Page 11 of Stealing a Kilted Heart

CHAPTER FIVE

When Fia knocked on the door of the healer’s cottage and entered, the place was quiet, betraying no signs of anyone being there. Though it was a cold day, it was also sunny, with no signs of an approaching storm, and the sunlight filtered in through the windows to illuminate shelf after shelf of jars and bottles, their contents more often than not a dull brown or green—though some were brilliant red and orange, while others were deep blue and bright green. There was an entire rainbow on those shelves, each jar labelled meticulously to communicate what was inside it.

The second thing Fia noticed about the place was how clean it was. Just like in her new home, there was no dust and nothing was out of place. The healer had to have been a very meticulous woman, she thought, as she walked farther into the room and began to examine everything on the shelves. There were herbs and pastes there she had never seen before in person, but only knew from the few books Mrs. Findley had in her possession and which Fia had read, first with her assistance and then, once she was confident in her reading skills, on her own.

Books! There must be books here too!

Fia was eager to get her hands on as many books as she could. She was eager to gather much knowledge and show not only to Callum, but also to those people in the clan who had put their trust in her, that she could not only meet, but surpass the expectations. Looking around, it didn’t take her long to find a cupboard filled with books and papers, some of which seemed several decades old, and she couldn’t resist the temptation to run her fingers over their spines, feeling the weathered leather under the pads of her fingers.

“Is there somethin’ ye wish tae read?”

Fia jumped back and shoved the cupboard shut, her cheeks heating uncomfortably at the sound of a soft, melodic voice. When she turned her head, she saw a woman with hair black as ink and eyes so blue they reminded Fia of the deepest parts of the ocean, tall and willowy. There was something patrician about her, but her hands, when Fia noticed them, seemed calloused, as though she was used to manual labor.

This must be the healer, then.

“Forgive me,” Fia said as she stepped away from the cupboard. She had only been there for a few minutes and she had already made a fool of herself. Not only; she could very well be in trouble for snooping around. “I’m sorry, I didnae mean tae touch anythin’. I just got excited about the books…”

The woman was quick to wave her off.

“I am pleasantly surprised ye ken how tae read. And please, feel free tae read anythin’ ye like. This is yer space too now,” she said as she approached Fia and stopped before her with a small curtsy. The gesture surprised her, and she returned it clumsily, barely keeping her balance as she tried to sink lower than the woman did. It felt right; after all, Fia was certain she was above her in status. “I am Effie. Effie MacLeod.”

MacLeod? Like that man?

“Are ye related tae the man who came tae me home?” Fia asked.

“Och aye,” said Effie with a soft chuckle. “Magnus. He’s me husband. A shame ye met him without me there. He can be a wee… intense.”

He was a little intimidating, to be sure, though she didn’t dare say so out loud. Was he not like that, then, when his wife was around? Did she manage to soften his sharp edges? Fia was curious to see them together.

“Well, nay matter,” Effie continued as she gestured to Fia to take a seat in one of the chairs near the fire. “Come. Let us discuss yer role.”

Fia perched on the edge of the seat, as though ready to flee at any point. She didn’t know what, precisely, it was that made her so nervous. All she knew was that she felt as though she was under scrutiny, that all eyes would be on her and that she was afraid that she would fail. Time and time again, she had to remind herself that those thoughts had been planted into her mind by Callum, who wanted to see her weak and lacking all self-esteem. Every time she allowed such a thought to take a root, she also allowed him to win.

Well, he willnae win. I willnae let him.

“I’m sure Magnus has already told ye I require some assistance,” Effie said.

“Aye,” said Fia with a small, awkward chuckle. “He only told me that there may be an⁠—”

Fia cut herself short. She didn’t know if Effie was aware there was a chance there would be an attack.

“There may be a what?” Effie probed.

Pressing her lips into a thin line, Fia considered her next words. Before she could come up with something to say, Effie spoke once more.

“An attack?” she asked. “Och aye, I ken about it. It’s why I asked fer assistance. I wished tae ensure our men will have all the care they will need.”

Fia let out a sigh of relief. At least she didn’t have to lie about it or pick her words.

“I’ve never treated such wounds afore,” said Fia, but Effie was quick to wave a hand dismissively.

“It daesnae matter,” she said. “I’ll teach ye. An’ there isnae much o’ a difference. A wound is a wound. Ye’ll help me with that, the herb garden, an’ with the pastes an’ the potions. Ye ken a little about that? I’m sure Mrs. Findley showed ye many things.”

“Aye,” Fia said, showing some of her pride in her work as she smiled. “I ken how tae make all basic preparations an’ some more advanced.”

“Excellent,” said Effie. “As I understand it, ye’re also skilled in childbirth. I have assisted a few births meself, but they were all easy births. There are some pregnant lasses in the castle now who may need yer assistance.”

“I’ve been a midwife fer years,” said Fia. “I can help.”