Page 59 of A Bride for the Kilted Beast

“Aye, she’s right nice. When I was on duty as one of her guards, ye could see she hated us followin’ her around, but she was always jokin’ with us, fer she kenned they were orders from above and nae our choice,” another put in with a smile. “She’s nae haughty at all like some fine ladies.”

“Aye, she’s a good lass,” was all Diarmaid said, but all this heartfelt praise for his wife warmed his heart. The men’s respect was hard won, and it meant a lot to him that they thought so highly of her.

However, it also reminded him what lay ahead. The prospect of losing Lillie’s love and trust was heartbreaking, but he could think of no other way. Maddison was his blood, and that had to come first.

When he had finished and bidden his friends, old and new, goodbye, he felt much better. It had been time well spent. Not only did it help him to get rid of the tension in his body, but he had relished teaching the young soldiers something useful. It had been an opportunity to get to know some of his newer recruits a bit better, which was always a good thing when asking for loyalty, he believed. He would be asking them to lay down their lives for him very soon indeed.

All the talk of Lillie made him want to go see her. He was on his way to find her when Ciarán caught up with him in the great hall.

“I’ve just been talkin’ tae the healer about ye,” he told Diarmaid. Diarmaid bristled inwardly on hearing that. Truth be told, some remnant of the ugly, jealous rage that had seized him previously at finding Lillie with Finian still remained lodged inside him. He had deliberately avoided the man, not trusting himself to deal with him civilly.

“Ye’d better have a good explanation fer discussin’ me with him, Braither,” he said warningly, throwing Ciarán a dark look. As usual, Ciarán ignored it and merely smiled.

“Aye, he was askin’ after ye, wantin’ tae ken how ye’re recoverin’ from yer injuries after the attack,” he explained.

Diarmaid’s he felt a little foolish. “Ach, did ye tell him I’m fine?” he asked.

“Aye, but he’s askin’ tae have a word with ye when ye have the time. I think he wants tae check ye over, make sure there’s nae dents in that thick skull o’ yers.”

“All right. I’ll go up and see him in a minute,” Diarmaid said, immediately feeling irritated. He did not relish speaking to the man. He had a sneaking suspicion Lillie might have told Finian about their fight and his jealousy over finding them together. That stuck in his craw. It was intolerable to think that the healer, with his refined good looks and languid, easy manner, was laughing at him behind his back. But he said nothing of that to his brother, instead asking, “I’m tryin’ tae find Lillie. Could ye ask a couple of the men tae have a look fer her and tell her I’d like tae see her?”

“Of course,” Ciarán assured him, clapping him on the back before he left him at the bottom of the staircase to go about his business. Diarmaid waited a moment to compose himself, trying to tamp down his rising jealousy before confronting the healer.

The door of the healing room was ajar, so he pushed it open. Finian was clearly alone, working at his bench beneath the loaded shelves, yet Diarmaid found himself looking around the room as if Lillie could be hiding somewhere.

Finian’s head turned when he heard Diarmaid’s tread behind him. It was disconcerting to see the way the man’s face lit up at the sight of him.

“Ah, m’laird! Thank ye fer taking the time tae drop in tae see me, ‘’tis kind of ye indeed,” Finian said, leaving what he was doing and coming immediately to greet him. He smiled at Diarmaid, his piercing blue eyes scanning his head and face, to check how his injuries were healing. But for some reason, it irked Diarmaid.

“I’m busy,” he stated curtly, unable to help glaring at the man. To his satisfaction, the healer looked a little taken aback by the terse greeting.

“I just wanted tae see how ye are and check on yer injuries. That was quite a beating ye took. I was wondering if ye still have any pain. If ye dae, I can give ye something tae help.”

“Nay, I dinnae need anythin’,” Diarmaid blatantly lied, unwilling to admit to Finian that his head still throbbed all over, his ribs ached, and the inside of his mouth was sore with multiple cuts and bruises.

He saw surprise fleetingly in the man’s eyes. “Well, that’s good news. ’Tis quite surprising though. Ye must have the constitution of an ox and a hard head. I cannae think of any man I’ve met who could be up and about after such a beating as ye sustained. And without any pain.” He looked puzzled, still scrutinizing Diarmaid’s battered face. “Ye gave us all quite a scare.”

“Is that so?” Diarmaid replied, eyeing him back, his lip curling.

“Aye. Lillie was in pieces when she saw them bringing ye in unconscious. She was so worried,” Finian said, and even in his jealous state, Diarmaid could see no guilt in his eyes. There was no doubt his concern was genuine. Besides, he could see no sign that the healer was aware he and Lillie had fought because of him.

“Aye,” he said after a moment. “She made that very plain tae me when I came round.”

“Aye, I saw,” Finian said with smile. “I think ye narrowly missed taking another beating, she was so relieved tae see ye alive and awake.”

Diarmaid could not help it, his jealousy began to dissipate and he found himself warming to the man.

“I should have come tae see ye before, tae thank ye fer what ye did fer me,” he admitted.

“Och, ’tis nae matter. I ken ye have a lot tae dae. I just like tae keep up with how me patients are doing, is all. Call it professional interest. Every new patient teaches me something I didnae ken afore.”

“Thank ye, Finian. I’m sorry I was a bit short with ye just then. Ye’re a good healer. And I thank ye fer yer kindness tae Lillie.” The strange thing was, he meant it. He was about to say more when a soldier suddenly barged in through the door, clearly in an excited state. Both men turned to him, startled.

“M’laird, Ciarán sent me tae find ye,” the soldier burst out on seeing him.

“What is it?” Diarmaid asked, instantly on alert, half expecting to hear that Odhrán’s army was approaching.

“’Tis Lady Lillie, we cannae find her anywhere!”