Stealing a Kilted Heart (Temptation in Tartan #8)

Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

I t was the kind of cold morning that left the petals of the winter flowers in Fia’s garden tipped with frost—the cornflowers and pansies that would soon wither with the first true cold. Inside the cottage, Bane tended to the fire, tossing another log in the fireplace as he brought a cup of steaming tea to her.

Despite the cold, it was a bright morning, sunlight bathing the room golden. Fia knelt before Colin, the young son of the skinner, who had come running to her as she was gathering herbs for her pastes and medicines, wailing as he clutched his knee.

“Ach, Colin, it’s only a scrape!” Fia said, reaching up to ruffle the boy’s dark hair. “Dinnae fash. We’ll clean it an’ dress it an’ ye’ll be good as new.”

The boy sat obediently on the edge of Fia’s working bench, idly kicking his legs. His cheeks were still wet with tears and he looked as though he was on the verge of another round of sobbing, but Fia quickly grabbed a small, wooden deer Tav had made for her when she was still a young girl and handed it to him, which seemed to keep his mind occupied enough to prevent him from crying. Then, she gathered everything she needed—clean cloth, warm water, and a healing paste, bringing it to the bench.

The entire time, Bane stood by the stove, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. Fia knew that look on his face. There was much he wanted to tell her, but he had been holding back ever since the night Callum had come to their cottage and had left her heart broken into pieces.

It had already been three days; three days in which Fia’s hatred and rage had burned as bright as that first night, like a wildfire that refused to die out until it had consumed everything in its path. She didn’t know how much more there was of her to consume; all she knew was that there was no end to it in sight.

“I can see ye starin’,” she grumbled as she started to clean the boy’s knee. “Dinnae ye have anythin’ better tae dae?”

“I could ask ye the same,” Bane said. “The past three days all ye’ve done is curse Callum an’ rip out all the weeds in the garden.”

Fia couldn’t deny that; it was true. The garden had never looked as immaculate as it did now, though in her fury and haste, some of her precious plants had suffered too from her overly enthusiastic hand. It was also true that she had been cursing Callum—a lot.

She couldn’t help it. He had wasted an entire year of her life. How was she supposed to simply move past it and not curse him daily?

“Well, perhaps if a lass had done this tae ye, ye would be doin’ the same!” Fia pointed out. “Wouldnae ye want yer revenge? I dae. I want tae embarrass him an’ humiliate him in front o’ everyone who doesnae ken what a snake he is.”

Even in front of Colin, Fia couldn’t contain her rage. Her voice trembled and her hands clutched the cloth tightly, the knuckles of her fingers turning bone-white in the morning sun. Out of all people, she thought Bane would understand. He had seen the toll this relationship—if she could even call it that anymore—had taken on her. He had experienced every sorrow, every instance of Fia excusing all and any behavior that hurt her, always striving to give Callum the benefit of doubt simply because she loved him so much. And all Callum had done was to betray that love.

Fia didn’t simply wish to hurt him, though. Humiliating him in front of everyone who considered him to be the perfect bachelor—and Fia knew there were many who shared this opinion—would not suffice. She had to make sure that as he suffered, she got everything she had ever wanted.

A part of that plan had already happened. By becoming the village healer, she was one step closer to her ideal life. Callum would find out soon enough, if he didn’t know already, and Fia hoped he would despise how well she was doing.

“Fia, I’m sure ye can find many a man tae wed who would so much better than him,” Bane said with a weary sigh. “Why even waste time on a man like Callum?”

“Because!” Fia said, unable to come up with a good enough reason at first. “Because he deserves tae hurt, too.”

Behind her, Bane said nothing. Just as she finished patching up Colin’s knee, the boy beamed up at her, his smile wide and joyful in a way only a child’s could be.

“I’m healed!” he declared, much to the amusement of Fia and Bane, who laughed with Colin’s delight. Swinging his legs, Colin shoved the little toy in Fia’s hands and then slammed right into her, wrapping his little arms around her waist. “Miss MacKenzie, ye’re like a princess.”

Fia couldn’t help but laugh once more, ruffling Colin’s hair. “Am I?” she asked. “Then ye’re me wee knight. Come, let us take ye home, yer maither will be worried.”

Colin looked up at Fia with pride at being bestowed such a title. He took her hand and followed her to the door, saying, “Ye should marry a laird, Miss MacKenzie. All princesses marry lairds.”

I should wed a laird. That’ll show Callum.

Fia imagined it, Callum finding out that the woman he had once claimed was so beneath him was marrying a laird. She could see it clearly; his eyes wide, his face a deep shade of red, anger and embarrassment gripping him so tightly he could hardly stand it. There would be nothing for him to do then. There would be nothing for him to say that could make Fia feel inferior to him, nothing that could hurt her.

If only it was that easy tae wed a laird.

With Colin’s hand in hers, Fia led the boy to the door, but before she could reach it, there was a knock. When she opened it, a large, imposing man with chestnut hair and piercing green eyes stepped inside without even waiting for an invitation. He was alluring in the same way that a rocky shore was alluring, the beauty of the cliffs and the boulders raw and rough, but he was such a solid and looming presence in the room that Fia couldn’t help but take a small step back, startled, putting Colin behind her back.

“Good mornin’, Miss MacKenzie,” the man said, his demeanor much gentler than his appearance. “Me name’s Magnus MacLeod, I come on behalf o’ Laird Stewart.”

Laird Stewart? What could the laird want with me?

“I’d like tae speak with ye regardin’ the position o’ the castle healer,” Magnus continued, and Fia could have sworn that her heart stopped in her chest. Could it be that he had come to offer her this position? But Fia had only just taken over from the old healer and, as far as she knew, the castle already had a woman who took care of the sick and the wounded. Why would they want her?

“I’ll take Colin tae his maither,” Bane said, stepping past her to take Colin by the hand. As he left, Fia gestured to Magnus to come deeper into the room and then proceeded to pour him a cup of tea, bringing it to her working bench. The moment they were alone, Magnus continued to speak.

“I’ll make it quick, Miss MacKenzie,” he said. “Our healer is overwhelmed by everythin’ that needs tae be done in the castle. I will ask ye tae nae share this with anyone, but there are also concerns regardin’ an attack, an’ we would like tae be as prepared as we can. Regardless o’ the possibility o’ an attack, we require yer assistance. Naturally, ye will be adequately compensated fer yer efforts.”

Fia hesitated for a moment. This would be a major step for her, changing everything in her life. She could live comfortably. She could have a cottage within the castle grounds and never need anything again in her life.

But this was her fourth day as a healer.

“Mister MacLeod, I only just became a healer,” she said. “Are ye certain it is me ye want?”

“Yer reputation precedes ye,” said Magnus with a small shrug. The cup of tea still stood on the workbench, untouched, and it seemed to Fia as though he was in a hurry. Then again, he most likely was, considering he had mentioned fears of an attack. That, too, was a concern for Fia. Not only did the threat itself mean that they were al in danger, but it also meant she could very well be dealing with severe wounds and dying soldiers if she accepted the position. “We are aware o’ yer skills. Everyone, including Mrs. Findley, claims ye are excellent at yer job. We also ken ye’re a midwife, an’ we dinnae have a midwife in the castle. Yer knowledge would be very valuable tae us.”

Mrs. Findley said that?

It shouldn’t have been a surprise, not when Mrs. Findley herself had chosen Fia as her successor, but it was still good to hear she had her endorsement.

It should have been enough for her. That should have been all the praise she needed, the only victory that mattered against Callum. But it wasn’t enough. She hated to admit it, but she still craved the satisfaction she knew would come from Callum’s fury and humiliation, and the offer was too tempting to resist.

If she accepted, she would be living in the castle, just like him. He would have no way of avoiding her or her success, and Fia was more than happy to rub it in his face.

And the laird is there.

Colin’s words came back to her then— Ye should marry a laird, Miss MacKenzie. All princesses marry lairds. It had seemed ridiculous in that moment, nothing but the fanciful words of a child, but now it didn’t seem so impossible to Fia anymore. So, what if she wasn’t a noble girl? So, what if Callum claimed she was nothing but a peasant who lived in a box, that she had no real value? Fia knew that to be false. Callum didn’t determine her value; she did. And if she truly believed in herself, nothing was beyond her grasp. Not even a laird.

“I will accept yer offer,” Fia said. “As long as Bane can come with me.”

She didn’t want to go anywhere without Bane. They had spent most of their lives together, as a family, and she would not forsake him now.

“Who is Bane?”

“Me braither,” Fia said. “The lad who was just here.”

Magnus hesitated for a moment, scratching his chin idly as he thought it through. “Is the lad skilled?”

“Och aye,” said Fia. “He’s a blacksmith. A very good one.”

“Very well,” said Magnus. “Then he’s welcome in the castle. But he will be put tae work too.”

Fia couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear, her stomach tightening with anticipation instead of disappointment. Even if she was angry and heartbroken, at least her skills as a healer and a midwife were being recognized. For now, that would have to suffice, she thought.

And now that she would be living within the castle grounds, she could put her new plan in motion. Suddenly, marrying a nobleman didn’t seem so impossible.

“We’ll send some men tae help ye bring everythin’ ye need,” Magnus said, as he headed to the door. “Let us ken if there is anythin’ ye require o’ us. Take a few days tae make any last arrangements here. We look forward tae seein’ ye, Miss MacKenzie.”

With that, Magnus was gone and Fia was left staring at the door, her mouth hanging open and her eyes wide. She could hardly believe her luck and the fact that she would soon be living in the castle. Even if they gave her the healer’s cottage, it was bound to be much nicer than the cottage she and Bane were living in at that moment.

In the minutes that followed, Fia stayed where she stood, frozen, staring at the door. Everything that had just happened was still difficult to process. Her entire life had changed in a handful of minutes.

When Bane opened the door and saw her like that, he immediately paled as he rushed to her, grabbing her shoulder.

“What is it?” he asked, panic creeping into his tone. “What did he tell ye?”

For a few moments, Fia found it impossible to speak. When she finally had the words, she said, “He told me tae go tae the castle an’ work there as a healer.”

Bane was just as dumbfounded as Fia was, the two of them staring at each other in silence and disbelief. Then, Bane burst out laughing and Fia couldn’t help but follow as he pulled her into a crushing embrace, lifting her off the ground.

“That is incredible, Fia,” he said, gingerly placing her back down. “When are ye leavin’?”

“We are leavin’,” she said. “I told him I wouldnae go without ye.”

“Ye’re jestin’,” said Bane, but when Fia shook her head, his grin widened even more, though Fia would have thought it impossible. “Me? Livin’ in the castle?”

“Aye,” said Fia. “Did ye truly think I’d leave ye behind?”

“I wouldnae mind,” Bane said. “I would miss ye, but it would be fer the best.”

“Well, I wouldnae leave ye,” she insisted. “So, we’re goin’ together. An’ I have a plan.”

That was the precise moment when Bane’s smile dropped. He knew her well enough to know that whatever plan she was mentioning couldn’t possibly be good news. But Fia’s mind was made up.

“What plan?” Bane asked in a weary tone.

“Remember when Colin said I should wed a laird?” Fia asked.

“Aye,” said Bane, eyes narrowing.

“Well, Callum thinks I am worthless an’ that he is too good fer me, so I’ll prove him wrong,” Fia said. “By marryin’ the laird.”

“Now ye’re jestin’,” Bane said, eyes wide as he looked at her. “Surely, ye must be. Say ye are. Say ye’re nae serious.”

Fia didn’t think her plan was that farfetched, after all. The laird was a bachelor and save for her pedigree, Fia lacked nothing. It was more likely than Bane seemed to think, but even she had to admit it could lead to a world of trouble.

It was worth it, though. Any trouble this could cause was worth it, if only to see the look on Callum’s face.

“I’m serious,” Fia confirmed. “Why? Dae ye doubt me?”

Bane seemed to truly consider the question for a few moments, as though he could neither claim to doubt her, knowing her tenacity, nor could he bring himself to think that her plan had true merit.

“I think it will simply lead tae trouble,” he said, just as Fia had expected. “An’ ye have a way o’ gettin’ yerself an’ me in trouble often.”

“Ach, Bane… when was the last time I got us in trouble?” Fia asked. Surely, she thought, it must have been a long time ago.

“Last week,” said Bane flatly. “When ye almost fought that merchant.”

Fia’s mouth snapped shut. There was no denying that. She had, indeed, almost fought a merchant, but as far as she was concerned, it was not her fault. He had offered unfair prices and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“That was hardly me fault,” she said with an indignant huff as she made to clean up the room—throw out the cold tea Magnus hadn’t drunk and put away everything she had used for Colin’s injury. Now that the first wave of shock had subsided, she was filled with a restless energy that demanded she move around the room, otherwise she feared she would burst with it. “An’ besides, it turned out fine.”

“Aye, it did,” said Bane. “Because I was there tae threaten him.”

That was also true. The merchant hadn’t feared Fia’s threats, but he had feared Bane’s.

“It may be so,” she admitted. “But ye will also be with me in the castle, so I dinnae see why ye would fash. If anythin’ happens, ye’ll be there.”

Bane threw his hands up in the air in exasperation and his mouth hung open, but he could make no discernible sound. All he could do was stare at Fia in disbelief, but she ignored him, busying herself with her tasks.

This was good for them both, Fia thought. Even if her plan didn’t work, they would still be living in the castle. Sooner or later, Bane would come to see it was the best option for them.

And if her plan worked, well, then no one would dare question her worth again.