Page 30 of A Healer for the Ruthless Highlander
“And ye leave him like this? A little milk and honey willnae ease his discomfort, lass.”
“It will calm him down for now. It will help him sleep, which is what he requires,” Leana explained, pulling her wrist out of his grip under the pretext of smoothing her skirt. “I daenae expect blind faith from ye, Laird MacReid, but ye brought me here for a reason. Ye will have to trust me methods.”
“I will if ye do more than question him,” Kenneth retorted in an annoyed tone.
This man is impossible!
Leana was concerned. She had barely slept the night before, remembering the kiss they had shared, and now he was being difficult again. Fortunately, his cold indifference—his clipped responses, the way he refused to meet her eyes—was unraveling the fantasy she'd woven overnight, pulling her back to reality with every distant gesture.
In a way, she was grateful for it, because hating him was more reasonable than wanting him. So, she shot him a glare and stepped away from him.
“If ye daenae like me methods, Laird MacReid, ye can go out into the woods and kidnap another healer. But in the meantime, ye’ll have to make do with me.”
She turned to leave, but he called after her, “Where are ye goin’, lass?”
“To the woods, with Valerie, to gather some herbs for the tonic I need to make. I hope nay other whiny laird tries to kidnap me before I’ve finished me chores,” she muttered, practically running to get away from Kenneth.
Her blood was simmering with anger. She didn’t know if she hated or wanted the man, but at that moment, it was easy to concentrate on one feeling.
She surrendered to the rage so that she could finally erase the memory of his lips from her mind. At least for a little while. Long enough to carry out her mission and not fail in the attempt.
CHAPTER 11
“Can I ask ye a question,Lady Valerie?” Leana asked.
“Depends.” Valerie looked up at her, a hint of mischief tilting the corners of her lips. “Does it have to do with Kenneth?”
“Nay.” Leana rolled her eyes. “It has more to do with Hunter.”
“Och, then aye. Of course,” Valerie replied, her expression turning a little more serious.
It was a beautiful morning, with the sun peeking out from behind clouds whose lazy march almost invited one to lie down on the grass and watch it. The crisp breeze of early spring carried the scent of damp earth and budding heather, weaving through the rolling hills like a quiet whisper. It stirred the loose strands of their hair and brushed against their skin with a fleeting chill—just enough to remind them that winter had not entirely loosened its grip. Yet, beneath the golden light filtering throughthe shifting clouds, the air felt softer, gentler, coaxing their conversation into an easy rhythm, unhurried and free.
Were it not for the fact that a guard was following them at a distance, and the fact that Leana had been brought to this place by force, it could be said that this was an almost perfect morning.
After pausing for a moment to pick up a green sprout, which she examined carefully, Leana asked, “In all this time, have ye noticed if there’s a pattern to yer cousin’s illness?”
“Nae that I can recall,” Valerie replied, biting her lip slightly. “Some healers have claimed somethin’ similar, but me cousin’s illness doesnae get better or worse with the change of seasons or the place.”
“It is… strange,” Leana mused as she tucked a few more buds into her basket.
Fortunately, many of the herbs she needed, such as lavender or chamomile, could be found in the wild, but others were much harder to come by, so she thought it was best to send a maid to the village for supplies.
She doubted Kenneth would complain—though some herbs and roots might be expensive, since they did not grow in Scotland. But they would certainly help Hunter’s health, and that was what everyone wanted right now.
So, as she and Valerie talked, she made a mental list of everything she would need to buy to make the tonics.
“The most logical conclusion is that Hunter has some kind of allergy. A lot of children are allergic to dust, for example.”
“I daenae think that’s it.” Valerie clicked her tongue. “Because me cousin and me aunt always tell the maids to keep Hunter’s room very clean.”
“Aye, I’ve noticed.” Leana frowned slightly, and without noticing, she began to weave some grass she’d gathered from the meadow.
Keeping her hands busy had always helped her think. At home, her sisters used to tease her about it.
“I’ve also thought it might be somethin’ he eats in secret. But he doesnae have a rash or any of the other symptoms.”
“What do ye think it could be, then?” Valerie asked, looking worried.
