Chapter 18 #2
“If ye need anythin’ tonight—if ye cannae sleep, if ye need to talk—come to me, aye? Me door is always open for ye.”
Jeane nodded, too overwhelmed to speak.
As she closed her door and leaned back against it, she realized something had shifted tonight. Fergus had seen her not just as a woman he desired but as someone capable and strong. Someone worth admiring.
And the way he’d looked at her…
She touched her lips, still feeling the ghost of his kiss.
Maybe he didn’t just want her. Maybe he was falling in love with her, just as she was falling in love with him.
Jeane was heading to the kitchens to check on the herbs Aileen had been drying for her when she heard raised voices coming from the council room.
She slowed her steps, not meaning to eavesdrop but unable to help herself when she heard her false name.
“… Liliana Murdoch has been here for weeks now, Me Laird. When exactly does she plan to leave?”
That was Harris Craig’s voice, one of Fergus’s oldest advisors.
Jeane pressed herself against the wall beside the door which had been left slightly ajar. She knew she shouldn’t listen, but her feet wouldn’t move.
“She’ll leave when I say she can leave,” Fergus’s voice came, cold and dismissive. “And nae before.”
“The lass saved young Thomas’s life,” Finlay Doyle said, his elderly voice wavering slightly. “We should be grateful to have her.”
“Aye, we are grateful,” Harris said quickly. “But surely her work is nearly done? Lady Lottie is well again. The other patients she’s been tendin’ are improvin’. There’s nay real reason for her to stay much longer.”
“I’ll decide when there’s nay reason for her to stay,” Fergus growled.
“Me Laird, I mean nay disrespect,” Harris continued, and Jeane could hear the hesitation in his voice, “but the clan is talkin’. They see the way ye look at her. The way ye… hover.”
“Hover?” Fergus’s voice was dangerous now.
“Ye’ve been distracted,” another voice chimed in, Jeane didn’t recognize this one. “Ye spend hours with the healer when ye should be seein’ to clan matters.”
Harris pressed. “The lass is a distraction, Me Laird. A beautiful one, aye, but a distraction nonetheless. Perhaps it would be wise to… find her a position elsewhere. Or a husband. I’m sure there are men in the clan who would be honored—”
The sound of Fergus growling made Jeane jump.
“Listen to me, and listen well,” Fergus said, his voice low and deadly.
“Liliana Murdoch is under me protection. She’s nae goin’ anywhere unless she chooses to.
And if any man in this clan thinks to court her, they’d better ask me permission first because I can guarantee they willnae like me answer. ”
Silence fell in the room.
“Me Laird,” Harris said carefully, “are ye sayin’ ye have… intentions toward the healer?”
“Me intentions are me own business.”
“With respect, they’re nae,” Harris argued. “Ye’re our laird. Who ye marry affects us all. And this lass, we ken nothin’ about her. Where she comes from, who her family is—”
“She’s runnin’ from her faither,” Fergus cut in. “A cruel man who wanted to marry her off to someone even worse. That’s all ye need to ken.”
“But Me Laird, what if her faither comes lookin’ for her?” the unknown voice asked. “What if he demands her return? It could cause trouble for the clan.”
“Then I’ll deal with him,” Fergus said flatly. “The same way I’ve dealt with every other threat to this clan.”
“Ye’d go to war over a lass?” Harris sounded incredulous.
“Aye,” Fergus said without hesitation. “I would. For this lass, I’d go to war with the devil himself.”
Jeane’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes burning with tears. He meant it. She could hear it in his voice.
“Me Laird, please think about what ye’re sayin’—” Harris started.
“I’ve thought about nothin’ else for weeks,” Fergus interrupted. “Liliana is nae just some lass. She’s brilliant. She’s kind. She saved Lottie’s life, saved Ian’s life, saved Thomas’s life. She’s become vital to this clan, and more importantly, she’s become vital to me.”
Jeane pressed her back against the wall, hardly daring to breathe.
“I’ll nae send her away to appease the gossips in this clan,” Fergus continued. “And I’ll nae marry her off to some man who doesnae deserve her. If anyone has a problem with that, they can take it up with me. Preferably in the trainin’ ring with swords.”
“Nay one’s questionin’ yer judgment, Me Laird,” Finlay said quickly. “We just worry about ye. About yer happiness.”
“Then ye should be glad,” Fergus said, his voice softening slightly. “Because she makes me happier than I’ve been in years. Since before the fire. Since before the scars. She looks at me and doesnae see a beast. She sees… a man.”
Jeane’s throat tightened, tears spilling over.
“If that’s how ye feel, Me Laird, then we’ll support ye,” Harris said, though he sounded reluctant.
“But ye should ken, there are rumors that Laird McKay is searchin’ for his daughter.
She ran away weeks ago, and he’s been sendin’ men to all the neighborin’ clans, askin’ if anyone has seen a lass with white-blonde hair. ”
Jeane’s blood ran cold.
“How long have ye known this?” Fergus demanded.
“A few days. We dinnae want to worry ye.”
“Ye should have told me immediately,” Fergus snarled. “Have ye increased the guards around the castle?”
“Aye, Me Laird. We’ve doubled them.”
“Double them again. And send word to me immediately if anyone from the McKay clan approaches our lands. I daenae care if it’s a merchant or a messenger, I want to ken about it.”
“Aye, Me Laird.”
“Is there anythin’ else?” Fergus asked, his tone making it clear he was done with this conversation.
“Nay, Me Laird.”
“Then get out. All of ye.”
Jeane heard the scrape of chairs and quickly hurried down the hallway, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping. She ducked into an empty room and waited for the council members to pass before she emerged.
Her heart was racing, her mind spinning.
Fergus had defended her. Had told his council he’d go to war for her. Had called her vital to him.
And her father was looking for her. Sending men to neighboring clans.
She was running out of time.
That evening, Jeane found Fergus in the forge as she’d known she would. He always went there when he was upset or needed to think.
He looked up when she entered, his expression softening when he saw her.
“Little mouse. What are ye doin’ here?”
“I heard the council meetin’ today,” she admitted. “I dinnae mean to eavesdrop, but I was passin’ by and I heard me name—the name ye gave me.”
Fergus set down his hammer and wiped his hands on his kilt. “How much did ye hear?”
“Enough,” Jeane said quietly. “Enough to ken that ye’ve been protectin’ me from more than I realized. That me father has been searchin’ for me. That yer council thinks I’m a distraction.”
Fergus crossed to her, his dark eyes intense. “Ye’re nae a distraction. Or if ye are, ye’re the best kind.”
“Fergus, I daenae want to cause trouble for ye and yer clan.”
“Ye’re nae causin’ trouble,” he said firmly, cupping her face with both hands. “Ye’re the best thing that’s happened to this clan in years. To me in years.”
“Ye said ye’d go to war for me,” Jeane whispered.
“Aye, I did. And I meant it.” His thumbs stroked her cheekbones. “I’d burn the whole world down before I let anyone take ye from me, Jeane.”
He kissed her then, deep and passionate, pouring all his love and longing into it. Jeane kissed him back with equal fervor, her hands tangling in his dark hair.
But even as they held each other, even as Jeane’s heart soared with happiness, she couldn’t shake the cold fear that had settled in her stomach.
Her father was looking for her. And he was getting closer.