I was horrified at the thought of vomiting in front of him, but for a while it seemed inevitable. Eventually, mercifully, the feeling passed.
“I’m all right now,” I said.
“When did you last eat?”
“I’m not sure,” I said. “Yesterday, I think. Although I had a cup of tea earlier.”
“Well, that will do it. Where did you put the first aid kit?”
“It’s under the bed.”
A minute later I was nibbling the small square of emergency chocolate. As soon as it was gone, I folded the foil wrapper and said, “I think I can walk now.”
“And I think you should wait another minute or two.”
He took a facecloth from the bowl, wrung it out, and held it against my forehead. After a moment, I took it from him and wiped the front and back of my neck.
“I think I really am all right now,” I said.
“Then let’s get you to bed.”
He stood and offered me his hands. As he pulled me to my feet, I crumpled. He caught me with both arms and held me upright.
“Steady, there. Do you need to sit back down?”
“No,” I whispered, leaning heavily against him. “I’m fine.”
“Take your time. Just let me know when you’re ready.”
When I finally thought I could control my legs, I said, “I’m okay now. Really, this time.”
“All right,” he said, keeping a firm grasp on me. “One foot in front of the other. I can’t grab a candle, but I know the way. I won’t let you fall.”
“You should know something,” I said as he steered me into the darkness of the hall.
“And what’s that?”
“There are a few things on my floor.”
“What sorts of things?”
“Mostly clothes. My husband was looking for something this morning.”
Angus supported me into the pitch black of my room and through the flotsam.
“Here you are, then.”
I sank onto the bed and against my pillow. As Angus found and pulled the covers up over me, his hands grazed the top of my foot, my throat, my chin.
“I’m really sorry, Angus,” I said, after he wrapped me into a cocoon.
“For what? You couldn’t help fainting.”
“No, for promising I’d look after Meg and then falling asleep.”
“Don’t fash yourself.”
“But now you’re not going to get any rest at all.”
“I got a couple of hours, and I’ll grab a few more winks here and there. But I’m afraid there is something that I must insist on.”
“What’s that?”
“No more skipping meals. I can’t have all of you out of commission at once. The inn doesn’t run itself, you know.”
His words caused a bittersweet lump in my throat, my second of the day.
Although I couldn’t see a thing, I knew exactly where he was. I could feel his presence, and for a moment I thought he might reach for me. I held my breath and lay absolutely still, waiting, hoping, yet also fearful.
When nothing happened, I said in a cracked voice, “Angus?”
“Aye?”
For a short time I thought I might say something, even though I didn’t have a clue what, but the silence rose and overwhelmed me, a vast, oppressive thing that billowed around me until I was sealed within it.
“Thank you for helping me back to my room,” I finally said.
“I’d best get back to Meg now,” he said. “Sleep well, Maddie.”
A few seconds later, the door clicked shut behind him, and I was left gasping in the dark.