Elena’s eyes felt heavy as if she hadn’t slept a wink, her body, limp and weary.
“I’m worried, love,” Gabriel said. “I’ve sent for the healer from Baxter’s to come. He worked wit’ yer uncle after all. And if somehow ye have what he had, then the healer will be the best choice.”
“It’s nae poison,” Elena said as Gabriel reached for the small pitcher next to the bedside the instant her eyes flickered to it.
“I just need to be sure. I’ve never seen anyone as sick as ye are and I ken ye need help.”
“I’m fine,” Elena protested as she forced herself to stand upright instead of hunched over. The air flowed freely to her lungs and cleared her head up a bit. She scanned the room and moved to her small writing desk, taking little steps along the way.
Of course, Gabriel was at her side the entire trip and didn’t leave her until she was firmly planted in the chair.
“Gabriel, please,” Elena begged as she rose to open the window. “I’ll be fine. Ye must not stay awake on my account.”
“Then whose account should I? Yer my wife and I worry about ye,” Gabriel said. “And right now, ye need warmth more than ye need the cold.”
Gabriel moved to the window and shut it quickly. Elena slumped back into her seat and shook her head. Her eyelids were heavy and she felt as if she could fall asleep right then and there.
“Come on, love,” Gabriel said as he scooped her into his arms. “Back to bed. Ye shouldnae be pretendin’ yer well when it is clear yer nae.”
“But,” Elena started to protest but decided against it. She knew she couldn’t fight him, even just trying to convince him to let her keep the window open seemed to exhaust her.
“There,” he said, tucking her into the blankets. She wouldn’t admit it to him, but it felt better than by the window. Her legs were laid out and the room didn’t spin as wildly as before.
“I daenae ken what’s wrong wit’ me,” she mumbled. Gabriel’s hand brushed over her cheeks and forehead like a feather.
“That’s why I’ve called the healer. He’ll be here soon. But I need ye to fight for me. Whatever is happenin’ ye have to promise ye’ll come back, aye?”
“I promise,” she mumbled. She felt the bed sink a bit as Gabriel climbed in next to her. He propped her up against his chest and curled his arms around her. She knew he couldn’t be comfortable resting with one foot off the bed, but he didn’t complain.
“I need sleep,” she mumbled.
“Rest, my love,” Gabriel said. “I’ll nae move.”
Elena allowed the darkness to consume her. It was the only place she could go that made the spinning stop. Her stomach still flipped a bit, but as she was lured deeper into her dreams, even the bubbling ceased.
It was the sound of a low unfamiliar voice that caught her attention. Her eyes widened to hunt for the intruder. Through blurred vision, she spotted the old man next to her writing desk. He was mixing something in a cup as he spoke to Gabriel.
“She’s nae been poisoned,” the healer said in a matter-of-fact kind of tone that vindicated her. “That much I ken for certain. But there are a few more things I can do and test to figure out the root cause of her distress.”
“Anythin’,” Gabriel said. “Just please, help her.”
“I’ll do a better job if ye werenae here. Yer makin’ me nervous,” the healer said as Gabriel glanced over at Elena. The moment he caught her eyes, he exhaled and was by her side, her hand in his.
“Yer awake,” he mumbled in such soft tones that it broke Elena’s heart. “Would ye like some water?”
With her head not as dizzy and her stomach a bit better she nodded. Gabriel poured the clear liquid into the cup and carefully handed it to her.
“Did ye hear? The healer says it’s nae poison,” Gabriel said with a hint of a smile, but the worry still lingered on his face.
“Aye,” Elena managed to get out. “I told ye it wasnae.”
“Say, do ye have any ginger root?” The healer’s eyebrow rose as he studied Elena on the bed.
“I believe we do,” Gabriel answered as he took the cup from Elena’s hands and set it on the table. “I’ll go fetch it.”
“Ye do that,” the old man said. Elena thought she noticed his snicker as Gabriel exited the room.
Elena found her heart quickening as the healer moved to the edge of her bed and grabbed her hand in his weathered one.