We walked quickly. I knew he had every intention of returning to the stairwell as fast as possible.
“We canna tell them the truth, lass.”
“Of course not.” I couldn’t stand that even two more people knew of this time-hopping mess. The last thing I wanted to do was include anyone else. “You go talk to your brother and tell him to watch over things. I’ll go talk to Isobel. We have to go to the village. We will be gone a few days at the most—that’s all that we will tell them. Best not to say anything else.”
*
I sat next to Isobel and racked my brain for a more believable version of my story. I could tell by her expression, she knew I was lying.
“What’s happened, Jane? I may be ill but no daft. Orick might have been able to make the trip from the village with the help of a pack of dogs, but I can see by looking out the window that ’tis still impassable.”
“It’s not though. Adwen found a way through. He has to deal with something in the village.”
She stood, visibly upset with me for excluding her from the truth. “No, he dinna. When would either have had the opportunity, Jane? I heard the two of ye getting verra acquainted with one another only moments ago, and Cooper has had Orick running about the castle all day. I doona wish to be lied to.”
Her chest started to rise and fall rapidly, and I moved to her side to grip her arms as she started to cough; a deep, painful hack that had been so wonderfully absent for several days. She took a deep breath to inhale, and I heard her choke and gargle as something climbed in her throat. She coughed again, and blood spewed out onto the stones.
Even at her weakest, I’d never seen her cough up blood. By the tears that sprung up in the corner of Isobel’s eyes, I knew it startled her as well. It confirmed my worst fears—that the short respite was just a prelude to a rapid decline.
I moved her to a seat and sat helplessly beside her, watching her shake and struggle to breathe. It broke something inside me to see her in such pain. In that moment, I realized Cooper was right—I would do anything to keep Isobel alive—even resort to magic.
CHAPTER 27
I stayed by Isobel’s side until she drifted into a restless sleep. Once the blood came, she didn’t have the energy to dispute my explanation any further. I held her hand at her bedside. Once her eyes closed, I bent to whisper in her ear.
“I’m sorry I lied to you. You’re right. We’re not going to the village. We are going somewhere to get you help.” Gently, I pulled my fingers from her hand and kissed her brow before standing.
When I turned to leave, Adwen stood in the doorway.
“Jane, I’m glad to find ye. I thought ye’d gone ahead of me, lass.”
I grabbed his hand and leaned into his chest for comfort. “No. I wouldn’t do that, not without telling you. I’m sorry it took me so long. Cooper and Orick will be none too pleased. Are you ready?”
“Aye. What’s happened? Ye’ve tears in yer eyes.”
“She started coughing up blood. We have to help her, Adwen. If we can—it’s possible we can find help.”
“Then, we shall.” He kissed the top of my head as we stepped out into the cold evening air. The sun had started to set by the time we stepped outside. “Callum knows. I couldna lie to him. He, like Orick and myself, already knew of yer own travels through time. He will watch over Isobel and Gregor while we are away.”
“Okay, I doubt Gregor will even notice our absence. Once he sees the turn that Isobel has taken, he’ll never leave her side.
It was a short walk to the staircase. As we neared it, I could sense Adwen’s apprehension.
“Are you frightened?”
He laughed and surprised me by taking a seat on the first step of the stairwell.
“No. I canna wait to see where ’tis ye come from.”
“You won’t be seeing where I come from—that would be New York City. God, how I miss it. Of all the things I left behind, I begrudge that damned witch the loss of my beloved city the most. I didn’t get to say goodbye to my home.”
I took a seat next to him and smiled as he took my hand, gently tracing the lines of my palm with his thumb.
“I thought you lived here at Cagair Castle.”
“Cagair Castle was only my home for a matter of months, and I never had any intention of staying here forever. I joined Kathleen in her efforts to restore the place and planned to spend half of my time in New York and half of my time here so I could be closer to Grace and Cooper. Things didn’t turn out that way.”
“Aye, but at least ye get to see the wee lad even more now.”
“Yes,” I nodded, unable to find anything upsetting about that, “that’s true. I am so grateful for that.”