Someday Her Duke Will Come

by Ellie St. Clair

  Emilia considered his words with concern. It sounded like the infection she was worried about had perhaps set in .

  She and Ivor entered Dougal’s room, where they found him lying in bed as Ivor had left him, his eyes half shut .

  Dougal watched as Emilia walked over to him with a cool cloth, bathing his face and the rest of his body. It felt good — too good. He was annoyed at Ivor, though, for bringing her here when he had asked for the physician. She had brought supplies with her, he realized to tend to his wound, and once again he was shamed by the thought he had been felled so easily on the battlefield. As she continued to bathe his body, he felt himself getting hard, and he needed to be rid of her before she saw what she was doing to him, with Ivor in the room no less .

  “If you touch me bloody shoulder I’ll have you out of here on your arse!?” he growled at her. “I thought I told you to leave me be — did ye not understand me ?”

  11

  Emilia

  S he took a breath, calming her anger. She knew that Dougal was clearly ill, and that women didn’t garner the same type of respect they did in the 21st century, but at the same time she had seen the kindness Dougal extended to his sister and knew he was capable of better. Emilia also felt she had proven herself worthy to be treated with more dignity than he was giving her .

  “I will not be spoken to like that,” Emilia said, her voice level. “I am not your servant .”

  He looked down at her, his eyes a stormy green and his tone terse. “I am Laird of the McGavin Clan, and you, lass, remain a guest in my home only because I will it to be so. I will speak to you however I may wish, and if you donna like it, you may leave !”

  “If I leave, you may die,” she said. “Wounds of this sort often lead to tetanus or gangrene. I imagine the sword that went through your body had gone through a few men before you. With that, followed by the gore of the battlefield, infection is likely. By not allowing me to take a look yesterday, it likely led the infection to worsen. You must let me see now .”

  After a few tense moments, he relented with a nod. She pulled the cloth back from the wound on his shoulder and tried not to gag at the smell emanating from it. Despite everything she had done, what Morag had done, this wound was infected, and badly. She assumed it was from the battlefield, from whatever filth had entered it with the sword and while he lay there in the dirt, knocked unconscious .

  She wished she had been more insistent last night. She had tried to visit his room to replace the dressing but he had refused to allow her entrance .

  She had been unsure what her next course of action would be — should she leave Dougal MacGavin and his clan as they were? He certainly didn’t appreciate her help. But she also couldn’t bring herself to return to her time without seeing this story through. She had become part of it, willingly or not, and she felt she must do her part .

  “Dougal, I must be honest with you — you’re not in a good situation. This wound is infected, and it’s worsening quickly. I’m not sure what else I can do for you without antibiotics .”

  “Without who ?”

  “Antibiotics. It’s a medication that will be discovered in some few hundred years. It fights bacteria and infection, although now we are beginning to overuse it and at some point in time —”

  She stopped when she realized she was rambling and he had no idea what she was speaking about. “Anyway, it would heal you. However much as I have studied medical knowledge of this time, I do not know what other methods can be used for you .”

  She moved in front of him, feeling his jawline and his forehead. He was warm to the touch of her fingertips .

  “I believe fever is setting in. We can fight it with some of the herbs and poultices but unless we heal the infection in the wound…” she trailed off .

  “I’m a dead man ?”

  “Few recover from this type of injury once infection sets in .”

  “You say few. I am a strong man, lass, and refuse to let a scrape like this take me. I have not only survived, but led, infamous battles across the Highlands. I will not die in my own bedchamber of an illness caused by the sword of a Buchanan !”

  Emilia thought over his words, trying to determine her best course of action. “I believe,” she said slowly, “it would be best I try to go to the future and see what I can find. While I’m there I will pick up some books on natural healing to see how else I can treat you in this time .”

  She saw him mulling over her words .

  “Perhaps when I return with the medication you will be more likely to believe in what I’m telling you,” she said. “You must trust in me. Twice now I have shown you that I mean to do you no harm but rather do all I can to save you. All I need from you is to allow a member of your clan to show me the way back to the battlefield. I’m not sure I can find it on my own .”

  “Fine,” he said sighing. “I shall take ye myself. We leave after breakfast .”

  “You are in no condition to leave this bed, let alone accompany me to the battlefield,” she exclaimed .

  “You have said many things to me since you have arrived, but not much of it has been truth,” said Dougal. “I will come with you and see where you find this witchcraft of yours. I am eager to meet yer clan and have my questions answered. Should you truly believe in this tale you have spun for me, when we arrive at the battlefield and you realize you have gone mad, we can then determine what to do with ya .”

  Emilia stared at him, eyebrows furrowed. “They say you can only help those who agree to help themselves,” she finally murmured to herself before addressing him again. “You best eat something before we leave. I would prefer you didn’t pass out on me again. I can’t lift you alone .”

  “I’ll join you at the table .”

  “I think you should —”

  “Enough of what you think. Need I remind you that I may do as I please and am not required to listen to the orders of others, least of all a woman, who is not even of my own clan .”

  Emilia turned on her heel, away from the stubborn, hostile man and made for the kitchens, leaving her simmering frustration in her wake. She hadn’t been sure what her next course of action should be, and now the decision had been made for her. She would return to the future, apparently with Dougal, and she could then send him back with the medication and continue with her own life .

  They ate breakfast in silence as Dougal’s family picked up on his mood. She could tell his sister was questioning their journey back to the battlefield, but sweet and curious Arabel kept her questions to herself. After breakfast, Emilia packed her 21st-century clothes and followed Dougal to the stables, where they mounted horses and took off for the fields. It was only Emilia’s second time riding a horse and he watched her struggle out of the corner of his eye .

  She growled at him as he snickered, thinking maybe there was a reason that he didn’t show up in the history books after the battle. No one liked a hero that was also a jerk .

  “Are you sure you’re up to riding so soon after your injury?” she asked him .

  He snorted and kicked his horse into a trot, expecting her to follow behind him .

  She sighed. Damn, the man was stubborn .

  As they rode, she tried to explain to him what traveling through the portal had been like for her, and what he could expect in the year of 2017. He looked at her incredulously as she spoke of motorized wagons, buildings made of metal, and storehouses full of goods. Eventually she gave up and they continued on their journey in silence .

  When they arrived at the battlefield, they dismounted, tied their horses and walked out to the hill where Alastair had stood days before. All the Buchanan bodies had been removed and the grass lay stained in blood. Emilia looked out to the center of the field where she first saw Dougal’s body and noticed that the air moved differently in that spot .

  She grabbed Dougal’s hand and pulled him down the hill and toward the portal. He followed along with a sigh. She excused herself for a moment before heading into the
trees to change into her pants and jacket .

  When she returned, she noted that he hadn’t noticed the incandescent glow of the transportation hole quite yet, but as they stopped in front of it she heard him suck in his breath .

  He was nothing if not a brave man, and he reached out to touch the shimmering air with his fingertips, his eyes widening as they disappeared .

  Emilia looked at him, then took in a deep breath and before either of them could question the decision, stepped into the portal, pulling Dougal with her. Lightning flashed around them and Dougal looked frightened and bewildered — she sensed it was very rare those types of emotions overcame the man .

  Suddenly it felt as if they were falling, being pulled toward a bright light in the darkness that began to surround them. Emilia closed her eyes and braced herself for the fall. She felt strong arms around her, and instead of hitting the ground, she hit a solid chest .

  She rolled off of Dougal, opening her eyes to see the cliffs as she had only a few days before — was that all it had been? — aged with time, the castle beyond them in ruins. Dougal squatted, looking around wildly at his surroundings. He was taken off guard by the events that were quickly unfolding around him, as he had never imagined there was any truth to what she had told him .

  Emilia asked him if he was alright, but he ignored her and began circling the area, trying to come to terms with his location and the ruins in front of him. She grabbed his arm and began pulling him toward the ports, knowing that calling a taxi was probably a bad idea. He said nothing, not willing to admit she was right but unable to put into words what was happening around him .

  While Emilia had the advantage of understanding his history when she traveled back to his time, he knew nothing of what was to come in the future. This would seem another world to him .

  When they reached the edge of Stonehaven ports, Emilia stopped and turned toward Dougal. He looked so strong and handsome standing next to her, his eyes roaming the distance. Emily felt that pull to him again. He was honestly the most desirable man she had ever seen in person, and yet completely intimidating. Not the type of man she usually went for, or would normally be interested in her .

  His muscles rippled and his skin was tan and warm. His green eyes sparkled in the sunlight. Emilia caught his arms to make him look at her and listen .

  “There are going to be many things here that you don’t understand,” she explained. “But I need you to keep it together and stay very close to me so we don’t raise any eyebrows. Okay ?”

  “Aye,” he responded as they walked down to the docks .

  Emilia had to get to a pharmacy for medicine and fresh bandages for Dougal. This was the kind of wound that people in the past died from — a stab wound that pierced through both sides of the body. As they walked down the streets, Dougal looked around himself in wonder, the technology becoming a bit much for him to handle. Emilia noted it was fortunate they were in Stonehaven and not New York City, but still, how the world had changed with cell phones, televisions, and electricity .

  Emilia spotted the pharmacy across the street and pointed it out to Dougal, explaining why they were going there and what she would be buying .

  She swiftly jogged across, pulling at Dougal’s hand. He dropped her hand and she froze, wincing at the sound of horns behind her. Apparently her explanation of vehicles wasn’t enough to make him understand anything about them. She turned around and watched as Dougal crouched down in the street with his sword outstretched toward the driver of a car. Emilia jogged out and grabbed him by the arm, mouthing an apology with a wave to the frightened driver. She pulled Dougal toward the shop and stopped, looking up at him .

  “You have to relax,” she said, hating the frightened look in his eyes, the eyes of a man who could stare down thousands of men with swords without fear. “We are going in here for medicine and then I’ll send you back. I promise .”

  12

  Dougal

  T he darkness of the tunnel sent Dougal’s head spinning, and like his dream, he and Emilia whirled through an unknown space heading toward a bright light at the end. He looked down as the field grew closer once again, and he braced himself as they hit the ground. He positioned his body under Emilia’s to break her fall, wincing when she hit his shoulder .

  As she rolled off of him, he reached out and steadied his body, looking around at the battlefield. The grasses were short and the castle on the cliffs had fallen to disarray, with only partial walls still standing. Dougal could smell the salty sea air but the scent of blood and battle was long gone. He looked over at Emilia, who was dusting herself off and looking at him with concern. She tried to say something to him, but he couldn’t concentrate on her words. Instead, she grabbed his hand and pulled him along the path toward the port, the roads now looking more like black stone than the familiar dusty trails. Large poles protruded from the ground with long shiny metal ropes hanging from them, connecting from one to another as far as his eyes could see .

  If this was the future, thought Dougal, perhaps he should have let Alastair have it after all. As he and Emilia approached the port, he shuddered at the loud sound coming from the waves. He looked over to see large ships floating at the docks; however, they were not like any ship he had ever seen. They had big metal boxes on them and the water churned beneath them. He looked down at the bustling city below, his eyes widening as nothing was familiar any longer. This was another world, one of concrete and noise, and he did not want any part of it. Everyone was dressed like Emilia, and while there were lights everywhere, no fire could be found. Emilia took a deep breath and turned to him, grabbing his attention with her striking hazel eyes .

  “There are going to be many things here that you don’t understand,” she explained. “But I need you to keep it together and stay very close to me so we don’t raise any eyebrows. Okay ?”

  “Aye,” he responded, not knowing what else to say .

  Had it not been for the throbbing pain in his shoulder, he would have thought to be dreaming once again, still under the influence of the Morag’s tincture. As it were, there was nothing fake about what he was seeing and he stopped momentarily to stare at the front of a glass walled building. Beyond the glass were large thin boxes with moving pictures inside. He tilted his head, wondering how those people were inside the box, and why were they so small? It seemed magic had overcome all, and they were all bewitched here in this puzzling time .

  Dougal kept quiet, all of his senses alert as he followed Emilia, who moved him quickly through this interesting but bewildering place. They walked along the hard stone ground and he couldn’t help but wonder how they had built it so smooth. He preferred the stone walkway they had travelled when they first entered this strange town .

  Dougal allowed Emilia to lead him to the other side of the road, but froze and dropped her hand as a large metal monster rolled through the street, screaming loudly at them. There was human inside the monster’s body and Dougal crouched down and drew his sword, ready to fight this monstrous beast .

  Emilia quickly ran over and grabbed his arm, shaking her head and pulling him out of the street. She didn’t seem to be frightened by these monsters at all, and the human inside seemed to be perfectly fine with being there .

  “Dougal, you do not need to be frightened of them, but you do need to stay out of their way,” she said. “You ride a horse to get from one place to the other — well now we have these machines for transportation. They’re mechanical. If you will listen, I’ll explain them to you in detail, I promise, but they will not hurt you .”

  What a strange way to get around. Dougal didn’t see any horses whatsoever. Did they no longer exist? Emilia took a deep breath and grabbed his attention again .

  “You have to relax,” she said, concern in her eyes. “We are going in here for medicine and then I’ll take you back to the portal .”

  Dougal nodded his head and followed her into the store. Light, like sun captured in boxes, was bright and painful to his throbb
ing skull, but he stayed silent as she walked through the rows of goods, collecting bandages and bottles of medicine from the large metal shelves. There were brightly colored boxes everywhere but they were not made of wood. It was some flimsy material that Dougal could not see lasting very long. He watched as she piled the items on the table at the front .

  A man on the other side of the table looked at Dougal strangely as he dragged the items across a glass and metal box, letting out a squeal every time. Dougal stared back at the man, glowering. Emilia pulled out a small square piece of hard paper and gave it to the man. He quickly slid it through another metal box and handed it, with the items, back to her. She turned to Dougal and nodded, pushing him toward the door .

  “One more quick stop,” she said, and led him to the front of a stone building which was more familiar to him, though he could not understand why every building had a name attached to it, as if people did not know where they were .

  They went inside, and he was astonished at the number of books in the building. He felt a sense of relief, however, at the familiar. He knew what books were, recognized the solid wood table and chairs .

  Emilia looked through the shelves, spent time surveying a few of the books she had pulled out. She looked surprised by the first, then made notes of herbal remedies from another. He was starting to become impatient when she nodded her head and stood, ready to leave .

  “Alright,” she said once back out on the noisy street. “I need to get you back to the portal before you get arrested or thrown in a mental institution .”

  “A what ?”

  “Nevermind,” she sighed. “Come on .”

  They made their way back out of the port and walked to the cliffs. Once they were back in the quiet of the fields, Dougal took a deep breath and looked down at the items Emilia was holding in her hands, and the paper with her scribbled notes. She seemed to be contemplating something but he watched her, trying to be patient as he waited for her cue, but wanting to get back to his world, and his time. This was all too much for one person to understand .