Page 7 of Stealing a Kilted Heart

Fia hesitated for a moment. This would be a major step for her, changing everything in her life. She could live comfortably. She could have a cottage within the castle grounds and never need anything again in her life.

But this was her fourth day as a healer.

“Mister MacLeod, I only just became a healer,” she said. “Are ye certain it is me ye want?”

“Yer reputation precedes ye,” said Magnus with a small shrug. The cup of tea still stood on the workbench, untouched, and it seemed to Fia as though he was in a hurry. Then again, he most likely was, considering he had mentioned fears of an attack. That, too, was a concern for Fia. Not only did the threat itself mean that they were al in danger, but it also meant she could very well be dealing with severe wounds and dying soldiers if she accepted the position. “We are aware o’ yer skills. Everyone, including Mrs. Findley, claims ye are excellent at yer job. We also ken ye’re a midwife, an’ we dinnae have a midwife in the castle. Yer knowledge would be very valuable tae us.”

Mrs. Findley said that?

It shouldn’t have been a surprise, not when Mrs. Findley herself had chosen Fia as her successor, but it was still good to hear she had her endorsement.

It should have been enough for her. That should have been all the praise she needed, the only victory that mattered against Callum. But it wasn’t enough. She hated to admit it, but she still craved the satisfaction she knew would come from Callum’s fury and humiliation, and the offer was too tempting to resist.

If she accepted, she would be living in the castle, just like him. He would have no way of avoiding her or her success, and Fia was more than happy to rub it in his face.

And the laird is there.

Colin’s words came back to her then—Ye should marry a laird, Miss MacKenzie. All princesses marry lairds. It had seemed ridiculous in that moment, nothing but the fanciful words of a child, but now it didn’t seem so impossible to Fia anymore. So, what if she wasn’t a noble girl? So, what if Callum claimed she was nothing but a peasant who lived in a box, that she had no real value? Fia knew that to be false. Callum didn’t determine her value; she did. And if she truly believed in herself, nothing was beyond her grasp. Not even a laird.

“I will accept yer offer,” Fia said. “As long as Bane can come with me.”

She didn’t want to go anywhere without Bane. They had spent most of their lives together, as a family, and she would not forsake him now.

“Who is Bane?”

“Me braither,” Fia said. “The lad who was just here.”

Magnus hesitated for a moment, scratching his chin idly as he thought it through. “Is the lad skilled?”

“Och aye,” said Fia. “He’s a blacksmith. A very good one.”

“Very well,” said Magnus. “Then he’s welcome in the castle. But he will be put tae work too.”

Fia couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear, her stomach tightening with anticipation instead of disappointment. Even if she was angry and heartbroken, at least her skills as a healer and a midwife were being recognized. For now, that would have to suffice, she thought.

And now that she would be living within the castle grounds, she could put her new plan in motion. Suddenly, marrying a nobleman didn’t seem so impossible.

“We’ll send some men tae help ye bring everythin’ ye need,” Magnus said, as he headed to the door. “Let us ken if there is anythin’ ye require o’ us. Take a few days tae make any last arrangements here. We look forward tae seein’ ye, Miss MacKenzie.”

With that, Magnus was gone and Fia was left staring at the door, her mouth hanging open and her eyes wide. She could hardly believe her luck and the fact that she would soon be living in the castle. Even if they gave her the healer’s cottage, it was bound to be much nicer than the cottage she and Bane were living in at that moment.

In the minutes that followed, Fia stayed where she stood, frozen, staring at the door. Everything that had just happened was still difficult to process. Her entire life had changed in a handful of minutes.

When Bane opened the door and saw her like that, he immediately paled as he rushed to her, grabbing her shoulder.

“What is it?” he asked, panic creeping into his tone. “What did he tell ye?”

For a few moments, Fia found it impossible to speak. When she finally had the words, she said, “He told me tae go tae the castle an’ work there as a healer.”

Bane was just as dumbfounded as Fia was, the two of them staring at each other in silence and disbelief. Then, Bane burst out laughing and Fia couldn’t help but follow as he pulled her into a crushing embrace, lifting her off the ground.

“That is incredible, Fia,” he said, gingerly placing her back down. “When are ye leavin’?”

“We are leavin’,” she said. “I told him I wouldnae go without ye.”

“Ye’re jestin’,” said Bane, but when Fia shook her head, his grin widened even more, though Fia would have thought it impossible. “Me? Livin’ in the castle?”

“Aye,” said Fia. “Did ye truly think I’d leave ye behind?”