Page 8 of Stealing a Kilted Heart

“I wouldnae mind,” Bane said. “I would miss ye, but it would be fer the best.”

“Well, I wouldnae leave ye,” she insisted. “So, we’re goin’ together. An’ I have a plan.”

That was the precise moment when Bane’s smile dropped. He knew her well enough to know that whatever plan she was mentioning couldn’t possibly be good news. But Fia’s mind was made up.

“What plan?” Bane asked in a weary tone.

“Remember when Colin said I should wed a laird?” Fia asked.

“Aye,” said Bane, eyes narrowing.

“Well, Callum thinks I am worthless an’ that he is too good fer me, so I’ll prove him wrong,” Fia said. “By marryin’ the laird.”

“Now ye’re jestin’,” Bane said, eyes wide as he looked at her. “Surely, ye must be. Say ye are. Say ye’re nae serious.”

Fia didn’t think her plan was that farfetched, after all. The laird was a bachelor and save for her pedigree, Fia lacked nothing. It was more likely than Bane seemed to think, but even she had to admit it could lead to a world of trouble.

It was worth it, though. Any trouble this could cause was worth it, if only to see the look on Callum’s face.

“I’m serious,” Fia confirmed. “Why? Dae ye doubt me?”

Bane seemed to truly consider the question for a few moments, as though he could neither claim to doubt her, knowing her tenacity, nor could he bring himself to think that her plan had true merit.

“I think it will simply lead tae trouble,” he said, just as Fia had expected. “An’ ye have a way o’ gettin’ yerself an’ me in trouble often.”

“Ach, Bane… when was the last time I got us in trouble?” Fia asked. Surely, she thought, it must have been a long time ago.

“Last week,” said Bane flatly. “When ye almost fought that merchant.”

Fia’s mouth snapped shut. There was no denying that. She had, indeed, almost fought a merchant, but as far as she was concerned, it was not her fault. He had offered unfair prices and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“That was hardly me fault,” she said with an indignant huff as she made to clean up the room—throw out the cold tea Magnus hadn’t drunk and put away everything she had used for Colin’s injury. Now that the first wave of shock had subsided, she was filled with a restless energy that demanded she move around the room, otherwise she feared she would burst with it. “An’ besides, it turned out fine.”

“Aye, it did,” said Bane. “Because I was there tae threaten him.”

That was also true. The merchant hadn’t feared Fia’s threats, but he had feared Bane’s.

“It may be so,” she admitted. “But ye will also be with me in the castle, so I dinnae see why ye would fash. If anythin’ happens, ye’ll be there.”

Bane threw his hands up in the air in exasperation and his mouth hung open, but he could make no discernible sound. All he could do was stare at Fia in disbelief, but she ignored him, busying herself with her tasks.

This was good for them both, Fia thought. Even if her plan didn’t work, they would still be living in the castle. Sooner or later, Bane would come to see it was the best option for them.

And if her plan worked, well, then no one would dare question her worth again.