Page 47 of Stealing a Kilted Heart

“I have tae try.”

Knox was not a fool. He knew there was a very good chance that the council would be entirely against such a marriage and would never agree, but what other choice did he have other than trying to convince them this was the best way to move forward? They would get what they wanted and so would Knox. With some luck and plenty of determination, perhaps he could manage to convince them in the end.

“Fine,” said Magnus with a sigh, a hand coming up to brush through his hair. He, too, looked weary, exhausted by everything that had happened in the past week, and Knox wished he could tell him he could rest now. Nonetheless, they both knew none of this was over yet. It wouldn’t be over until they had truly defeated Laird Gordon once and for all. “Ye ken I’ll support ye. It doesnae matter what ye decide tae dae.”

Knox nodded gratefully at his friend, reaching over the desk to pat his arm. “Thank ye. Truly, Magnus. I ken there isnae much ye can dae on yer own, but anythin’ ye can tell them will help.”

As he spoke, Knox stood from his chair and Magnus was quick to approach him, eager to help, but Knox only shook his head.

“I’m alright,” he said. “I’ll go fer a ride.”

“A ride?” Magnus scoffed. “In yer state? Ye cannae be serious.”

“I am,” Knox insisted. “Truly, I’m fine. I’ll take it very easy an’ I’ll ask Fia tae come with me, so ye dinnae need tae fash. If anythin’ happens tae me, she’ll be there tae fix it.”

“I dinnae like the sound o’ it,” Magnus insisted, but the simple fact that he was not trying to help him stand anymore spoke louder than his words. “Please, dinnae stray far.”

“I willnae,” Knox promised. “Just tae the woods.”

Magnus still didn’t seem entirely convinced, but he said nothing as Knox left the room, his hand gently rubbing around the wound over his clothes. Now that it had started healing, it itched all day and night, often keeping him awake, and a ride was just what he needed to clear his head.

And it would be the perfect opportunity for him to finally confess his love to Fia.

On his way to the stables, Knox peeked through the door of the forge to see if Bane was there, and sure enough, he found him over a sword, tempering the steel over a burning fire. To that day, he thought it was a great shame that he insisted on working as a smith when he was so clearly suited to the life of a warrior, his strength surpassing that of many of his own men. Even his skills, a little rough as they were, seemed to be greater than those of many who called themselves soldiers. Knox could certainly think of one off the top of his head; Callum, who could not even begin to compare to someone like Bane, with his raw talent.

Then again, it may be an issue if he’s among the laddies all the time.

Perhaps that was why he was so adamant he didn’t want to join his ranks, Knox thought. Working as a blacksmith gave him the opportunity to isolate himself from others, to keep his secret safe. There were other smiths in the forge, of course, but Knox had the suspicion it would be much harder to keep his secret from the entire body of soldiers under his command as opposed to a small group of people.

And he had the suspicion that not everyone in his ranks would be as open to accepting him as Knox himself was.

Perhaps it’s fer the best if he remains here as a smith.

“Ye can come in if ye so please, me laird.”

Bane’s voice startled Knox. He hadn’t realized he had been spotted, since Bane hadn’t even turned around, but then he realized that Bane must have seen him on the reflection of the sword he was making. He was not only capable, but he was also clever—cunning even—and observant. Knox couldn’t help but mourn the loss of such skill.

“I didnae mean tae bother ye,” Knox said as he stepped into the forge, lingering by the door.

“It’s nae a bother,” Bane assured him. “Are ye well? I ken ye were wounded in the battle.”

Putting down the sword and the mallet he was using to temper the steel, he turned to face Knox, wiping his hands on the apron that hung from his neck. It didn’t help; the grime on his skin and under his nails seemed to be stuck there perpetually, something Knox had noticed the first time he had invited him and Fia to a formal dinner. There was no doubt in his mind that Bane had done his best to appear as well-groomed as possible, trying to fit in with the rest of the guests, and though he cleaned up well, that small detail always set him apart from everyone else.

Knox didn’t even know if it was something the man himself had noticed. For him, it must have been something to which he had never given much thought.

“I’m well, thank ye,” Knox said. “I’m recoverin’ just fine thanks tae Fia.”

“I’m glad tae hear that. Is there somethin’ ye need from me?” Bane asked. “I ken ye had a sword brought here tae be sharpened, I can dae it now if ye wish⁠—”

“Nay, nay,” Knox said, interrupting him with a shake of his hand. “That’s nae why I’m here. I merely wished tae thank ye.”

“Thank me, me laird?”

“Aye,” said Knox. “Fer savin’ me life. Had it nae been fer ye, I would be dead now.”

Knox could still remember the sharp chill of fear when he had seen that blade almost reach him. He still remembered thinking that was it for him, that he would not survive to see another day.

“Ye dinnae have tae thank me,” Bane said with a shake of his head. “I only did what anyone would have done.”

“Still, I wished tae tell ye I’m grateful,” Knox said. “Anyone may have done it, but ye were the one who was there. Ye were the one who did it. An’ fer that, I thank ye. An’ if there is anythin’ I can dae⁠—”

“I’m quite content, me laird,” Bane was quick to say. “However, fergive me… I dinnae mean tae be rude, but if there is one thing I can ask o’ ye, it’s only that ye dinnae hurt Fia.”

Knox was taken aback by the request, though he supposed it made perfect sense. It was only natural Bane would want to protect his sister, the one person he had left who was as close to him as family could be.

“I… I willnae,” he told him. “I mean, I have nae intention o’ ever hurtin Fia. I wouldnae⁠—”

“That’s all I need tae ken,” Bane said. “She’s already been through a lot. She doesnae deserve tae have her heart broken again.”

Knox nodded slowly, letting the words sink in. He knew what it was that Bane was trying to tell him—if ye’re only looking fer a good time, it’s best tae find it somewhere else. Knox took no offence in the warning. Bane had every right to be suspicious of him. After all, it wasn’t every day that a man of his station married a peasant.

But Knox was serious about it. Gone were the days when he would have a new woman in his bed every night. Fia had changed all that for him. She had changed his whole life, although he had no idea how she’d done it in such a short time.

“I promise ye right here, right this moment,” Knox said, as serious as when taking an oath, “I will never hurt her. I’ll give her the life she deserves.”