Chapter 20
They arrived at the village just as the sun reached its zenith. With the cloud cover, it was not hot but a pleasant, balmy day. Cormag parked the carriage and then got on the horse, and Kayden ordered him to go back to the castle.
Lilliana lifted her face to the sun. She could feel Kayden watching her, his gaze like a brand on her face, and she could not help but blush.
“Yer skin in the sunlight is something to behold,” he said softly.
She turned her head slightly, curious to see what look he might have on his face.
His eyes were dark, smoldering, fixed on her. It made her body feel hot—and not from the sun rays.
She cleared her throat. “Well, thank you.” She looked towards the carriage, where Cormag was unloading her bags. “Where do you think we should set up our wares?”
Kayden tore his eyes away from her to point towards an empty stall. “I think we can use that one. I believe it belongs to Young Ian, who is off to the hills with the sheep at the moment.”
Lilliana gave him an impressed look. “Do you know who every stall belongs to and what they’re doing?” she asked.
He smirked, shrugging one shoulder. “Most.”
She nodded, taking a deep breath to compose herself. “Well then, shall we go and set up?”
She was surprised when he fell into step beside her, carrying the wooden box where she kept all her bottles of tinctures and sachets of herbs as well as her leeches and other medical equipment.
It was not long before a crowd gathered. They seemed less hesitant to let her treat them when Kayden was present. The children especially pressed forward curiously, bright eyes interested in her wares.
She smiled, beckoning the first woman forward.
“Put your child on the table and let me have a look.” She turned to Kayden. “Would you give me the flat wooden stick in my bag? Be careful to only hold one side.”
Kayden nodded, digging in her bag for the item and handing it to her. She smiled her thanks before using it to depress the boy’s tongue and peer down his throat. As she had suspected, there was not much to see and no evidence of swelling or a rash.
“Hmm, interesting,” she murmured.
Kayden shuffled his feet, his hands fidgeting, and she knew he wanted to ask for an explanation. But she was not ready to give him one yet.
She ran her hand through the boy’s hair and was not surprised when it came away with a few strands. She met Kayden’s eyes, her own heavy with meaning. He nodded to her and turned to the mother.
“Where do ye fetch yer drinking water from?” he asked.
The woman pointed in the direction they’d come from. “From the loch over yonder. Me Caleb fetches us some each morning.”
“And yer son has been feeling poorly for how long?”
“Just about a week now, Me Laird. It gets worse every day.”
“And ye? Do ye feel ill?”
“Aye. But nae so bad as me poor Aaron.” She patted the boy’s head, and a few more strands fell.
Kayden frowned. “I see.” He turned to Lilliana, gesturing for her to proceed.
Lilliana turned to face the mother. “For now, I would advise you to fetch water from the castle’s well.”
She cast a glance at Kayden to ensure he agreed with her. He gave a subtle nod.
She rooted through her bag and selected a few herbs. “Throw out all the water you have now, fetch fresh water from the well, and then use these herbs to make a tea. Take it every night and give it to every member of your family, especially young Aaron here. Do you understand?”
The mother took the herbs and slowly nodded. “I do…” She looked up to meet Lilliana’s eyes. “Is there something in the water then?”
Lilliana gave a noncommittal smile. “I’m not sure yet. Better to be safe than sorry, though, eh?”
The mother hummed her agreement as Kayden helped her son off the table. They walked away together, hand in hand.
The rest of the day passed in much the same manner. Lilliana kept stealing glances at Kayden, surprised at how helpful he was.
They worked late, wanting to see everyone who needed them. But as the sun set, Kayden looked up.
“We need to head back now. Ye cannae see well in the dark anyway.”
Lilliana reluctantly agreed.
With a few last instructions, she began to pack her things, Kayden a reassuring presence at her side.
I could get used to this. Having him with me.
She watched him from beneath her lashes as he looked around, making sure she’d forgotten nothing.
“Thank you for your help today,” she told him shyly.
He turned to her and smiled. “It was me pleasure.”
She shivered a little at the sound of his deep voice. It went through her like a hot knife through butter, making her want to melt into a puddle. Her cheeks heated, and she turned away from him, busying herself with handing things over for storage in the carriage.
As they rode away, the villagers gathered to wave and cheer. Lilliana could not help but feel gratified by their support.
They rode in silence for a while before she noticed that they were close to Fergus’s cottage.
“We should stop by and tell him of our findings, do you not think?” she asked. “He might have some ideas on what else to look for or how to treat this.”
Kayden frowned. “If ye think it might help. Are ye worried about the hair loss?”
Her eyes widened, surprised that he’d noticed. “Yes. It’s a sign of poisoning, you know.”
“Some kind of poisoning, nae all.”
“Yes. But my point is that it’s a clue.”
He gave a deep sigh. “So, ye really think someone has poisoned the water?”
She shrugged. “All the signs point to it. I am sorry. I know it must be disconcerting to find out that someone wishes your people harm.”
He shook his head as the carriage shuddered to a stop. “It isnae a good thing for sure.”
He hopped down before turning to offer her his hand.
They walked up to the door and knocked. The door swung open to reveal a dark and empty space, no fire in the grate, and no sign of Fergus.
Lilliana frowned. “What could have happened to him?”
“He’s probably still at the castle. Perhaps Moira invited him for dinner, and he didnae want to make the journey back in the dark. It would take three hours on foot,” Kayden snorted.
Lilliana flopped onto a nearby bench, suddenly exhausted. It had been a long day; it was hitting her all at once.
“Do you think he’d mind if we stayed here then? I am so tired. Can’t imagine getting back in the carriage for another hour and a half.”
Kayden looked her over intently. “Ye’re nae feeling ill, are ye?”
She shook her head slowly, a jaw-cracking yawn escaping her. “No, I’m fine. Just done in.”
“Alright. We can stay here tonight. Fergus willnae mind.” He moved towards the fireplace, throwing in some wood. “Ye get some rest, and I’ll find us something to eat.”
He started the fire, before searching Fergus’s things for a pot, which he filled with water and hung over the fire.
“I’ll make us some soup with a coney, carrots, and onions if that suits ye,” he said.
She raised her eyebrows at him. “I didn’t know you could cook.”
He smirked. “There’s much ye daenae ken about me, lass.” He walked out of the cottage, leaving her alone.
Lilliana made to stand and follow, but then sat back down.
If he wanted me to come with him, he’d have said so. Maybe he went to fetch some water or look for food.
She shifted in her seat, feeling uncomfortable being in Fergus’s home alone.
Sooner than she expected, Kayden’s bulk filled the doorway. He had something in his hand, and when she peered at it, she realized it was the rabbit he had talked about.
“Did you hunt that just now?” she asked in awe.
Kayden laughed. “Nay. Old Fergus has a few strung up in his cellar for when he doesnae want to come to the castle to eat.”
“Oh… well, we’ll have to replace it, won’t we?”
He gave her a strange look, before shaking his head and heading towards the fireplace. “I expect he’ll find something to his liking in the kitchens.”
He squatted down and began to do something she could not see. Then he stood up and bent over the boiling pot, dropping pieces of rabbit and other ingredients into it. She watched with fascination, having never come that close to someone cooking food from scratch.
He cast a glance back at her before continuing to stir the pot. He added a few more ingredients before covering the pot and coming to take his place beside her on the bench.
They both stared into the fire in silence.
Lilliana took a deep breath, wanting to say something, but nothing came out. She studied Kayden out of the corner of her eye, wondering what other talents he might have. She already knew he was a very good kisser.
A blush stained her cheeks, and she pushed that thought away.
“Who taught you how to cook?” she blurted, trying to distract herself.
He turned to face her, his expression pensive. “Me faither did.”
“Oh?”
“Aye. We used to go up to the hills in summer to keep the sheep. There wasnae anyone around but us. Me faither taught us how to hunt, how to recognize herbs we could cook with, and how to make simple dishes. I could hunt, skin, and cook coney by the time I was seven.”
Lilliana nodded in impressed acknowledgment. “I could hunt pheasant by the time I was ten. My sisters and I used to go on the annual hunts my father held at his winter lodge, but I don’t even know what became of the birds afterwards.”
“I suppose the servants collected them and made pie,” he joked.
She smiled. “I suppose so,” she said quietly, still feeling a little ashamed about it. She cast around for a different subject. “So, who do you think is poisoning the water?”
“Well, ye havenae confirmed that it is poisoned.”
“Judging by the symptoms we saw today, I’m certain that someone is poisoning the water supply.”
He sighed, shaking his head. “I’ve heard tell of a woman, a healer they say, who is going around saying she can heal the illness. Nobody kens her. She dresses like a Lowlander but speaks like a Highlander. I daenae ken what to make of it.”
Lilliana leaned towards him with interest as the pot bubbled in the background, the delicious smell of cooking meat filling the space. “Do you know where she is?”
He shook his head. “I have men searching for her.”
Lilliana nodded thoughtfully. “Perhaps I should join them. That way, if they hear of a place where she’s been, I can test the water.”
“Nay,” he snapped.
She started, staring at him with wide eyes. “I beg your pardon?”
“I said nay.”
Her eyebrows rose in surprise. “And why not? Do you not want to help your people?”
“Of course I do. But nae at yer expense. Yer place is at the castle, where I can keep ye safe,” he gritted out.
She gaped at him. “You think that just because I’m a woman, I can’t keep myself safe? Did you see all those women and children I treated today? They need help!”
“And I am helping in every way I can, but that doesnae include letting ye roam the countryside unsupervised.” His face was grim.
She grabbed at his shirt, sneezing as she forced him to look at her, anger bubbling in her belly. “You cannot be serious, Kayden. These people, your people, are dying!”
“Ye think I daenae ken that?” he asked angrily, grabbing her in turn and pulling her flush against him. “I’m doing everything I can.”
“Not everything. Not if you don’t let me go. Or are you just that self—”
Her words were cut off as he pressed his lips hard against hers. His arms wrapped around her like bands of iron, holding her close as he ravaged her lips. She stiffened in shock at first, before her treacherous body melted into him.
He pulled back, panting heavily, his eyes dark as he looked her in the eye. “Daenae ask me to compromise on yer safety, Lilly. I willnae be doing me duty to ye if I let ye get hurt.” He swooped down, kissing her again before she could respond.
She let him hold her, surprised by his words and even more by his actions. Their tongues tangled together, desperate and needy. She fisted her hands in his hair, pulling him closer and opening herself up to him, before she pulled back, bosom heaving, to search his eyes desperately.
“Is it because of the deal you made with my father? You think he won’t keep up his end if something happens to me?”
He cocked an eyebrow and gave her a look, as if what she was saying was too obvious to put into words. Her heart sank a bit, but before she had time to think about it, he kissed her again.
But she had to know. She needed to know if this was just because of the bargain or something more.
“Tell me,” she said against his lips.
“It’s because I gave me word,” he murmured, voice rough with restraint. His hand slid to her chin, tilting her face up as though he needed her to truly hear him. “And because I willnae watch harm come to ye while ye bear me name.”
He kissed her again before she could question him further, deep and all-consuming, stealing the breath from her lungs as though words per se had become dangerous.