Highland Blessings (25 page)

Bryce remained in his seat, wondering if she were truly ill or if she used a female ploy to avoid another tongue lashing for her most recent behavior.

His wondering ended a little while later when Finella burst into the hall. “Somethin’s terribly wrong with our lady.”

In his haste, Bryce knocked his heavy chair over. “What’s wrong?” Even as he asked the question, a terrible feeling flipped in his gut, and he knew this wasn’t a ploy.

“She’s terribly ill, m’lord. She lost all of her meal and continues to lose her stomach. She hasn’t stopped heaving since she made it up to her chamber where she finally collapsed.”

Collapsed? His strong, stubborn wife who had challenged him in front of all his men only a few hours ago collapsed? His heart thumped in his ears.

“Balloch, send for Angus!” Bryce ordered as he sprinted from the hall.

Akira lay on the floor by the fire in her chamber. Bryce knelt, gently scooping her into his arms.

“Akira, speak to me.” He laid her on the bed and shook her shoulders. He tried his best not to panic when her head limply rolled to the side. “Akira.” He tapped her cheek.

“See? ’Twas the strangest thing. I’ve never seen anyone faint that way afore,” Finella said with a worried frown, leaning around his shoulder.

Bryce turned to face her. “She had just entered the hall in fine health, recently returned from a vigorous ride.” He couldn’t understand it either.

Finella nodded and threaded her fingers in front of her. “She ran by me in the hallway. Out of concern, I followed her to the chamber. Not even when I carried my four wee bairns did I get that ill.”

Bryce looked down at his wife again. Akira looked deathly pale. He bent to one knee and took her hand in his. Quickly, he dropped it as if it burned him.

“What is it?” Finella asked.

Bryce didn’t answer. All he could think about was how cold Evan and his parents had been in death. She had that pale look to her now. He thought his legs would give out on him as he stumbled to the window for some fresh air.

“M’lord?” Finella followed him, but he didn’t wish to speak his fears aloud. Too much death had plagued him lately. It was one thing to lose men in battle, but it was another to lose loved ones like this—through some mischief—an unseen evil.

“I’ll go see if Balloch was able to find Angus,” Finella mumbled over her shoulder.

Bryce stood at the window until he heard a muffled whisper. He moved to Akira’s bedside, awkwardly bending over her.

“Akira?” He touched her cold forehead and hated the clammy feel of her skin. “Akira, did ye say something?” His hands moved to her arms and then her legs. Her limbs felt the same as the skin on her hands and forehead. He didn’t know how to control his racing heart when he realized her whole body was this way. “Akira.” His voice rose as he shook her again. “Akira, please speak to me, darling.”

Bryce held her white, supple hand to his lips and barely twitched when Balloch burst through the door, looking harassed and angry.

“I know what’s wrong with her, but I don’t know what to do about it. All we can do is wait.” Something in his fierce expression softened when his eyes rested on Akira.

“What’s wrong with her?” Bryce sounded calmer than he felt.

“She’s been poisoned.” Balloch looked at him with awkward empathy and seemed to hesitate in the threshold as if he feared completely entering the chamber.

“How do ye know?” Bryce pressed Akira’s cold fingers against his cheek waiting for Balloch to tell him what he didn’t want to hear.

“Mirana confessed. When she heard yer reaction to Akira’s illness, Mirana burst into tears. It took one of the servants a time of coaxing, but she finally wrestled the bitter truth out of her.”

Another thought immediately occurred to Bryce. “Could anyone else be poisoned as well? What about Sim?”

Balloch shook his head. “Nay, Mirana said that Akira was the only one who ate the poisoned mushrooms.”

“Mushrooms?” Bryce repeated, looking down at his wife. “But, she … could …” He couldn’t say the word aloud, and he dropped his head on the bed by her side.

Balloch looked down at the floor, shuffling his feet from one to the other. Without saying another word, he backed out of the room and closed the door softly behind him.

Bryce didn’t move for a while, ignoring his aching muscles. He kept replaying in his mind every conversation he’d ever had with Akira, as if seeing her laughing, smiling, and talking would make what happened unreal. He couldn’t lose her now. He’d just begun to realize how much he needed her. With the exception of Sim, he’d lost everyone who ever mattered. Suddenly, she mattered more than anything in his life, and he wasn’t ready to give her up.

A soft groan caused him to jerk. He blinked, wondering if his mind played tricks. Bryce grabbed her limp hand in his and squeezed as if he could force his own strength into her.

“I won’t let ye leave me, Akira.” New hope rose in his chest as he voiced the words aloud. “I’ve never known ye to give up on anything. I’ll have the most noble of swords made for ye. ’Twill be grander than mine, and we’ll engrave the MacPhearson crest on it,” he promised, pressing her fingers to his lips. “Ye’ll not have to stay inside. We’ll find lots of things to do outside.” He searched for more words that might gain her interest. “And if ye’re real good, I might actually let ye swordfight me as well.”

Akira stirred. Her eyes flickered but didn’t open. Bryce brushed her beautiful golden-red hair from her forehead and pressed his lips to each eyelid.

“I love the color of yer hair. Everything about ye is perfect.”

He wished she would wake up and talk to him, even if she yelled at him. The thought tugged at his conscience, and he choked on his emotion. If he hadn’t been a fool and brought Mirana back, his wife would be healthy this very moment.

“Akira, please don’t abandon me, now. I need ye, lass.”

When he received no answer, he bowed his head and began to pray, pleading for his wife’s life. His relationship with the Lord still felt new. In times past he always approached Father Forbes for divine guidance and repeated prayers he’d learned in childhood. Now he prayed directly to the Lord with an open and sincere heart.

Two hours later Balloch opened the door, leading Angus and Finella into the chamber. “I had to go a ways, but I found ’im,” Balloch said, pleased with himself.

Angus nervously glanced in Bryce’s direction and went directly to his patient. As Angus examined Akira, he asked them numerous questions. He nodded without looking up when he understood and asked another question if something didn’t sound right. He glanced at the hearth.

“We need more wood for a larger fire. Her body is cold. We must try to warm her. ’Tis just as bad for the body to be too cold as it is for the body to be burning with fever. I need warm water and cloths.”

Balloch left for the wood, and Finella went to see to the warm water and cloths.

“For the last hour her body has been unusually cold like this.” Bryce touched Akira’s arm and ran his hand down the length of it to make sure her body temperature was still the same. “Of all things, to be poisoned by mushrooms.”

Angus walked to the foot of Akira’s bed and jerked back the cover to feel her feet. He pointed to the corner of the chamber. “I need some wool blankets. We’ll see her through this if it takes all night and all day on the morrow.”

That was what Bryce wanted to hear. He opened the chest and pulled out a wool blanket. Together they wrapped her in it. Finella returned a moment later to tell them the warm water and cloths were on the way. “Keep some drinking water by her bedside. She should not go without liquids for long. If her stomach isn’t sick anymore tonight, give her something warm first thing in the morn’, preferably chicken broth. We’ll know by then if she’ll be able to handle it.”

Angus obviously thought she would be here in the morning. Relief flooded through Bryce, and he dropped down in a nearby chair. He ran his fingers through his hair and rubbed the tender muscles in the back of his neck. Bryce had endured a long evening. He thought he might give way from worry and fatigue.

Angus walked over to stand in front of him. Bryce tried not to tense, and finally looked up at the sound of his voice.

“I won’t lie and tell ye she’ll make it,” Angus said, “but I can give ye hope in that I’ve seen others live through such poisons before. Akira is a strong woman. ’Tis in her favor that she became sick so quickly after her meal. That means less of the poison was digested, giving her a better chance at surviving. The cider didn’t sit well with her stomach and was even worse mixed with poison. ’Twas what prompted her to become so ill.” He slapped Bryce on the arm. “Take good care of her. I’ll stay close by here in the village if ye need me.”

“Finella, give Angus a bedchamber,” Bryce ordered.

Finella nodded and hurried to find something suitable for Angus.

Bryce concentrated on his next words to Angus. “I beg yer forgiveness for the way I acted when Evan passed away. I’m at yer service, and I’d like to offer ye a comfortable place to pass the night.” Angus looked ready to refuse. “I’d also feel better if ye were in the castle, just in case.”

Angus thought for a moment, and then he must have realized Bryce would soon resort to begging, so he nodded his consent. Two servants brought in hot water and cloths. When they left, Angus turned back to Bryce.

“Lad, ye’re forgiven. Everyone is allowed their grief. Sometimes a person’s only hope falls heavily upon my shoulders, and the cold truth is that I don’t heal or perform miracles. I only do what I can. However, I would suggest ye call Father Forbes if ye’ve not already done so.”

Bryce rightfully felt shameful and avoided replying when Finella conveniently reappeared.

“I’ve yer chamber ready, Angus. I’ll show ye the way.” Angus followed her out.

“Finella,” Bryce called, before she could get far.

She reappeared, popping her head through the door. “Aye, m’lord?”

“Please fetch Father Forbes.”

A sad frown crossed Finella’s face and she nodded. “Aye, I’ll do that right after I have Angus settled, I will.”

Bryce moved to Akira’s side and dipped the cloth left on a nearby dresser into the warm water. He gently patted Akira’s face and hands as Balloch appeared carrying extra wood. He threw a couple of pieces on the fire and came to stand by the bed behind Bryce.

“Is there anything else ye might be needin’?”

“Aye,” Bryce nodded, looking at him with a determined expression. “Ye may lock Mirana up until I’ve time to personally deal with her.”

“I’ll take care of her. Where would ye like for me to put her?”

Bryce shrugged. “If truth be known, I would rather the dungeon, but I feel even my wife wouldn’t stand for a woman to be locked up down there, no matter how much she disliked Mirana. Take her to a chamber. Set a guard outside her door, and I’ll deal with her on the morrow.”

“I’ll see to it,” Balloch promised as he moved to leave.

“Balloch,” Bryce called, before Balloch could close the door. “Thank ye, my friend.”

Balloch nodded, closing the heavy wooden door behind him. No words were necessary.

W
eakness claimed Akira from deep in her bones down to her soul. Her stomach seemed as though it were a large, empty hole in the middle of her body. Her lips were parched and her tongue heavy as stone. She looked to her left. Bryce lay slumped over in a chair by the bed. His dark head rested on his forearms, the heavy rhythm of his breathing a familiar sound.

“Bryce.” Her voice was hardly above a whisper, foreign and distant to her own ears.

He didn’t stir.

“Bryce.”

Still, he didn’t move.

Akira took a deep breath and called louder. “Bryce.” She rubbed her fingers against his cheek. This time Bryce jerked and lifted his head. He rubbed his eyes to clear his vision, reminding her of the lad he had once been. At first, he stared at her as if he couldn’t believe she’d awakened. Akira wanted to ask questions, but had no energy. “Thirsty,” her voice croaked.

More alert now, he moved to a nearby table and poured a goblet of water. He tilted the small container to her lips and wiped her chin with a cloth.

“Careful, ye don’t want to drink too much too quickly.” He eased down on the edge of her bed, and she relaxed back against the pillows.

“Tired,” she mumbled more clearly.

“Well, before ye doze back off, ye must eat a wee bit.”

Wearily, she shook her head as her eyes slowly shut.

He knelt by the bed, taking her chin in his hand. “Akira.” She struggled to stare at him. He bent toward her and kissed her cheek. “Angus said to make sure ye’ve something warm in yer belly first thing in the morn’. I have to do as he says and ye must let me.”

She blinked once and slowly nodded.

He went to the door and called Finella. Akira was too tired to smile, although that’s what she felt like doing as she listened to him call Finella a second time. A bit impatient, she thought, and made a mental note to tell him so when he returned to her bedside.

A moment later she heard Finella’s voice, but Akira couldn’t see her for Bryce’s broad back blocking the doorway. His black hair hung to his shoulders in disheveled waves. It appeared he had been concerned for her.