Page 114 of A Wife for the Highland Villain
“Me Lady,” he greeted, his expression a cross between relief and alarm.
Lily exhaled hard, the knot in her chest loosening. “Good. For a moment, I feared we were at the wrong place.”
Timothy opened the door wider and ushered them inside. As soon as they crossed the threshold, he shoved the bolt into place, his hands trembling. “The men arerabid. They’re out on every road, baying for blood. How in God’s name did ye make it this far in the first place?”
“Aye, we saw them,” Conall responded grimly. “We had to cut through a few before reaching yer door.”
Timothy’s gaze snapped to Lily. “But why risk it, me Lady? It isnae safe for ye here. Did anyone follow ye?”
“Nae that we noticed,” Lily said. Her eyes drifted down to his foot, catching the way he moved. “Yer limp… ’tis almost gone. Oh, that is fantastic, Timothy!”
Timothy glanced down as if he had just realized it himself. “Aye. I stopped leaning on the cane two days ago.”
Lily nodded. “That’s good. Sorcha told me Clara was in labor. The midwives are gone, so the task falls to me. Where is she?”
“In the back room,” Timothy said. His eyes clouded over, as if he were debating whether to speak further. “But me Lady, the danger outside is real. If I had ken ye would come, I’d have begged ye to stay away. The men have lost their minds.”
“Ye’re telling me,” Lily scoffed, wiping sweat from her brow.
“They’re bloodthirsty, me Lady. Much more than anyone I’ve ever seen. Apparently, their leader ordered them to be on the lookout for ye everywhere.”
“Who is in charge of these men anyway?”
“No one kens. All we ken is that they are after ye.”
Lily’s jaw tightened. “And for what reason? I’ve done nothing but care for them whenever I could.”
Timothy’s shoulders sagged. “I ken that. I’m proof of it. But others think differently. They whisper ye’re something unnatural.” He lowered his voice. “They call ye a witch.”
Lily’s eyes locked onto his. “And do ye believe that? Do ye also think I’m a witch?”
Without hesitation, Timothy shook his head. “Never. Nae once. Ye’re one of the kindest souls I’ve ever met. I would sooner die than stand with those beasts outside.”
Lily nodded, grateful for the support, even if minimal.
Conall stepped forward, his eyes narrowed. “Ye said they had a leader?”
“Aye.” Timothy nodded. “They may be strong men, but they’re nae smart enough to pull something like this on their own. Someone is definitely pulling the strings somewhere.”
Lily’s lips parted, but before she could speak, a piercing scream rattled through the house.
Timothy stiffened, and Lily’s heart lurched. “Clara?”
He gave a stiff nod.
Lily squared her shoulders. “Then there’s nay time to waste. We see to the birth. Everything else can wait.”
Timothy hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Aye. But before ye go in—did ye bring horses?”
“A carriage,” Conall responded. “Our driver, Arthur, is waiting outside with it.”
“Arthur must come in,” Timothy said quickly. “I’ll take the reins and move the carriage to the back lane. If the mob passes this way, they willnae see it. If they ken ye’re here, all of us will be for the noose.”
Lily gave him a grateful nod. “Thank ye, Timothy.”
He gestured toward the narrow corridor. “She’s in there.” Then, he slipped out the front to see to the carriage.
They hurried down the corridor, their steps brisk until they got to the room. Lily opened the door gently, and the smell of sweat and tears hit her immediately.
