“We dinnae ken yet. We will find out after we question him.”
Darach heaved a breath. “I will kill him, Morven.”
Morven nodded. “Aye, ye’ll have that privilege after we get all the facts from him. Nae one would deny ye that right.”
“She saved me again,” Darach said bleakly. “She saved us all. The bastard had set us up tae go and die in the first battle, and if nae for her...”
“She is a fierce lass who loves ye. She’ll be alright.” It was reassuring to hear his brother say such a thing. The respect and admiration in his tone showed how much Morven’s opinion of Jane had changed since they met.
Darach buried his head in his hands. “I’ve made such a mess of things.”
“Dinnae torture yerself, brother. Ye were in an impossible situation. Kenn is the one tae blame for breaking a trust as strong as yers.”
“We have tae tell her faither,” Darach quiet voice broke the silence after a minute.
“Aye, I agree. I will arrange a scout tae ride out immediately.”
“It brings me nae comfort tae see her lying there, and I dinnae ken if she lives or dies.”
Morven glanced at the door and then back to Darach. “Ye sell the lass short, brother. She’s tough. She’s nae a quitter. I have yet tae meet another woman of her ilk. She’s earned my respect and my allegiance, and ye ken how hard that is.”
They stood in the hall a few more minutes until Darach pushed himself to his feet. “I cannae stay here with nae knowledge of what happens behind that door. If she is brave enough tae step forward and warn us of danger, then I can watch over her while she heals from all this. I ken Blair means well, but she needs me. I willnae let her down. I cannae.”
Morven let out a resigned sigh. “I’d likely do the same thing if I was in a position like this.”
Darach walked to the door but then paused and turned to face his brother. “I have yet tae thank ye for helping me find the truth. ‘Tis my duty as laird tae think more with my head than heart, I ken. It will be my watchword from now on.”
Morven smiled. “‘Tis nae hardship. ‘Tis still my duty tae watch the back of my brother and laird.”
The corners of Darach's mouth lifted in a half smile, but then he paused at the door, afraid to open it. There was no sound within—no cries, no shuffling of feet, nothing to signal that she breathed still.
He whispered a prayer and eased the wood open to step within, and the healer looked up at him the same instant.
“My laird, we have done all we can, but she has a severe fever. What we do now is wait.”
Lorna was kneeling beside Jane's bed, stroking her hair and murmuring soothing words. Darach refused to leave her side—he remained there, watching her as the night passed. Lorna left to attend to other matters, while the healer left to attend to others. But he refused to leave.
It was the same the next day and the day after that.
Darach was on the verge of giving up on the third day, his heart aching with rage and guilt. Then a miracle occurred.
“Darach,” her lips twisted ever so slightly as she whispered his name. He rushed to her side, kneeling beside the bed.
“I’m here, Jane. I’m here, love.” He gently brushed his hand against her cheek, wanting her to feel his touch and reassure her that she wasn’t alone. She felt so fragile, so very precious against his hands, with her pale skin and eyes she didn’t have the strength to keep open. He couldn’t accept that she could have been taken from him at any moment.
“Darach?” she whispered again.
“Aye, love, I’m here.”
“Feels cold. I hurt nae more. It just feels so cold.”
An alarm prickled up his spine. She turned as if seeking his face. Her eyes were slightly glazed over from exhaustion and weakness.
“I was afraid I'd lost ye.”
The admission gutted him. He gently gathered her in his arms as tears burned his eyelids. This woman feared nothing all the while she was abducted, and now she was afraid of losinghim. It was more than he could bear.
“I’m with ye, Jane. Dinnae be afraid. I’ll nae leave ye. I swear it.”