Sorcha, who had been hovering nearby, leaned in. “Is there anything I can do?”
Lily took another look around the room. Several soldiers were groaning, and a few of them coughed heavily into rags. Two across the hall were trying to push themselves up on their cots, and she noticed the sheen of sweat on their brows.
‘Tis likely fever.
Her eyes settled on another soldier who was clutching his stomach, clearly in pain.
“There’s a handful of men over there in need of—” She paused, trying to think. “They’ll be needing some willow bark tonic for the fever and maybe poultices for the ones with burns.”
Sorcha nodded eagerly. “Aye, I can handle that.”
Lily’s eyes narrowed on her. “Ye can?”
“Are ye joking? I’ve been telling Dr. Moseley that I can help for weeks, but he wouldnae let me touch a thing. All he did was treat me like I was daft.”
“So ye ken what to do, then?” Lily asked.
Sorcha straightened. “I tended to the wounded. Learned everything from dear Matron Wethers, bless her soul. Cannon took her clean out.”
Lily paused, giving her a firm nod. “Right, then. Off ye go. Thank ye.”
As Sorcha rushed off, Lily turned back to Timothy, placing a calming hand on his arm before shifting to look for help. She spotted a maid arranging linens at the far end of the hall and called to her.
“Ye there… what is yer name?”
The young maid looked startled but hurried over. “Daisy, me Lady.”
“Good. Daisy, I need hot water. The hotter the better. And all the whisky ye can find in this castle.”
Daisy blinked, then nodded. “Aye, me Lady.”
“Oh—” Lily called after her as she turned.
Daisy spun back, wide-eyed. “Aye, me Lady?”
“Please,” Lily said, softening, “call me Lily.”
Daisy hesitated. “I am afraid I cannae do that, me Lady.”
Lily wanted to argue, but time wasn’t on their side. She sighed. “Fine. But bring me as many clean bandages as ye can as well.”
“Very well, me Lady,” Daisy said, before rushing out of the hall.
With the girl gone, Lily leaned toward Timothy. “We will get ye back to full health in nay time.”
Timothy let out a raspy laugh, his hands gripping the bed frame. “Me wife will be thrilled. I still cannae believe I get to keep me foot. She will say I owe her another baby.”
Lily chuckled. “Is that right?”
He nodded. “Aye… Is it true what Sorcha said? That ye’re the woman with the gifted hands?”
Lily snorted. “Oh, ye must ken… I daenae pay attention to rumors.”
She glanced around again, seeking another cloth or towel. All the maids were running about now, moving with newfound energy and purpose. Her eyes settled on the only person standing still.
Alasdair.
He was leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed, watching everything unfold. Lily raised a hand and waved him over. He raised an eyebrow in question, but then pushed off the wall and walked over to her.
