this one? I never stated what year I hailed from.”
“From Abby, of course. I’ve had the pleasure of many interesting conversations with her. You seem very similar to her and it isn’t hard to guess you were from a similar time.”
“Of course.” Kenzie moved out of the way as Gwen started to fuss with Ben. She watched as she removed his dirty shirt and using another bowl brought in by a servant, started to bathe him. Braxton came in and offered his assistance, which Gwen was only too happy to accept.
“What century, Kenzie?” Ben rasped, seemingly half-conscious.
“The twenty-first, my Laird.”
Gwen and Braxton cleaned him up as best they could and with the help of some male servants, carried the laird upstairs.
Over the next hour, the laird’s health deteriorated, and no longer did he speak or acknowledge them in any way.
“He’s very ill, and there’s a distinct rattle in his lungs that makes my blood uneasy. I do hope he’ll pull through. He’s been through so much already.” Gwen paused, turning to a servant. “Forget the laird’s bath. He’s too ill to be moved.”
Kenzie didn’t know what Gwen meant by such words, but with the worry etched on her face, now wasn’t the time to pry. Helping her clean up, they soon had the little room they’d carried Ben into back to its former self, before they both headed upstairs. “You’re fond of this man, Gwen?”
“Aye, very much so. And before ye go back to ye time, I may tell ye our history. But not tonight, ’Tis very late, and ye should be off to bed. What a day you’ve had already, what with coming here and then all this with the Laird of Ross. You must be exhausted.”
They climbed the stairs together, Kenzie noting for the first time there was no carpet run on the steps beneath her feet. “A little, but I’m energized by just being here.” She paused. “Are ye sure you do not mind me staying for a while? I so wish to get to know you and this time better.”
Gwen met her gaze as they reached Kenzie’s room. “We love to have ye here, never doubt that, but the time is fraught with danger, so ye must promise to listen to me if I say ye should or should not do something. Can I trust ye to obey me at all times?”
“Of course, I’d never do anything to put myself, you, or your family in danger. I promise.”
Gwen smiled, and Kenzie recognized her mama in her great great great grandmother many-times-over. How amazing that the family line, even now, resembled those from the past.
“Now, ’tis best ye get back to bed,” Gwen said. “Morn will be here before we know it.”
Kenzie walked into her room and noted the servants must’ve been in and lit some candles for her. “If you need any help with the Laird of Ross, please don’t hesitate to wake me. I want to be helpful while I’m here.”
“I know ye do, lass, and ye will be.” Gwen kissed her cheek, giving her a small hug. “I will see ye on the morn.”
“Good night,” Kenzie said, getting into bed and studying the ornate plasterwork on the ceiling. How wonderful to be here. And to think they would travel to Druiminn castle and she would see Abby, a woman from the twenty-first century who’d made this time her own. Excitement thrummed through her veins, and sleep proved elusive.
Chapter 4
The following week was full with running around nursing the sick laird. There were rounds of bathing, dressing, cooling down and heating up the man, as he lay abed, sweating, swearing, mumbling incoherent words that were brought on by his fever.
And even with all this care, the man still seemed as ill as the day he arrived. Kenzie sat, watching his labored breathing, the line of sweat that beaded his top lip. She had to do something. Anything was better than this continual state of hell.
“Gwen, may I have a word?” Kenzie asked, catching the woman as she walked swiftly toward the kitchens. Gwen’s healing abilities, her knowledge of herbs that could heal the sick or injured were wonderful and well documented in the family history, but in this case, something stronger, possibly twenty-first-century prepared, was required.
“Of course, my dear.” Gwen wrapped her arm in hers and walked them toward the front parlor. “What is it you wished to discuss?”
Kenzie shut the door behind them, wanting to make sure no servants heard what she was about