“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?—”
