“I will not leave them, Elias,” she said, trying to conceal her anger. “You may go anytime you wish. You do not owe us a thing. You have done all you can and now ‘tis time to for you to leave.”
He stared at her as if he were surprised she could say such a thing. She wanted to say more. How could he expect her to leave them all to possibly die while she escaped to safety? She turned away from him, angry and not caring to say another word to him. He would go speak to Richard. He knew that if he could convince Richard to go, as his wife, she would have to follow. She would fight it. And if she were forced to go, she would never speak to Elias again.
He was quiet for a few moments, then said, “Verra well then, Lily.”
She closed her eyes, hating that he was going to go. He was so wonderful with the children. He made them all laugh and enjoy the day. He made her laugh and feel young again.
She didn’t want him to leave. She didn’t want to not have him around. She didn’t want to stop looking at him when he wasn’t watching, or to feel pretty when he caught her looking and smiled. How was she to resist him when he made her feel like a woman again just by slanting his gaze her way?
“We will take everyone with us. MacPherson stronghold is big enough, but we canna tarry. ‘Twill be taxin’, but we can do it.”
For a moment, she simply stared at him as if he’d grown a third eye between the other two. Did he mean it? Would he do this for her? Could they bring everyone? The pestilence could not likely withstand Highland winters. They might all live! Elias…
She nodded her head and smiled at him.
“How will we pack everything up? We only have two donkeys.”
“Pack verra little,” he said. “Only what ye canna do without. I need only speak to Richard aboot it and then we will tell everyone else.”
Lily’s smile grew into a grin and she nodded. “You are a gift from God, Elias. Go. Speak with him. I will wait here.”
She watched him move down the long hall.
When Brother Simon returned, she pointed down the hall. “Go. He has news.”
Could they all truly go with Elias to Invergarry? Why had he changed his mind? She didn’t care what made him do it, she was glad he did. She thought about what she would pack. She only needed her herbs and plants. How were they going to transport it all? Would it all die up north along with the sickness? The lemon trees would never survive.
Her smile began to vanish as she thought about all the reasons she and Richard could not go. They needed to find a cure. Help everyone, not just themselves and their friends.
“You can do your research in Invergarry, Richard,” she heard Elias say as he and Richard entered the kitchen and moved toward her.
She frowned, knowing her husband would not agree, knowing she agreed with him.
“’Twould take too long to get to those who need it in London,” Richard argued.
Lily lowered her gaze to the lemon she was peeling.
“So ye would risk the people of Sevenoaks—yer friends, fer people ye dinna know?” Elias asked.
Richard did not answer.
Lily turned around to face both of them. “Elias, we wish to helpmorethan just our friends. Please do not wrangle my husband any further.”
Elias stared at her, his hopes falling around his feet—or were they? She had the feeling he was called Lion Heart because he did not back down.
“Lass,” he said, proving her correct a moment later, “there isna much time. We must ootrun this thing. ‘Tis how to battle it—by stayin’ away from it long enough to create the remedy. Aye?” He didn’t wait for her to answer. “People in London are dyin’. Every moment matters because if one person here gets sick, I willna bring anyone home, includin’ myself.”
Lily swallowed, understanding. Understanding why he was a commander.
“Richard, ye can ride my horse,” he continued and then set his eyes on her again. “Ye can ride Simon’s. We will use the two other horses we saw in the stable, along with the donkeys, to carry yer work, but we need to go.”
Lily nodded and looked at Richard, then took his hand. “Perhaps he is right. You need to live so you can keep trying.”
“Aye,” her dear husband agreed and then nodded to Elias. “We will have to convince Osbert.”
Elias was too happy to care about any other opposition. He threw his arm around Richard’s neck and pulled him close. “Thank ye, my friend. I want ye to live.”
“As do I,” Lily told him when Elias let him go. She slipped her hand into Richard’s and gave her husband a nervous smile. He lifted their hands and patted hers with his other hand.