." He shoved her,
knocking her to the floor.

She heard a roar like a maddened bull and looked
up as a large fast-moving blur flew past her. The healer was smashed beneath a
mass of flying limbs and furs. Suddenly the struggling bodies stilled, and
Alexander's fever-darkened gaze glimmered up at her from the top of the heap.
He reached out toward her, then his eyes rolled back in his head and he keeled
over on top of the unconscious stranger.

Chapter Sixteen

For the next five days Alexander's soul hovered
between heaven and hell. One moment he thought he might drown in his own sweat
and another he would shake uncontrollably as chills racked his body.

Sometimes, when the fever took him, he heard
Katherine's gentle laughter. In his mind, he saw his brother and his wife reach
out to each other, their expressions filled with lust. Those were the worst
times. He tried to go after William and Katherine, but weakness always overcame
him and he sank back exhausted on the bed. After several endless days and
nights of illness, he lay spent and deeply troubled. Then the tremors began
again.

He opened his eyes to see David and Malcolm
holding him down as he thrashed about. Katherine stood beside them with a small
vial in her hands. Her voice floated toward him from a distance. "Lord
Drummond, Malcolm, hold him still or I will get naught of this potion past his
lips."

Looking up at Davey and Malcolm nodding in
agreement, he shouted, "So, witch, now you have turned even my friends
against me."

Malcolm tried to clap his hand over Alexander's
mouth and growled, "Haud yer wheesht!"

Katherine smiled slightly and gently pushed his
hand away. "I suggest you pay no more heed to the ranting of a man in the
midst of a fever than one deep in his cups. For neither will remember aught
when they rouse later from the effects."

 Alexander shot a tortured glance at her. His
anguished thoughts poured from his lips. "Don't waste your fine words,
woman. 'Tis clear you have betrayed me again. Tell me, how many times did you
lay with them to convince them to help you poison me?"

He knew a brief flash of pain as Drummond's fist hit
him. Then he knew nothing more.

**

The sound of a bright angel's voice filled Alexander's
mind with deep tranquility, soothing him back to the pain free emptiness of
sleep. He floated endlessly on a cool breeze; no anger, no worry, just peace.

Then the fever returned, and he knew hell on earth
as he saw himself back in his own chamber of During Castle. He witnessed
Katherine wantonly give her body to William and Davey. Fiona, dressed all in
black, ushered in an endless line of leering men. When the dark vision
appeared, he feared he would lose his mind. He fought it, thrashing about wildly.

At the end of the seventh day, his fever finally
broke. The violent tremors ended and he no longer needed to be restrained. That
night he rested peacefully on his own, with no need of sleeping potions.

The next morning he awoke as Katherine bent over him
and bathed his face with a cool damp cloth. The heaviness in his chest was
gone. He knew the illness had left him, although he was still weak and
confused. He remembered naught after he'd ridden into Ironwood's gates and
found Katherine and William together. There were so many questions he wanted to
ask, but as he looked into her eyes, he couldn't speak. He wouldn't allow her
to see the heartache he felt inside. How could someone so beautiful do what she
had done? And, God, why did he still want her so?

 As he continued to stare at her, he noticed dark
shadows under her eyes. Could it be that she had lost sleep over him? Or was
she merely spending too many sleepless nights with the men in the castle? His
head throbbed from the thought. He clenched his fists to his sides. Feeling the
pinch of sore knuckles on his right hand, he loosened his grip. He must have
hit it hard at some point when he'd thrashed about.

Katherine straightened the blankets and then
pulled back the bed sheet exposing his naked chest. The cool air felt good.

He took a deep breath and smiled for the first
time in days. But when she began to rub some foul smelling concoction on him,
he thought he would retch. That is until her warm fingers caressed his skin
with her light touch. Then he lost all ability to smell or even to think
clearly as another function of his body came stirring to life.

Heat coursed through him, equaling his fevers of
the past several days, but had naught to do with illness of the body. The heat
took over his mind and spirit, and he feared there might be no recovering from
it.

Breaking their mutual silence, Katherine spoke in
a trembling voice, as if uncomfortable with his intense gaze. "'Tis good
to see you awake, my lord. How do you feel?"

Her soft voice sounded like an angel's caress, one
he could listen to for hours.  No. He wouldn't be swayed so easily. He'd been
tricked before and would forever pay the price of his foolishness. "I have
felt better. What is that stench?"

"'Tis a poultice for the cough and tightness
in your chest."

"Well, wipe it off! The smell sickens
me."

Davey's deep chuckle sounded from the side of the
bed. "Ah, I see you are in good humor, Alex."

Alexander's head snapped up, his nerves frayed. He
hadn't even heard Davey approach. Warily, he looked his friend in the eye. Was
he still a friend?

Katherine smiled and nodded in greeting.
"Good day, Lord Drummond. Did you wish to speak to my husband? I'm
finished here."

Alexander watched her response to Davey. Her
friendly attitude seemed proper enough. But then she would hardly fall into the
man's arms there in front of him, now would she? Glancing back at Davey, he
noticed his casual smile and the expression of apparent admiration in his eyes.
If ever a man wore a look of more frank approval on his face, Alexander hadn't
seen it.

Drummond nodded. "Aye, my lady. Perhaps you
might wish to take some time away from your duty here while I speak with Alex.
Malcolm said to tell you he would be available if you had need of him."

A throaty growl erupted from Alexander's lips.
"What do you—"

Her swift reply cut across his response, as if the
thought of leaving him appealed to her. "Thank you, my lord, I won't be
gone long."

Alexander tightened his fists again, disregarding
the sore bruises and scowled at her retreating back. As soon as she left the
chamber he exploded. "What in hell do you mean; Malcolm will be available
for her? Just what services does my loyal man-at-arms perform for my
wife?"

Drummond's face clouded over. His glare matched
his words. "By God, you can shut your mouth now or I will do it for you.
Your man is loyal to you, which may be more than you deserve. And as for
thinking your wife has done aught to warrant your foul temper, your mind must
still be lodged up your arse!"

Alexander's jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed to
mere slits. His words were slow and deliberate. "I will ask you just once
more. What does Malcolm do with my wife?"

For a moment, Davey didn't answer as he glared in
return. Then he snorted and reached for the wine ewer. "Och, calm down. On
my word, you have naught to fash o'er. Malcolm merely goes to the village for
needed supplies whene'er your wife asks him to. That way she can spend more
time with your care."

Filling a mug for both of them, he handed one to
his friend and drank from his own. Then he pulled up a chair beside the bed and
sat down.

The tension in Alexander's shoulders eased
slightly as he took a deep swallow of wine. He felt the cool liquid run down
the back of his throat and fill his belly with warmth. "Davey, I recall
naught of the last several days except hazy images. Even a nickum face such as
yours is a welcome sight." He looked about him clearly for the first time
in eight days. Noticing the changes in his chamber, he glanced back at his
friend with a bemused expression.

Davey took another drink of wine, set the mug down
with a firm rap and said, "My friend, we have much to speak of."

**

Katherine relaxed as she walked the long corridor
leading away from the sick room. 'Twas kind of Lord Drummond and Malcolm to
stay with Alexander occasionally so she could check on William or stretch her
legs and gather herbs for her poultices and draughts.

She smiled as she entered the young man's chamber
at the far end of the passageway. "Hello William. I wished to see how you
fare. Does your leg pain you much?"

Crossing the room, she knelt down beside him and
looked at his braced leg as he sat with it stretched out before him, bound to a
length of board. Thank heaven it appeared to be healing correctly. When they
had first arrived at Ironwood and noted its lack of a healer, she had feared
she might damage the leg further by trying to set it. But to wait indefinitely
for a physician to be found would have been worse. Without Alexander or any of
his men there to send for aid, she hadn't had a choice.

The procedure had been agonizing. On her signal,
William's man had held him down as she pulled on the lower part of his leg
until the fractured bone slipped back into line with the upper portion. Even
with the wine they had repeatedly coaxed him to drink before they attempted to
set his leg, the pain had apparently been excruciating. William had cried out
once and then fallen into unconsciousness. Thank the saints, he seemed to be
recovering with no ill effects.

Her question was met with a smile. "Ah, my
leg feels better each day. 'Tis glad I am you and my man were able to set it
straight on the first try. I fear the pain in my head would have been far
greater than in my leg had you made me drink anymore of that wine." His
apparent show of bravado in not admitting to the pain reminded her of his
brother. They both were strong in body and pride.

Seeing his smile, her heart eased for the first
time in many days. She laughed with him and bantered back and forth, as they
had done before, in platonic friendship. That is, until Alexander had stormed
into the main hall, knocked over the chess table and held them at sword point
as he shouted accusations and threats. And before— No, she wouldn't think of
that. The dark image immediately put an end to her happy mood. She frowned and
chewed at her bottom lip.

William's soft-spoken voice drifted across the
sudden silence. "My lady …Katherine, I would give much to undo what has
occurred between you and my brother. I have questioned Lord Drummond and
Malcolm and know what Alexander was told. That 'twas a black lie is obvious to
all except him."

Heat suffused her face. "Please, William, I
do not wish to speak of it."

"Perhaps you should. By talking about it,
'twill ease your feelings and help you to understand something of Alexander
which perhaps you don't know." At her silence, he continued. "You
know of our mother, Mary, who died from a sudden illness when Alexander was
twelve. I was only six and unable to realize the great grief my da and brother
went through. Aye, I missed her, but I was young and didn't have the years'
memories to continue to bring back grief and loneliness, as did they."

William tugged at the wrappings on his injured leg
as if it pained him. "Shortly after she died, Alexander was sent away to
train for his knighthood. After he returned, he trained for hours on end until
he dropped from exhaustion. At times, Malcolm had to help him back to the keep.
When my brother wasn't training on the practice field, he often visited our mother's
old nurse, Elsa, and her orphaned grand babe."

Katherine remembered the sight of Fiona with
Alexander. Her heart hardened momentarily before guilt scorned her thoughts. It
must have been terrible for him to lose someone he loved. "Did Alexander's
grief not ease with time and work?"

"No. And the more he visited Elsa, the more
memories of our mother seemed to plague him. Even the wee babe seemed to cause
him to grieve, for he knew she had lost both of her parents."

William shrugged. "As the lass grew, Alexander
seemed to make himself responsible for her as if trying to fill the emptiness
for both of them. Fiona, that's the lassie's name, grew verra possessive of
him. I think she would have gladly joined with Alexander, if he had but asked.
Have you met her? She's a fiery beauty. Although she would have been willing,
my brother thinks of her as a young sister, needful of his care. He has never
given his heart truly. Perhaps he fears to do so."

Katherine remembered her first meeting with Fiona.
The woman's boast of Alexander's love rang in her head. Surely William must
have noticed the way the two behaved when they were near each other? The last
time she saw them together, Alexander had tenderly carried Fiona in his arms
while she clung to him with her head nestled on his shoulder. The memory was
still painful.

William patted Katherine's hand in a friendly
fashion. "Now do you begin to understand a wee bit of my headstrong
brother? I speak truly when I say his passions run deep. After aught that has
happened, you may wonder why I tell you this in his cause." He smiled
sadly. "My lady, I must return home soon. 'Tis my hope that you will
remain here and give him the chance to right the wrongs he has done. Please
think on it before you say no."

Suddenly a cocky grin spread across his face and
he winked. "Be assured, when Alexander and I are both hale again, I shall
be pleased to, uh, converse with him myself. And if his temper flares and I
have to knock some sense into him, then it willna be more than he deserves."
Sighing, he added, "Until then, I must bide my time as best I can. The
passing of time will help you too, I think."

She leaned over and kissed him gently on the
cheek. "You have given me much to think on. I thank you for your
caring."

A slight noise drew her gaze to the doorway where
a chambermaid had entered carrying fresh linens. The wide-eyed servant bobbed a
quick curtsy, placed a few towels in a chest at the end of the bed and hurried
away.

William looked at Katherine and smiled. "Ah,
my lady, you have saved me yet again. That lass spouts gossip until I would
fain drag myself from my bed and hobble from my room to cease her wagging
tongue."

Laughing, Katherine promised to look in on him the
next day and headed for the kitchen, deep in thought. When she found the new
cook, she quickly instructed her of her duties. "Come to me with aught
that concerns you. Do not take it upon yourself to resolve things without my
consent as your predecessor did." Glancing over at the former cook, who
now swept the scullery, she added, "I will not abide that."