“Ach, nay,” Mary said and put her hand over Fiona’s. “I’m sorry to frighten ye. No one died. I meant ’twas a tragedy that Murchan was hurt, and that because of a few drunken fools, yer new husband and his men had to leave so suddenly. I’m sorry I couldna talk Da out of that. Butdinna fash. The healer finished stitching Murchan’s arm. He has nay fever yet. So he is better this morning, and Erik will be back for ye before ye ken the time has passed.”
If only Mary spoke truth, but Fiona couldn’t accept that what had started so badly could ever come to a better end. The arrival of their breakfast distracted her and she began to eat, discovering to her surprise that she was hungry. Until she overheard the conversation between two of the lasses at the other end of the table. It stole her appetite. Apparently, Erik had dealt harshly with his man who’d been involved in the fight. Had Erik really hit him hard enough to break his jaw, and then tossed the man out the gate like a sack of grain? That was not like the Erik she knew. But it did sound like the reputation the Ross clan was burdened with. Only she’d thought that ended with Erik’s predecessor’s death.
If Erik had a temper like his predecessor, and if his idea of dealing with clan problems was to beat his people into submission, how would she survive when he became angry with her? He hadn’t seemed prone to violence when he left her last night. Resigned, sad…aye, both of those things. What had prompted him to punish his own man so harshly?
“My man told me his other men seemed tense, on eggshells around him before they left last night.” The lass tittered, then continued, “If his own warriors fear him, I certainly wouldna want to cross him.”
It didn’t make sense to Fiona. The way these women talked made Erik seem like two men, one tender with her, another brutally fierce as a laird. If he continued to deal harshly with people she came to see as hers, too, how would she cope with him once they were at Ross and she was the clan’s lady?
She didn’t have any answers yet, but set the questions aside when she spotted Lia enter the great hall from the direction of the healer’s herbal. “I’ll talk to ye later,” she told Mary, stood and went to Lia.
“I heard ye were still here,” the lass said.
“Sit with me and I’ll explain,” Fiona offered and gestured her to an empty table. “Have ye broken yer fast?”
“Nay.”
“Then that is what we will do,” Fiona told her and signaled to the nearest serving lass, who quickly brought them porridge, bread, and honey.
After Lia took a few bites, she set her spoon aside. “Why did ye marry that man? Everyone is saying he’s dangerous.”
Fiona sighed and then smiled. “He’s been naught but kind to me. As for the wedding, I had nay choice.” She shrugged, then added, “Nay, ’tis no’ true. I did, but there would have been consequences for four clans. Anyway, I’m sorry I didna talk to yebefore ye found out the wedding was happening. There was nay time to do aught save go to the kirk.”
“Who is he? The man ye had to marry.”
“Laird Ross. Erik.” Saying his name caused her heart to twist. He’d been gone only hours, but she missed him already. If the night crossing had gone safely, he should be home at Ross by now.
“So ye are Lady Ross?” Lia paled at that.
“I am, though I dinna feel like it yet.” Fiona nodded, and told her what happened that sent her new husband and his men back to Ross without her.
“I’m glad. Maybe now ye will stay at Rose, with me. I dinna ken anyone here.”
Fiona should have expected this, especially after what happened yesterday. Lia must be feeling abandoned. Betrayed. “Ye do, and ye will make more friends. Ye are a Rose now, do ye ken that? Because Arabella took ye in, and so did I. Rose is yer clan, if ye wish it to be.”
“Truly?”
“Aye. But tell me something. I saw ye coming from the healer. Are ye well?”
“I am. I thought I might be useful to her since I spent so many years caring for Arabella. The healer was actually quite pleased to hear of my experience, so I will be her apprentice.”
“Lia, that’s wonderful! Ye will learn so much, and ye will be respected by everyone.”
“I hope so. ’Tis a better life than one I’d have had in Inverness without ye there.”
Perhaps she’d been wrong about Lia and Hamish. “Are ye and Hamish no’ close? I thought ye had aught special with him.”
Lia frowned, opened her mouth to speak, then closed it without a word.
Fiona had to ask. “Is he going to stay as well?”
Tears formed in Lia’s eyes, and Fiona instantly regretted her question. “Lia, what happened?”
“Hamish left for Inverness this morning. He said he had to return the horse we used to its owner, but I dinna think he’s coming back.”
“Ach, lass, I’m so sorry.”
“So, ’tis good that I am now a Rose, and a healer’s apprentice, aye?”
