Seeing that Curstag would be no help, Margaret hurried to pull down the bedclothes so the men could help Bearach into bed. She turned back around in time to see Isabel slap her daughter-in-law hard across the face.
“He’s not bleeding, he’s poisoned, ye fool,” Isabel said. “Calm yourself and stay out of the way.”
Good heavens.“Isabel,” Margaret said gently as she stepped between the two women, “your son needs you.”
In a flash, Isabel’s expression went from angry to stricken. While she rushed to her son’s bedside, Curstag fled from the room, still wearing nothing but her thin shift. Margaret sent a maid after her with instructions to give Curstag a draught of whisky and put her to bed in one of the other chambers.
“What can I do for ye,mo chridhe?”my heart,Isabel asked as she ran her hand over Bearach’s forehead.
“Leave me alone,” Bearach groaned and pushed her away.
“There must be something I can do,” Isabel said, desperation in her voice.
“We gave the earl and Helen mugwort and a tincture of fennel seeds boiled in wine,” Margaret said. Though these common remedies for poisoning had not helped the ill couple at all, Isabel needed to feel she was doing something to help her son. “There’s some left in the kitchen.”
“Of course,” Isabel murmured to herself, then she stood up and pointed a long, bony finger at Margaret. “Don’t give my son any of your useless remedies. I’ll make a tincture myself.”
With that, Isabel scurried out of the chamber, leaving Margaret alone with Bearach. While she waited for Isabel to return, she straightened his bedding. When she leaned over to fluff his pillow, he locked an arm around her waist.
“I knew you’d crawl into my bed sooner or later,” he said, his sour breath in her face.
She was so startled that she did not react quickly enough, which gave him time to squeeze her breast before she shoved him away. She’d become accustomed to men leaving her alone because of Finn and let her guard down.
“Have pity on an ill man,” Bearach said.
“You’ll mind your hands if ye don’t wish to be injured as well,” she said.
He laughed at her, which caused him to wheeze and then fall into a long coughing fit. That sapped his strength, and he soon fell into a sound sleep.
She was waiting for Isabel to return so she could go check on Ella when she heard running footsteps coming up the stairwell. A moment later, Finn burst through the doorway. When he saw his brother on the bed, he staggered backward as if from a blow.
“Is it true, then?” he asked. “He’s been poisoned too?”
Margaret went to him and touched his cheek. “I’m so sorry.”
“Why?” Finn asked, gripping her arms. “Why Bearach?”
“I don’t believe he was an intended victim,” she said in a low voice so as not to wake Bearach. “Your brother drank the wine that was in the earl’s silver flagon.”
As she told him the rest, Finn clenched and unclenched his jaw.
“Your father doesn’t know yet.”
“I’d better go find him and tell him,” Finn said, clearly dreading the task. Before leaving, heapproached the bed and stared down at his brother.“Poor Bearach.”
“Get out!” Isabel shouted from the doorway. “I’ll not have ye near him.”
Isabel rushed into the room, stood between the bed and Finn, and flung her arms out as if warding off an attack. Margaret was too stunned to move.
“’Tis bad luck to have ye here when ye wish him dead,” Isabel said.
“How can ye say that?” Finn asked. “Bearach is my only brother. I’ve never wished him ill, and I pray now that he’ll soon recover.”
“That’s a lie!” Isabel’s hands were shaking, and her eyes were dark and wild. “Ye hope to take his place as heir.”
“Isabel, please stop,” Margaret said.
“Ye want Garty for yourself!” Isabel shouted at Finn.