Page 64 of A Healer for the Ruthless Highlander
“Of course nae,” Peter said, laughing. “The sea and the salty breeze can cure everythin’. Or almost everythin’.”
Kenneth stood up. “Just this once, Captain, I guess ye’re right,” he drawled, smiling as he followed the Old Sea Wolf back to the ship.
His heart longed for answers. He wanted many things, he suddenly realized, but he knew that the fulfillment of his desires did not depend on him, but on a woman who was willing to leave him behind.
So, at least for a while, he decided to forget everything, to leave the pain and the worry behind, and to focus instead on what was right in front of him.
That breathtaking sunset, with the sea breeze coming up the hill, and the promise of a little adventure that would hopefully erase the grief in his heart long enough to make him forget that there had ever been such a thing as his feelings for Leana Beaton.
CHAPTER 21
“Leana, this has arrived for ye,”Valerie’s voice called from the other side of the door.
She knocked a few times, before entering the surgery at a brisk pace.
She brought with her a broad smile, and in her hands, she held a wooden box wrapped in handkerchiefs, inside of which rested a number of flowers, root and all.
“Thank ye very much. I have been waitin’ for these,” Leana said thickly.
She took the wooden box. The flowers had soft lilac petals, which grew darker as they reached the center. The leaves on their stems were silvery, just as Hunter had described, and the roots were long and tangled. Smiling, she picked one carefully.
Valerie mimicked her, looking at the flower with a slight frown as Leana began making notes.
“Seriously, is this little flower capable of curin’ me cousin?” she asked.
Leana nodded. “Him and many others,” she said, smiling as she sketched the little flower on parchment and added various annotations in swirly handwriting.
“The sea holly has many uses. I am sure I will be able to prepare a remedy with it that will help me prevent the epidemic that swept the distant villages a few weeks ago.”
“Ye will save us all from the cold,” Valerie joked, but her tone was affectionate. “Ye have given yer body and soul to this, Leana, and for yer efforts, we can do nothin’ else but thank ye.”
“Ye have nothin’ to thank me for. It’s me duty,” Leana said with a satisfied smile.
“Perhaps. But I will miss ye terribly when ye leave,” Valerie mumbled.
The smile on Leana’s lips turned bitter.
Even though she had avoided talking about it, she had done nothing but think about the fact that she would leave the castle soon. Hunter had fully recovered from his illness. She was beginning to run out of reasons to stay. So far, she had stalledby saying that she needed the flower to create another medicine with it, but she knew that was just an excuse.
The truth was that she could have left days ago, but she did not want to.
Especially since Kenneth had been gone for two days, off having who-knew-what sort of adventures on the high seas. A messenger had informed her of this days ago, which meant that if she left, it would be without saying goodbye to the Laird, and she didn’t want to do that.
How ironic it all is. When he kidnapped me, all I could think of was leavin’, and now all I want is to stay…
More than that, now that the Sea Holly was finally in her hands, her time at the castle was officially coming to an end, and she knew it. Kenneth or no Kenneth, she would have to leave as soon as she prepared the medicine. Which meant she probably had a day or two left at the castle before she had to say goodbye to everyone.
Thinking about it left a bitter taste in her mouth, so she decided not to. Instead, she concentrated on her duty, while Valerie continued to chatter away. Fortunately, the light, pleasant conversation soon distracted her.
Or at least it did until a slightly absent-minded maid entered the room, thinking no one was there. But as soon as she saw Leana, she stormed out with a flurry of apologies.
Frowning, Leana pointed to the half-open door. “Did ye notice how nervous she was?”
“Who, Margaret?” Valerie waved a dismissive hand. “It’s nothin’ to worry about. She always goes everywhere in such a hurry.”
“It’s nae just her,” Leana pointed out, frowning as she returned to her notes. “It’s everybody. The servants have been actin’… strange.”
“Strange? Strange how?” Valerie asked, plopping down on the table and swinging her legs back and forth.
