Page 89 of When A Laird Loves A Lady
Marion bit her lip, thinking onwhat to do.
“What’s wrong?” Elspeth asked, hereyes wide.
Marion sighed. “I just rememberedthat I told Iain I’d not leave the castle without taking Archibald. I’ll haveto go find him first.”
Elspeth shook her head. “Dunnae fashyerself. Iain will nae ken, and ye’ll be back shortly.”
Marion shook her head. “He may notknow, but I would. I vowed to him.”
“I’ll go with ye, then,” Elspethoffered.
“That’s sweet of you, but I thinkIain’s intent was for me to have one of his men with me at all times.” The lookof annoyance that flitted across Elspeth’s face made Marion laugh. “I feel thesame way about it.”
Elspeth forced a smile, and Mariongave her a small wave as she left the kitchen.
She located Archibald in the greathall, and they set off to Alanna’s.
They walked in silence for a whileas they strolled through the woods. Alanna and Rory Mac’s home seemed to be abit farther than Elspeth had indicated. A sharp pain stabbed Marion in the sideas they climbed uphill, and though the air was cold, she suddenly felt warm.
“Archibald,” she said, glancing athim on a wave of dizziness. She reached for him as the earth beneath her seemedto shift and another, more intense, pain cramped her belly.
Archibald’s eyes widened, and hegrasped her when she swayed again. “Marion, what’s wrong?”
“I don’t feel—”
She doubled over as pain slicedthrough her stomach, and she broke out into a sweat. “I don’t feel well,” shesaid, her voice trembling as the pain pulsed through her belly. Her throat feltas if it was closing, and she gasped a breath of air, then another whilegrasping her stomach, which was twisting into knots.
“Archibald,” she whispered. Hermouth was suddenly very dry and her head pounded so hard that her visionblurred.
“What is it?” he asked, his eyeswidening as he hovered over her. He patted her back and then hooked his handsunder her arms to help her stand, but when she tried, the agony was so intenseshe screamed. And then, mercifully, everything went black.
Twenty
Iain sat in the great hall surrounded by hisbrothers, Angus, and Rory Mac to discuss once again the various ways Froste andde Lacy might try to kill him and seize Marion. He contemplated every possiblescenario, thinking they had thought of them all, when a vile one occurred tohim. “They could plant a traitor amongst us to lure Marion or myself out, oreven to help them get inside.”
“Impossible,” Lachlan replied.“None of our men are traitors.”
Iain didn’t want to think so,either, but he had to consider everything. “I hope nae, but I must considereverything. Who amongst us has any reason to be angry or feel as if they havebeen wronged? Let us think on each of our men and make sure we feel they arefaithful.”
Before anyone could speak, a loudcommotion had them turning in the direction of the castle door. Suddenly,Archibald’s voice filled the hall. “Help! Get Iain! Marion needs help!”
Iain shoved to his feet as blackfear covered his vision. He raced out of the great hall, his brothers, RoryMac, and Angus close behind, and came to terrified stop at the sight of Marionin Archibald’s arms, her head thrashing wildly back and forth as she moaned.
“Marion!” he roared as he rushed toArchibald and took his wife from him. Iain looked down at her, and his stomachclenched. She was mumbling and her speech was slurred, and he could notunderstand her. Then she began to twitch and convulse in his arms, white foamcoming from her mouth.
All around him shouting reigned,and then Bridgette was beside him with Kyla, screaming at him to lay her on theground. He kneeled, feeling dazed, almost not in his body, as they pushed himaside to tend her. Bridgette thrust a long piece of her gown that she tore offin Marion’s mouth, between her teeth, and Kyla attempted to hold Marion’s armsstill. But Marion was delirious and fighting Kyla. She clawed at the woman, andIain moved closer as Lachlan kneeled down. They each held an arm as Bridgettepulled Marion’s lids up and looked into her unusually wide pupils.
Bridgette rocked back on herhaunches, her face white as a sheet. “I’ve seen a thing such as this afore,”she choked out, tears filling her eyes. “I think she’s been poisoned.”
Panic rioted through him as he pushedback against her bucking body. “What can we do?”
“Turn her on her side,” Bridgettesaid, swiping at her tears. “We must make her empty her stomach.”
Together, Iain and Lachlan did asBridgette had said, while everyone stood around them murmuring their fear andconcern. As soon as the convulsions stopped, Bridgette took the material frombetween Marion’s teeth and stuck her finger down Marion’s throat. Immediately,Marion let loose the contents of her stomach. And then Bridgette repeated theprocess, until there was simply nothing left and Marion fell intounconsciousness.
Sobbing, Bridgette murmured, “Idunnae ken what else to do. What happens next depends on how much poison sheswallowed and when, and whether the dose was fatal.”
Fatal.The word hit him like a fist forged of steel. She could not die. She had becomelike his air. Like water. Like a bright ray of sun that warmed his soul. Heloved her. He did. It was simple. It was complicated, too, but it was a fact hewould not want to change. He wanted to wrap Marion in his embrace and never lether out of his arms again. He wanted to worship her body and sit for hourslearning the secrets of her heart. He wanted to tell her he loved her and thathe was the biggest clot-heid of all to have taken so long to realize it. Heclosed his eyes, and prayed to God that He grant Marion continued life.
