That coaxed a genuine laugh from Timothy, one that broke through the pain.
Alasdair, still holding the boy’s leg steady, blinked at Lily in awe. The way her hands moved without hesitation and the wayher voice distracted Timothy from the pain... Watching her work was like watching God create humans.
He was deeply impressed, but he wouldn’t tell her. At least not yet.
Eventually, Lily sat back. “That’s the last of it.”
She wiped her brow and reached for the bandages Daisy had left earlier. Carefully, she wrapped Timothy’s foot with it, tying the last knot with a secure tug.
“There,” she said. “Rest. Ye’ll be limping for a while, but at least ye get to keep yer foot.”
“Thank ye, me Lady,” Timothy whispered, his eyes already closing.
Lily rose to her feet, rolling her shoulders as she scanned the room for her next patient.
But Alasdair stepped in front of her. “‘Tis enough for now.”
She frowned. “There is still more to be done.”
“And ye’ll do it better after a bath and some rest.” He nodded toward the door. “Ye’ve been riding all night, and we both ken what happened in the woods.”
“I am fine.”
“Aye, and a tired healer is more dangerous than an assassin,” he said evenly. “Nay one else needs immediate treatment. The maids are working, and Sorcha is in charge. There is food waiting for ye. The maids have drawn ye a bath, and yer bed has been made. Go.”
Her jaw clenched, but he held his ground.
At last, she sighed and turned toward the door. “Fine.”
Alasdair exhaled, watching her go, the tension in his chest easing just slightly.
It struck him then, as he looked around at the wounded and the quiet order she’d somehow brought into chaos, just how much of a challenge his wife was going to be.
“God help me,” he whispered to himself as he watched her exit the hall. “God help us all.”
CHAPTER 7
Lily walked as fastas she could as Daisy led her deeper into the castle. Her back ached, and she could still feel the pressure in her fingers from where she had used the whisky and a clean blade to clean out the infection in Timothy’s ankle.
Somehow, worse than the pain she felt in her back and shoulders was the sudden onslaught of memories. She could still see Timothy’s hopeless brown eyes waiting for her to finish working on his wound.
They stopped before a thick wooden door near the end of the passage.
“This is yer chamber, me Lady,” Daisy announced, pushing the door open.
Lily stepped in and immediately felt the warm air envelop her. She could faintly smell lavender and some kind of soap in the air.After spending hours with sick men, this was a welcome change of scenery.
The fire flickered gently and reflected beautifully off the walls. Her eyes searched the entire room, one space after the other. She could get used to a space like this. It was not as terrible as a part of her had thought it would be.
“I had the junior maids draw another bath right after ye went to the hall,” Daisy said. “I didnae want ye sleeping in bloody clothes.”
Lily gave her a weary smile. “Thank ye, Daisy. ‘Tis as perfect as it can be.”
“Of course, me Lady.”
Daisy moved toward the table tucked against the wall and picked up a clean dress from it. The fabric had green and brown undertones, and lace adorned the bodice and the sleeves. It looked magnificent, even from afar.
Lily’s eyebrow rose. “Is that for me?”
