Page 51 of Her Magnificent Mistake
Her fingers gently probed at her brother’s injury. “Gabby, you looked at this?”
“I cleaned it as best I could. If he were a dog or a zebra, I would know what to do, but head injuries are frighteningly complex.”
“Artrip sent for the doctor,” Rupert offered. “In the meantime, we should keep him comfortable. Hydration, puzzles?—”
“Nay,” grunted Bull, struggling to sit up. “We should try to trigger my memory, in case something important happened.”
“Nothing important happened.” Marcia applied firm pressure against his chest, forcing him back against the pillows. “You were clumsy and knocked your head against a rock or something. Hawk and I were up the burn for…for quite a while. That was enough time for you to arrive, fall, be knocked unconscious, and be found.”
Do not ask what we were doing. Do not ask what we were doing.
From the speculative gleam in Gabby’s eyes, the younger woman had already guessed.
“I’m no’ that clumsy,” groused Bull, his face as pale as the pillow he laid against. “I just cannae remember what happened.”
“A shock might help trigger his memory.” Rupert was pacing, hands behind his back. “I remember reading an article about something similar, with—with Allison. There’s a chance, if we can remind him of something surrounding the injury, the information will shock his brain into remembering more details.”
“And what is theotherchance?” Gabby asked. When Rupert glanced at her, not understanding, she elaborated, “You said there is a chance he will remember. So what will happen if we shock him with a reminder and he doesnotremember?”
Rupert shrugged. “His brain explodes?”
“Worth it,” Marcia deadpanned, lips twitching as she spread her fingers across her brother’s chest, grateful for his warmth and strong heartbeat.
“No’worth it,” grumbled Bull. “I like my brains inside my skull, thank ye verra much.”
“Och, dinnae fash,” teased Marcia, mimicking his brogue. “You will be fine. Shock away,” she commanded Rupert.
But her younger brother was looking uncertain. “Perhaps we ought to allow him rest.”
Aye, that was likely for the best, but Marcia couldn’t help the niggling doubt plucking at the back of her mind. Something important had happened today—not just in the cottage atop the burn, where she’d discovered that Hawk loved her still—but down in the Glen as well.
They were supposed to be on the hunt for a murderer…
Her hand rose to the sparkling blue glass pendant she’d taken to wearing daily around her neck. Humming thoughtfully, she tugged the piece of jewelry across the chain as she stared unseeingly across the room.
Rupert, meanwhile, cleared his throat. “I’ve just asked Allison to watch for the doctor and escort him here. I suppose her uncle has returned by now as well. Would ye like me to…?”
Marcia barely heard him, because she was so deep in thought, but Gabby stood to walk Rupert toward the door. “I think it is a splendid idea for you to keep Allison company awaiting the doctor. Hopefully he will have some insights.”
Then the door was closing behind Rupert and Gabby was stalking determinedly toward the bed where Marcia sat.
Oh dear.
“Marcia Elizabeth Calderbank,whathappened today?”
Jerking guiltily, Marcia blinked up at her pseudo-cousin and long-time friend. “What on earth do you mean?” she blurted,knowing she was blushing again, and tightening her hold on the pendent.
Gabby waved her arms as she paced. “You disappeared forhours. With amurderer. And then you come home looking all disheveled, not even wearing a hat, andyour blouse is misbuttoned and your hair poorly pinned.”
Eyes widening, Marcia shot upright.
Vaguely, she recognized she ought to answer Gabby. Vaguely, she recognized she ought to rebutton her shirt and re-pin her hair, which apparently she’d done incorrectly as they’d redressed in the cottage, and had been gallivanting about with evidence of her activities where anyone could see it. Vaguely, she knew she ought to be embarrassed. No, not embarrassed. Mortified.
But instead, her mind raced, triggered by something Gabby had said.
“A hat,” she breathed. She glanced down at her supine brother. “Did you have a hat?”
“A hat?” he parroted.
