Page 75 of The Laird's Secret Bairn

Then the coughing started. Kenna firmly patted the spot between her shoulder blades.

“It’s all right, dear,” she cooed softly. “The food will go down.”

Lily shook her head. “Nay, I’m nae choking, Grandmaither.” Then she doubled over, complaining that her stomach was hurting.

Dougal jumped up from his seat, while Skye and Kenna immediately rose to tend to her.

“I’ll go fetch the healer.”

He had never ridden so fast in his life. When he returned, he demanded that everyone except Kenna, Skye, Stephen, and the healer stay away from Lily.

He didn’t trust his servants. One of them was the cause of his daughter’s suffering.

As she tended to Lily, the healer confirmed that someone had poisoned her. Someone had taken the time and effort to poison her favorite dish, which she was the only one who ate.

It was intentional, and Dougal was going to tear whoever had done it apart with his bare hands.

No one had dared to leave Lily’s side, especially Skye. She assured him that he could continue his search for whoever had done this, that Lily was safe with her.

Kenna tried to coax her away, promising that she would take over and watch Lily in her place, but Skye refused. She said that there was nowhere she would rather be.

Until she knew that Lily was safe, this was where she was going to stay. Kenna didn’t argue with her after that and checked on her every now and then.

“She’ll be all right,” the healer said at last, exhausted from working all night.

Dougal swallowed. “Thank ye for saving me daughter.”

“It is no trouble, me Laird.”

Now that he knew Lily was going to be all right, he thought he would not spiral, but he did, imagining what might have happened had he lost her that night.

It had been a close call. No one could deny that.

He found his mother outside Lily’s chamber well past midnight, her face drawn with exhaustion, which she was trying very hard not to show.

All of them were exhausted. Not one of them had gotten a wink of sleep in the time since Lily had been poisoned. How could anyone sleep knowing that she could lose her life at any moment?

He blamed Angus. Who else would go so far as to poison Lily?

After his threat, Dougal did not doubt that it was him, but the thought sickened him. The man knew the truth. He knew that Lily was his granddaughter, and yet he was still willing to end her life. But why? To protect his honor, or to make sure Dougal suffered regardless of who was caught in the middle?

“Ye should be resting, Maither.”

“So should ye, and so should Skye, but none of us are doing what we should.” Kenna kept her voice low, mindful of the door only a few feet away. “How is she?”

“Sleeping. Peacefully for the first time since the healer came.” He rubbed a hand over his face, the mask shifting slightly beneath his palm. “The worst of it has passed, the healer says. She’ll recover fully, given time.”

“Thank God for that.” Kenna sagged slightly against the wall, relief plain on her weathered features. “I daenae think I’ve prayed so hard in all me years as I did tonight.”

“Nor I.” Dougal glanced toward the door, unable to help himself. “Skye hasnae left her side, nae once.”

“I ken. I brought her food twice, and both times she barely touched it, her eyes never leaving Lily.” Kenna studied him carefully. “She loves that girl, Dougal, despite yer arrangement.”

“I ken it well enough.”

“Do ye?” Kenna’s gaze sharpened. “Because from where I stand, it seems ye’ve nae yet found the words to tell her so, nor to ask what it might mean for either of ye.”

“This isnae the time, Maither.”