Chapter 6
Instead of brooding in her chambers, Lilliana decided to go down to the kitchens. She had some brews she meant to make. If she could not go to the village, at least she could still help the castle’s residents.
Taking her medicine bag, she patted her thigh, calling Bramble to her. “You can give me a tour of the kitchens, since you have been spending so much time there.”
Bramble lifted her tail with dignity and walked past Lilliana, who snorted with frustration before following the cat.
As they passed Kayden’s door, she glanced at it, wondering what he was doing.
She heard his footsteps from her room. He seemed to be approaching the door between their chambers, but then he had not opened it.
Why can’t we be civil for once?
Looking away from the door, she continued on her way down the stairs, passing by maids lugging cleaning implements, going from room to room. She nodded in greeting and smiled, wanting to seem friendly. She would need all the allies she could get if she were to survive here.
She passed at least three pantries and a study before finding the kitchens.
Lilliana stepped inside and came to a stop, overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle as maids rushed hither and thither, while Cameron, the cook, directed them like a general.
Bramble slinked off under the table, where two maids were kneading bread next to a large tray of fish. Lilliana knew the cat was waiting for her chance to pounce when the food was left unattended for a moment.
She huffed, walking hesitantly towards one of the burning stoves as she looked around for an empty space where she could grind or cut her herbs.
Cameron caught sight of her. “Me Lady!” he exclaimed. “Is there something ye need?”
Lilliana plastered a wide smile on her face. “No—No, I have but idle hands, a little bit of time, and a will to learn. Might I join you, off to the side here, and watch how you manage to keep us all alive every day?”
Cameron blushed and then nodded, a slight furrow on his brow. “Well, we have some still brewin’ over on the small ovens.” He pointed at a stove off to the side.
Lilliana sighed with relief.
It was perfect. She would be out of the way but still have enough room to observe. “Yes, Cameron, that is perfectly fine. Thank you.”
Cameron smiled. “Are ye sure ye daenae need anything, Me Lady?”
“No, thank you. I do not mean to disrupt your kitchen.” Lilliana waved him off. “You should continue with…” She gestured vaguely at the controlled chaos around them.
He grinned. “Right, then. If ye need anything, just tell Stella over there.” He pointed at one of the maids, who looked up and smiled at her. “And she will help ye.”
Lilliana nodded to the girl and smiled back. “Thank you. That is very kind.”
Cameron gave her a non-committal look before turning and shouting at one of the maids for almost spilling a pail of fresh milk.
Lilliana turned to the table next to the stove and watched as Stella separated herbs in front of her. She got to work cutting up the ginger and garlic, but then hesitated, and her eyes lifted to meet Lilliana’s. It was as if she had been resisting the urge to look.
Lilliana smiled warmly at her. “Did you need help with something?” she asked.
“Nay—I mean, nay, Me Lady… I daenae mean to be rude. It is just that Betsy says she dresses ye every morning. I daenae think ye should be cutting up vegetables, Me Lady. Respectfully, of course.”
Lilliana laughed in surprise. “Oh… um, well… yes, she does help me, but only because I cannot reach the buttons at the back. I am perfectly capable of cutting herbs.”
“Oh.” Stella looked nonplussed. “Well, would ye like to help me, Me Lady?”
“If you need help, I could pull the leaves off this plant. No knives needed.” Lilliana winked and pulled over a bunch of mint.
“Very well, Me Lady.” Stella watched as Lilliana took a seat next to her and started separating leaves from the stems. Her eyes kept returning to Lilliana.
“Is there something else you wanted to ask me?” Lilliana asked.
“Oh, er… nay. Well, can ye tell me about England? How did ye get here, Me Lady?”
Lilliana laughed and began to tell Stella about her journey, though she could see that at least half the kitchen was listening.
“I think ye are very brave to have made the journey by yerself, Me Lady,” Stella remarked.
“I would not have been so lucky were it not for Betsy and my cat, Bramble—I am sure you have seen her around,” Lilliana said warmly.
Just then, a messenger called out to her from the doorway. “Me Lady? Me Lady!”
“Yes? I am just here. What is it?” Lilliana asked.
“The Laird has sent for ye. He says to bring yer medicine bag—it is urgent!” The boy shifted from foot to foot impatiently, as if he could not wait to take off.
“Very well. I need to stop by the healer’s quarters first.” She nodded at Cameron and Stella before dashing after the boy.
After the detour, she followed him to the stables.
She hoped Kayden was alright. She could not help feeling a little worried that he might not be.
She skidded to a halt at the entrance to the stables as the object of her worries came into sight. A quick assessment told her that he was not injured, much to her relief.
His piercing blue-grey eyes flicked up, meeting hers immediately. “Me Lady—Good, ye are here.” He pointed down. “Mackenzie here needs yer help.”
She looked down at what she initially took as a bundle of clothes, but then realized that there was a boy lying there, curled so tightly in on himself that he looked like a bundle of rags.
She dropped to her knees and touched his arm. “What is the matter?” she asked softly.
“Mackenzie here has had a rather foolish fall,” Kayden answered, narrowing his eyes at the groom. “It would seem he broke his leg. Can ye help him?”
Lilliana looked up at him in surprise. “You want me to treat the boy?”
He furrowed his brow at her. “Ye are a healer, are ye nae?”
“I-I am. Of course. But you forbade—”
“I told ye, ye cannae go to the village because it isnae safe. Now, can ye help the lad or nae?”
Something passed between them. A quiet understanding.
Lilliana turned to face Mackenzie, giving him a reassuring smile. “Of course, I can help you. Now, I am going to lift your pants so I can see your leg.”
“Aye, ma’am,” he said quietly, his face twisted in pain.
Lilliana’s heart squeezed with pity for his plight. She set out to help him, trying to cause him as little pain as possible as she pulled up his pant leg. She gasped, seeing how his bone jutted out.
“Whiskey,” she said, looking up at Kayden.
He dug into his sporran and retrieved a silver flask, before handing it to her without a word. She opened it and held it out to the groom.
“Drink, Mackenzie.” She looked up at Kayden. “I am going to need you to hold him still.”
Kayden nodded before kneeling behind the boy and taking him by the shoulders. The lad whimpered even as he gulped down the whiskey.
Lilliana took hold of his leg, holding her breath before letting it out. She looked up, meeting his eyes. “This is going to hurt. Brace yourself.”