Page 125 of Ghost of the Ton

“You must leave for your sake,” Mia said, tempering the swell of fear as she met his gaze. “You’ve not had the vaccine. You’re not safe.”

“Th-then what…?”

Mia’s heart almost broke at the desolation in his eyes, and she took his hand.

“The best thing you can do for her—and for everyone—is to keep yourself safe,” she said. “Go to your chamber, or your study. Remain there until I can be certain that there are no more infections. Mrs. McBride can send you food, and when I’ve treated Ailsa here, I can vaccinate you. Everyone who hasn’t taken vaccine is at risk.”

“Then I must warn them,” he said. “Sweet Lord Almighty, why did I not order them as laird to take the vaccine? I have failed them—and I’ve failed ye.”

“Protect yourself, Hamish, and you will not have failed anyone.”

He lowered his gaze to her hand where she’d taken his.

“I’ll do as ye say,” he said. “Elspeth, I command every soul under this roof to obey my wife’s commands, without question. She’s the only one who can save us.”

“Aye, Master Hamish.”

He squeezed Mia’s hand and released it. Then he placed his hand over his heart.

“Elspeth,” Mia said, “tell me what happened to Ailsa.”

“Aren’t ye going to treat her?”

“Yes, but the most urgent task is to understand how she caught the disease and from whom, so we can ensure it doesn’t spread.”

Elspeth nodded. “She took ill last night. I sent her to her chamber, but when I came up later, she was quiet, and I didnae think to check on her. Och—it’s my fault!”

“It’s nobody’s fault,” Mia said. “If she was already infected, there’s nothing you could have done.”

“I could have sent for ye.”

“I’m here now, and I’ll do everything I can. Now, where did she go before last night? Did she meet anyone?”

“She had her Sunday afternoon off with the young lad who’s courting her.”

“Who?”

“One of the MacDouglases. She said his ma had been taken ill.”

“And Ailsa came straight here afterward?”

“She’ll have visited her family first,” Elspeth said. “Ailsa might be a flighty lass, but she’s fond of her ma and her wee brother, even if her da’s a big brute.”

“Evie…” Mia whispered, ice-cold fingers of fear clawing at her stomach. “We must send a message to Murdoch—tell him to keep his family at home until I can visit them.”

“Let me,” Hamish said. “Murdoch’s a stubborn fool, but he’ll not ignore an order from his laird.”

“Very well,” she said. “And you must send messages to every family that has not taken the vaccine and tell them to do the same. I have a list at the cottage.”

He nodded. “Aye, I saw it. I’ll go myself.”

“No!” Mia said. “You must remain inside.”

“Then I’ll send Brodie and Lachlan. I saw them outside earlier.” He approached the door, then paused. “What if anyone’s showing signs of sickening?”

“Have them brought to me at Riverview Cottage,” Mia said. “I’ll use my parlor as a hospital.”

“Och, no, lass, ye can have a chamber here. Ye’ll need all the help ye can get. Elspeth, see to it, will ye?”