Stealing a Kilted Heart (Temptation in Tartan #8)

Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

“ T his is preposterous! Tae think we’ve been lookin’ fer a proper bride fer ye all this time only fer ye tae go against us all an’ make such a proposal tae a peasant! Impertinent! Entirely impertinent!”

“That is the laird o’ the clan tae whom ye’re talkin’ like this,” Magnus told the elder, who now stood among the other members of the council, his hands up in exasperation. Knox could only look at them all in silence from behind his desk. Cairn had not been the first to express this sentiment, but as the eldest of the council, he was the one who could express it in such a way. There was no doubt in Knox’s mind that everyone else wanted to say the same things to him; everyone itched for an opportunity to give him a piece of their mind, but seeing as they were addressing the laird of the clan, there was only so much they could say.

“Is it?” Cairn asked. His thinning, white hair was mussed from all the times he had nervously ran his hands through it, his rheumy eyes narrowing as they glared at Magnus. “Because it seems tae me that we are dealin’ with a bairn! This is the only way I can justify this madness!”

“Let us calm ourselves,” Iain, another of the elders said. He was younger, though still older than Knox, one of the men who had barely managed to serve under his father before his death. “I dinnae think it is helpful tae anyone if we lose our composure like this. It is important tae remember that we are here tae resolve this, nae tae make such unwarranted comments.”

“Ye forget I am old enough tae have kent our laird as a bairn,” said Cairn. “I was workin’ with his faither when he was only a wee lad! I was there when our good laird brought him tae our meetings an’ sat him on his knee, teachin’ him right from wrong!”

“What are ye tryin’ tae say?” Knox asked.

“Tryin’? I’m nae tryin’. I will say it outright… yer faither would be ashamed o’ ye!”

A collective gasp rippled through the elders. Knox let out a weary sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger, trying to calm himself.

He had expected resistance, of course. He had expected that the elders would not be open to the idea of a peasant girl becoming the next lady of the clan, but he hadn’t quite expected this. Even for the elders, who had looked down on Fia time and time again, this was far from the resistance he thought he would have to face.

“I’m sorry ye feel this way,” Knox said, his voice a little strained, as he tried to keep that comment from getting to him too much. He knew Cairn was frustrated. He knew everyone in the room was frustrated, but if he allowed this to devolve into an argument, then he would never get what he wanted. He had to approach this with tact, even if some of the elders refused to do the same. “But I disagree with ye. I think me faither would want me tae be with the lass I love, an’ I love Fia. Naethin’ will change that.”

“Love an’ marriage are two very different things, me laird,” another one of the elders said. “Ye may love her while wedded tae a woman more befittin’ o’ yer station.”

It was then that Knox lost his temper despite his best intentions.

“I willnae have the woman I love be a… a concubine!” he said, slamming his hands on his desk and sending the cup of wine that rested on it rattling, and the elders flinching. “Impossible! I will only have one woman in me life, an’ that will be me wife. An’ the only woman I will wed is Fia.”

A collective sigh passed through the crowd of elders, all of them caught between their desire to disagree with him and the knowledge that it would get them nowhere. Silence fell over the room and Knox took a sip of wine to calm his nerves, trying to get himself under control. Despite his best efforts, though, not only was he furious, but he also couldn’t find anything to say that would solve this issue.

He wanted Fia. The elders didn’t even want to hear it.

What happens now?

“If I may…” Iain said, stepping forward with a polite cough. “Perhaps everyone here would be more open tae hearin’ the laird’s… suggestion if Miss MacKenzie proved herself capable o’ such a great position as that o’ the Lady o’ the Clan. It is true that her origins are humble an’ it is true she has naethin’ tae offer our laird other than companionship, but we mustnae disregard her immediately. Our clan is strong an’ maintains strong alliances, even without marriage.”

“Still, a marriage with a noble lass would be preferable,” said an elder.

“Aye, that is true,” Iain agreed, much to Knox’s chagrin. “But imagine what this will dae fer the peasant population. A peasant, marryin’ a laird! They’ll never be happier!”

Murmurs spread through the council and among them, Knox could hear both agreement and disagreement. If Knox heard them all correctly, though, it seemed to him that those who agreed were the majority.

Leave it up tae the council tae turn this tae their favor.

It was a clever move, he had to admit, and he should be thanking Iain for it. Knox didn’t know if the man was doing it for his benefit or if he truly believed it was the right way forward, but it was at least the beginning of a solution to their problem.

Of course, testing Fia wasn’t something he wanted to even suggest to her. But what other choice did he have? If they could simply get through this together and proved to the council that she was, in fact, more than capable of taking on the role of the Lady of the Clan, then they would finally be allowed to wed without any more dramatics.

And there was no doubt in his mind that she would pass with flying colors.

“Very well,” he said, placing his cup down. “It shall be as ye ask. Give me a list o’ tasks that ye see fit fer this an’ I shall have her execute them.”

He could only hope this would be their final obstacle before they could be husband and wife.

Fia was exhausted to say the least. On top of her usual duties as the healer of the clan, she had suddenly been saddled with several more responsibilities after the council decided that the only way for her to marry Knox would be if she proved herself through a series of - what seemed to her -herculean-like tasks. Perhaps for another type of woman, who had grown up in a keep and had been prepared her whole life for the day she would marry a laird and would take on the mantle of the Lady of the Clan, such tasks were simple routine; nothing more than another day of normal duties. For Fia, though, everything was new and foreign, and no matter how much she tried, she began to fear that maybe that role wasn’t for her, after all.

She wanted to marry Knox; she wanted that more than anything, and she was determined to do anything in her power to convince the council that she was the right woman for him. But that fear kept creeping into her mind, never letting her rest. Even at night, when she slept, she had nightmares of failing the tasks set for her by the elders or running out of time to complete them all.

Every morning, she woke up drenched in cold sweat.

So far, she had put out several fires in the keep—settling disputes among the servants, making sure the grain storages were properly kept and the records updated, ordering more supplies from merchants. With Knox busy with other clan matters, it was mainly Magnus who helped her, showing her the ropes and making sure that everything went according to plan, even if Fia was sure that made him less than popular among the elders.

No one had outright forbidden him from helping her. No one had given any orders that she was to figure all this out on her own, but no one else offered any assistance either. Magnus and Effie helped her as much as they could, and in return, Fia made sure she was the best student they could ever have.

But now, her greatest challenge had come. Everything she had done up to that point had gained her some respect among the elders, but nothing could compare to the weight that rested on her shoulders that very day.

Some of the elders of Clan Boyd were visiting Castle Stuart to strengthen the diplomatic relations between the two clans, and the elders of Clan Stuart had made sure to make Fia understand just how important they were as allies. Nothing could go wrong that night, when they would host them at a formal dinner—a dinner Fia had to organize from scratch, from the decorations and menu to the seating arrangements and the musicians they would hire.

It had been nothing short of chaotic. For days, Fia had been rushing back and forth, trying to get everything done with the help of the head housekeeper, Mrs. Wilson. She was a stern woman, ruling the rest of the household with an iron fist, but Fia didn’t mistake her strictness and efficiency for lack of warmth. She was the way she was because she had to make sure everything was perfect, and Fia was quickly learning that if she wanted to get some things done, she, too, would have to be stern.

Only she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She had worked hard in her life. She knew the servants in the castle worked hard too, and many of them had become her friends during her stay there. How was she supposed to rule over her friends? How was she supposed to order them around and treat them like Mrs. Wilson did?

That evening, right before the feast, Fia allowed two maids to dress her, simply because she didn’t know how to deal with the finicky laces of the dress she was given—or how to do her hair, for that matter, which the maids easily put into an intricate updo. When she looked at her reflection in the looking glass, she could hardly recognize herself. Though Fia had never considered herself unattractive, she had also never considered herself worthy of any special attention. She was just another plainly pretty peasant girl who could never compare to the noble women in the castle and the grace with which they carried themselves. Callum had it many times and she had had to agree. But now, dressed as she was in a deep green dress that brought out the color of her eyes, she began to think that maybe she could finally pass as one of them, at least upon first glance. Perhaps her manners weren’t quite there. Perhaps she was not yet great at curtsying or mimicking their walk or the way they spoke, but at least when it came to her appearance, she didn’t think she was far off.

“The laird requested that ye wear this,” one of the maids said, holding up a heavy necklace encrusted with jewels. Diamonds encircled a large green emerald that hung in the middle, all the stones sparkling beautifully under the light.

“Me?” Fia asked, her eyes wide with shock. She didn’t even dare touch the necklace, let alone wear it. Never before in her life had she seen such an opulent item, something that could have fed several people for years.

How could she ever wear it, knowing of all the hardships peasants faced? How could she ever wear it knowing it was so precious?

“It belonged tae the laird’s maither an’ her maither before her,” the maid said rather unhelpfully. Now Fia was even more reluctant to wear it, knowing its value extended past the material. This was something Knox had inherited from his mother. What if something happened to it? What if she somehow broke it?

“I couldnae possibly wear this,” she said, shaking her head.

“Ach but ye must!” the maid insisted. “Laird Stuart made it clear that ye are tae wear it tonight.”

Fia sighed, considering her options. She didn’t really have a good enough reason to refuse, and perhaps this was even a strategic move on Knox’s part. If she wore a necklace that belonged to his mother, then there would truly be no doubt as to his intentions. In the end, she simply nodded and let the maid drape the necklace over her neck, taking a moment to admire it. It truly was a beautiful piece, the kind of jewelry that she would dream of wearing as a little girl but never thought she would.

Once she was ready, she made her way to the great hall, mustering as much of her courage and confidence as she could. It was still a little early for the dinner that was to come, but she had to see to some final preparations and make sure that everything was according to plan before the elders from clan Boyd rushed into the great hall for the feast.

She had expected to find everything prepared, the servants well-trained in such matters after years of holding such feasts, but when she entered the great hall, she immediately knew something was wrong.

The decorations were all there, just as they had discussed. The room was adorned in banners and torches and fresh flowers and the tables had been laid out in the exact formation Fia had instructed—but upon counting them, they were one short.

Flagging down the first servant who walked past her, Fia asked, “Why are there only four tables? There were meant tae be five.”

“Five?” the young woman asked, her eyes widening. “But… we thought there would be thirty guests. Three smaller tables an’ one fer the laird an’ the council, is that nae right?”

“Three dozen guests,” Fia said, panic suddenly gripping her. “There are three dozen guests.”

Her hands began to tremble, her skin paling. It seemed like such a trivial thing, a mere table for six guests, that it should have been an easy fix. The servants could simply bring in another table and have it set quickly, before the guests even came into the room.

But it wasn’t the table that concerned her. If there were only chairs for thirty guests, then that could only mean?—

“The food,” she said, gripping the woman’s shoulder. “How much dae we have? Will it be enough fer everyone?”

The young servant faltered, her eyes widening, her lips parting only to close again as she didn’t know the answer to Fia’s question. Fia cursed under her breath, stomach turning at the thought that she could fail her most important assignment yet. If there wasn’t enough food and drink, if she had made such a big mistake, it wouldn’t be something the council would overlook. She would be the one to embarrass them all in front of the delegation.

“I dinnae ken,” the woman admitted. “I shall find out.”

“Nay, nay, I’ll dae it meself,” Fia said as she rushed to the kitchens, looking around at the food prepared. People rushed about the large room, some of them carrying platters and pitchers, others bent over large pots, stirring their contents. There was a flurry of activity, to the point that Fia didn’t even know who to ask, but then, as if by some miracle, she spotted Mrs. Wilson.

“Mrs. Wilson!” she called, waving the woman over. She looked over her shoulder at Fia and she must have noticed her state, for her expression darkened and she rushed to join her by the door. “The food, how much dae we have? There were meant tae be five tables, but there are only four an’…. an’ is there enough food?”

“Five tables?” Mrs. Wilson asked, clearly as bewildered as the servant. “Why so many?”

In the distance, Fia could hear a hoard, their footsteps a loud crash against the stone floors of Castle Stuart. Was it already time for the feast? By the sounds of it, the delegation was already heading to the great hall and Fia was about to embarrass herself and the entire clan in front of them all.

“Mrs. Wilson, please make sure there is enough food fer everyone,” she told the woman. “I must speak tae the laird but I will come back as soon as possible. Perhaps… perhaps we can serve some parritch along with everythin’ else if there isnae enough fer everyone.”

“Parritch?” Mrs. Wilson asked with a shocked gasp. “Are ye mad?”

It was hardly an expected choice for this kind of feast, Fia knew. The delegation would be expecting roasted meats, vegetables, bannocks, everything that would tell them just how rich and welcoming the Stuart Clan was. But if everything else failed, then porridge was plenty filling and it was one of those things that Fia had come to rely on in her life. There were always oats. There was always something to accompany them, giving them a nice taste without using too many ingredients.

“Trust me!” Fia said. “Parritch will work. Throw some salt in it an’ stir it constantly.”

“Pheasant, venison… an’ parritch,” said Mrs. Wilson, shaking her head as Fia rushed out of the kitchens, running down the halls. It was only when she spotted the delegation heading into the great hall that she slowed down, running a hand over her hair to make sure she looked presentable.

When Knox caught her gaze, Fia widened her eyes and nodded at him to come to her, the gesture as subtle as a bear hiding behind a rose shrub.

Knox excused himself and approached her, and her panic must have shown on her expression, as he, too, looked at her with a certain degree of fear in his gaze.

“What’s wrong?” he asked immediately. “What happened?”

“There is an… issue,” Fia said. “The servants thought there would only be thirty guests an’ I… I dinnae ken what I’m doin’, Knox!”

Her words came out as a whispered hiss, the truth tumbling out of her. She truly had no idea how to deal with this, how to fix any of it, how to make him proud. In her mind, she had already failed. There was not much she could do. Even with the porridge served, the guests were bound to know something was amiss.

“It’s alright,” Knox told her, placing his hands on each of Fia’s shoulders and giving them a comforting squeeze. “It isnae that important, Fia.”

“It is!” she insisted, shrugging him off simply because she couldn’t stand still. She paced back and forth before him, her nervous energy seeping out of her in waves. “The elders… they’ll ken I failed. They’ll ken.”

“They willnae ken anythin’,” Knox said. “I promise ye. Come now, let us introduce ye tae our guests.”

“But the food?—”

“Mrs. Wilson will handle it,” Knox assured her as he took her hand and began to tug her away, towards the great hall. He sounded so calm, so confident, that some of Fia’s panic couldn’t help but dissipate. “Dinnae fash. Everythin’ will be fine.”

That was more difficult for Fia to believe, but she followed Knox nevertheless. With every step she took, with every step that took her closer to the delegation, her heart beat faster, harder, to the point that she feared if she opened her mouth to speak, it would leap right out of her throat. But then they were there, Knox making introductions she could only half-hear, her ears buzzing with all the panic and excitement of the day.

She was certain she exchanged pleasantries with the visiting council. She was certain she said the right things, spoke the right way, but by the end of it, she remembered nothing of it. There was only the feeling of Knox’s hand on the small of her back, encouraging her and grounding her as they all filed into the great hall, where the servants had only just finished setting up one more table.

There were enough tables and enough chairs, that much she could tell from a quick count. Still, her biggest fear was the food. Would Mrs. Wilson find a different way to make up for what they lacked? Would the cooks manage to bring out more food?

It didn’t take long for her question to be answered. As the servants began to serve the platters of pheasant and venison, the cured meats, the cheeses, the fruits, spreading the feast over the tables, they also brought out bowls of porridge, just as she had instructed.

When she glanced around the room, her fears were confirmed. Everyone was looking at the bowls with matching frowns of confusion—if not apprehension—on their faces.

Even Knox seemed a little taken aback by it.

As was customary, he stood to make a toast and Fia did her best to melt into the background, to disappear into obscurity before the council members could berate them with those familiar by then glares. Everyone’s attention seemed to be on Knox, though, as he delivered his welcoming speech, most of which Fia had missed already, wallowing in her panic.

“… an’ I hope ye’ll enjoy our cook’s specialty!” he said in a bright, cheery tone. “Ye’ve never had parritch like this, trust me.”

Fia’s head snapped to the side, her eyes wide as she took in Knox and the soft, kind smile he gave her. She was pretty sure porridge was far from the cook’s specialty, but naturally, the visiting elders didn’t know that.

“Thank ye,” she mouthed at him, only for Knox to shrug a shoulder and take his seat next to her. Still, her panic lingered, her hands shaking as she tried to cut a small, proper bite of pheasant and bring it to her lips.

It wasn’t until one of the visiting elders dug into his bowl of porridge with such gusto that those around him were quick to follow, praising the taste, that she allowed herself to relax a little. They were none the wiser. If anything, they truly seemed to enjoy it.

And yet, even as the night progressed and the feast proved to be a success, Fia couldn’t help but question her abilities. She had almost buckled under the pressure. Had it not been for Knox’s charm and Mrs. Wilson’s quick work, she wouldn’t have made it. Even in this, she needed other people’s assistance to complete her tasks successfully.

And not for the first time, she wondered if it would be best if Knox married someone else.