“Did something in particular have you walking about, Henry?” Cree asked, his arm going around his wife’s waist as she stepped from behind him.
“Restlessness and too many thoughts of my wife at home, my lord,” Henry admitted and turned his head to give a quick look to a section of the woods. “Though I thought I caught a brief movement in the woods, but I believe it was nothing more than the night shadows playing tricks. I will search the area thoroughly in the morning to make certain.”
“The quicker we solve this, the quicker we can return home,” Cree said.
“I will be searching at first light, my lord,” Henry sassured.
“Good, then we should have this solved in no time,” Cree said and bid the young tracker good night.
Cree and Dawn entered the Great Hall to see Tavia and her father arguing while the last few of Newlin’s warriors were preparing to take their leave. Cree’s few warriors who had supped there having taken their leave shortly before he and Dawn had stepped outside.
“I forbid it, daughter!” Newlin snapped. “Auda has done all she can for Flora. She can do no more. You will let it be.”
Dawn went to Tavia who did not hide her upset, raising her brow in question as she did.
Tavia reached out to Dawn. “Flora has no fever, yet she rants in her sleep.” She shook her head. “I thought Auda could give her something to quiet her. I wish I understood what she was saying, then I might be able to help her, but her ravings are in French, and I do not speak that language.”
Dawn tapped her chest and nodded.
“You understand French?” Tavia asked.
“You will not bother Lady Dawn with such nonsense,” Newlin ordered.
“If my wife wishes to help Flora, that is her choice, Newlin,” Cree said, perturbed since he knew Dawn would help which meant their lovemaking would suffer delay.
“As you say, my lord,” Newlin said, though sent an annoyed look to his daughter which she ignored.
“I would be ever so grateful if you could tell me what Flora says,” Tavia said and received another irritated look from her da.
Dawn pointed as if telling Tavia to show her the way and Tavia wasted no time in doing just that.
“I will be in our bedchamber,” Cree called out, reminding her that he would be waiting for her, and she waved to let him know she had heard.
Newlin bid Cree good-night and walked off mumbling to himself.
Beast followed Cree up the stairs and planted himself in front of the hearth to sleep for the night. Cree shed his garments and got into bed, pillowing his head with his hands and staring at the ceiling, hoping his wife would not take long.
Dawn heard the young woman as they approached the closed door and hurried into the room after Tavia. Flora’s head turned from side to side as she ranted anxiously in French.
Tavia was quick to feel Flora’s head. “No fever and yet she rants, and I fear it only worsens her throat. She must be having nightmares, but why?” Concern had her anxiously asking, “Can you tell me what she says. It may help me to help her if I knew.”
Dawn listened, then mouthed, Mother.
“She calls out for her mother for help?” Tavia asked, tears stinging her eyes.
Dawn shook her head and pointed to Flora, and mouthed, Help Mother.
“Flora wants to help her mother?” Tavia asked perplexed.
Father too, Dawn mouthed.
Tavia shook her head perplexed. “You’re telling me that Flora wants to help her mother and father?”
Dawn nodded.
“I wonder if she believes she dinnae do enough to save her mum and da when they took ill and blames herself for their deaths.” Tavia said.
Dawn laid her hand on her chest and scrunched her face as if in pain and pointed to Flora.
Tavia understood, mourning the mum she never got to know. “Her heart hurts for her parents.”
Dawn nodded, tears threatening her own eyes, hearing the pain in the young woman’s rantings. She recalled her own pain of losing her mother and how long it had taken before the pain subsided. It did not go away completely, for there were days she still missed her mum. She could not imagine the pain of losing two parents. She had believed her da dead and had been surprised and blessed to find out her da still lived and it had been wonderful getting to know him. Not so for Flora, both her parents were gone, and she had been thrust into a life foreign to her.
“Time will help heal her,” Tavia said, a tear slipping down her cheek. “Unfortunately, I will not be here to help her heal and that breaks my heart.”
Dawn’s heart went out to both women. While she had gotten annoyed at Newlin for commenting about Flora being too intelligent for a woman, she had to agree with his worry over Flora not being prepared to survive life in the Highlands.