Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
“Me Laird,” Stephen said, clearing his throat. He cast an uncertain glance at Theo. “I believe we have to call for a council meeting, if what ye said about the lass is true.”
Theo wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin, one eyebrow arching knowingly as his gaze wandered to Amber.
Normally, by now, the child would’ve darted off to the kitchens or tucked herself into some forgotten nook of the castle, avoiding his presence like always. But today, she lingered, curious, wide-eyed, and wholly amused by the stranger at the table.
And just like that, an idea came to him.
“Amber,” he said, turning his attention to the girl. “Why dinnae ye spend the day with Lavina here? The two of ye should get to ken each other a bit better. Ye’ll do as she says.”
He pushed his chair back from the table and rose to his feet.
“Me Laird…” Lavina’s voice cracked as she glanced nervously at the child. “Are ye sure that’s a good idea?”
There was no hiding the panic in her voice or the flicker of fear in Amber’s wary eyes.
“After all, we’ve just met. Surely the child wouldnae be comfortable with me?”
“It willnae matter,” Theo replied, waving off her concern. “Ye’ll be lucky to get a squeak out of her. The lass hasnae made a sound since she arrived at the castle.”
“She’s a mute?”
“Seems so. But if ye think ye can get her to do anything more than run away, then I’ll be most grateful. Other than that, I’m sure the two of ye will get along just fine.” He turned away from them. “There are things I must attend to. Excuse me.”
His lips curled into a thin smile as he strode toward the door.
“Stephen,” he called sharply as he passed.
Stephen straightened like a soldier, understanding the command without another word. He followed Theo out of the hall.
As they stepped into the corridor, whispers followed behind them, soft but persistent. Theo’s ears perked up at the gossip already spreading among the servants. He did not doubt that by nightfall, every man, woman, and child in the keep would know that he intended to marry Lavina Lewis.
And the sooner he took a wife, the better.
“All right,” Stephen spoke up once they were far enough from prying ears. “What’s really goin’ on here?”
“I’m nae followin’,” Theo replied casually as they rounded a corner.
“The lass,” Stephen said. “What is she doin’ here? Ye ken as well as I do that she’s got that look about her. The kind that brings trouble.”
“She’s requested sanctuary,” Theo explained. “And as it happens, I have plenty of room—and a vacancy in a certain… area.”
“If ye’re talkin’ about Amber, I wouldnae worry,” Stephen said. “The lass is doin’ fine. Alice—Cook’s assistant—is teachin’ her the names of the herbs in the garden.”
“Aye, that’s all well and good,” Theo acknowledged. “But she’s the daughter of Laird McGowan, and I’ll have her raised as such. She needs a proper education.”
Stephen tilted his head. “So that’s what this is? Ye’re marryin’ so that ye have help with the bairn? Why nae just send for a tutor?”
“Because ye ken as well as I do that Amber needs more than just a tutor. She needs patience. A softer hand. Someone who can coax her gently, nae force her into books and drills.”
“And ye believe Lavina will do that?” Stephen asked, arching an eyebrow.
Theo nodded.
“So, this really is just about findin’ someone to tend to Amber?”
“It is,” Theo said plainly. “I’m under nay illusions, Stephen.”
But Stephen wasn’t satisfied. He stepped in front of him and pressed a hand to his chest, halting him in the corridor.
“Marriage is a serious contract,” he began, his voice edged with concern. “This isnae something ye should take lightly.”
“I ken what I’m doin’, and I ken what’s best for Amber. This is an arrangement. I have nay expectations, nor does she. Lavina seeks sanctuary for herself and her sister. I can provide that.”
Stephen folded his arms, skeptical. “And ye’re sure that’s as far as this goes?”
Theo paused, his expression tightening. “Again, I’m under nay illusions. Nay one would fall in love with a beast of a man,” he stated, his voice low. “Nay one wants a husband covered in scars.”
His jaw clenched as he turned toward the chamber doors.
“I’m under nay illusions,” he repeated, his tone harsher. “This is duty. Nothing more.”
Stephen eyed him with suspicion. “Do ye think the council will agree to the arrangement?”
Theo reached for the iron handle and pulled in a breath. “I dinnae care what they have to say about it,” he scoffed. “Come mornin’, I’ll be married to Lavina Lewis. And there’s nae a lick they can do about it.”
“This way?” Lavina asked, tapping her finger on her chin as she glanced back over her shoulder.
Her gaze shifted to the small child trailing behind her.
Amber.
The poor thing looked as though she’d been abandoned in some alley, her clothes worn, her eyes hollow. There was a purity in her silence, but also a sadness. It was clear that she hadn’t known even a whisper of kindness in some time.
How could anyone just let the poor thin’ stay in such rags? Is she nae the daughter of the Laird? So help me, if I find out the laird is neglectin’ her… well…
Lavina glanced at Amber as she tried to rein in her aggressive thoughts. It wasn’t her fault; she was built to nurture and protect. She’d been doing it for Maisie ever since their parents passed.
Lavina felt a pang of pity as she wondered how the child had ended up in this keep. Was she a ward? An orphan? Or perhaps the illegitimate child of a scullery maid who’d been sent away in shame?
The thought made her flinch. It was too close to home.
“Or… is it this way?” she asked, hoping to coax the child into speaking. “Ye ken, we could probably find ye something nicer to wear than those old rags ye’ve got on. Wouldnae that be nice? I’m sure the Laird has a dressmaker he can summon.”
Amber didn’t reply but pointed silently to the left as they made their way through the labyrinth of the unfamiliar keep.
“This keep is bigger than any place I’ve ever been,” Lavina remarked, trying to fill the thickening silence. “I think I’d have been lost, were it nae for ye.”
She offered a small smile. “By the way, thank ye for yer help. Ye ken, when we get to the infirmary, you’ll have to meet me sister—if she’s up, that is.”
Amber stopped cold. Her tiny body stiffened before she shook her head violently.
“Amber?” Lavina tilted her head, noting the child’s sudden fear. “What is it?”
Without a word, Amber turned and darted back down the corridor, vanishing like a wraith in the mist.
“Was it something I said?” Lavina muttered, letting out an exasperated sigh.
She turned—and promptly ran into someone.
“Beg yer pardon,” the stranger said kindly.
“Oh! I’m so sorry, I-I didnae see ye,” Lavina stammered, reaching to steady the elderly man as he stumbled.
Before he could trip, she caught him. He smiled warmly, a gentleness in his eyes that eased the awkwardness between them.
“Nay harm done.” He chuckled. “Should’ve kenned better than to sneak up on the young these days.”
Lavina smiled shyly and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear before stepping aside. The gentleman gave her a soft pat on the cheek as he passed.
She watched him go, making sure he didn’t stumble. Only when he rounded the corner did she continue toward the infirmary.
The air changed as she entered. The room was warm, permeated with the familiar scent of crushed herbs and peat. Shadows clung to the corners, the firelight giving the room a mystical, almost sacred air.
“Lavina.” Maisie’s voice was a bolt of lightning to her heart. Lavina peered through the dim light as she made her way to Maisie’s cot, settled next to the hearth. Maisie’s smile was contagious as Lavina noticed she was wrapped in nothing but furs.
“Maisie…” she whispered, the name catching in her throat.
Her sister looked better. The blue tint had left her lips, the shadows under her eyes had cleared, and most importantly, she looked alive.
Lavina crossed the room and kneeled beside her, brushing her hand with trembling fingers.
“Ye look better,” she said softly, drinking in every sign of life in her sister’s features.
“Where are we?” Maisie whispered. “There’s been an old man comin’ and goin’… I didnae ken whether to speak to him. I wasnae sure if he was an enemy.”
Lavina’s eyes drifted to the corner, where Aaron tinkered quietly with herbs and tonics. She gave him a grateful nod, then turned back to Maisie.
“I wouldnae worry about that,” she murmured. “He’s a healer—his name is Aaron. He’ll help ye.”
Maisie scoffed weakly. “And here I thought they were just attendin’ to me so they could torture me later.”
Lavina’s chest tightened. “I still wouldnae put it past them. We’re on McGowan land, after all.”
She kept her voice low, barely above a whisper, but Maisie’s eyes widened at the confession.
“What are we doin’ here?” Maisie asked sharply.
“We had nay other choice,” Lavina explained, brushing back a loose curl from her sister’s forehead. “Ye needed help. The cold had nearly reached yer marrow. I couldnae lose ye.”
She paused, swallowing hard as the memory of that storm chilled her all over again.
“There was nay turnin’ back,” she continued. “The storm was gettin’ worse.”
Maisie closed her eyes, and Lavina let out a long breath, trying to steady her own nerves.
“Ye’re safe now. We’re safe,” she assured, more to convince herself than anyone else.
“Uncle willnae dare look for us here,” Maisie whispered.
“I ken. And once I’m married to Laird McGowan, he’ll never be able to touch us again.”
Maisie’s hand shot out and grabbed Lavina’s tightly. “Come again? Since when are ye engaged?”
“A few hours now. Ye’ve been restin’, and now that ye’re up… I need ye to be there with me,” Lavina said, the weight of her decision settling on her shoulders like stones.
“Are ye sure this is what ye want to do?” Maisie asked, her voice trembling.
“It’s the only choice,” Lavina emphasized.
Maisie’s grip tightened as she sat up in bed, clearly distressed. “Look at me,” she began, throwing her legs off the bed. “Ye cannae do this. Ye dinnae understand—”
“I do understand,” Lavina interrupted. “Maisie, this is the only way to save us.”
She stood up, her voice rising with emotion.
“Ye ken how determined our uncle can be when he wants something. And what he wants now is ye.” She took a step back. “I’m hopin’ he’s gone south, but most likely, his men have gone in every direction. Our only chance is to change our names, and the only way to do that is through marriage.”
Maisie stared at her, stricken.
“The Laird’s guaranteed yer safety and mine, so long as I give him me hand,” Lavina continued. “If I refused, he would’ve cast us out hours ago, and ye would’ve likely been six feet under by now.”
Maisie’s shoulders slumped, as though the whole world had crashed down on them. She turned to look into the fire, silent for a long while.
“Just hear me out,” she said eventually. “We could travel to the Americas. Uncle’s reach would never stretch that far.”
“Ye’d be surprised,” Lavina mumbled.
She looked down at her hands. “But Clan McGowan’s the one place Micah willnae think to look. We’ll be safe here.”
Maisie turned back to her. “And what about love? I cannae let ye ruin yer future for me.”
“If I dinnae,” Lavina said quietly, “we’ll have nay future.”
A long silence fell between them.
“I’m marryin’ the Laird. The preparations are already underway.”
“When?” Maisie asked, her voice breaking.
Lavina slowly raised her eyes to her sister’s, her breath shaky as she forced the words out. “I’m to be wed in the morning.”