Page 25 of The Highlander's Twisted Deal
“If it can help Maither with the pain, it’s worth it,” Duncan said in a tone that brooked no argument. “She’s out there in the herb garden now, collecting ingredients for all manner of poultices, teas, and tinctures for various folks in the Keep. She’s a clever woman, Callum. Ye are lucky.”
This time, he met Callum’s eyes squarely. For once—and this was a little disconcerting—Callum found that he couldn’t read his cousin’s expression.
“I ken,” he said, a little defensively.
“Dinnae let her go if ye can help it. She’s a fine catch.”
Callum bristled at that.Dinnae let her go.
“No good has ever come of a possessive love,” he said shortly, getting to his feet. “Love isnae ownership. Nae real love, in any case. If Ava wants to leave, there’s nothing any of us can do. She’s free to leave.”
Duncan’s face clouded over, and he returned his stare to his boots again. Callum watched him, chewing the inside of his cheek.
Was Duncan falling in love with her already? He admitted she was beautiful. Duncan had clearly inherited Moira’s respect for healers, and he was obviously impressed with how hard Ava was working to help the Keep inhabitants—Moira among them.
The idea of Duncan, his beloved cousin who was like a brother to him, being in love with Ava filled Callum with an anger like an itch, unpleasant and refusing to go away. He fidgeted, hating himself for his feelings of hot jealousy but unable to swallow them down.
He turned his back—Duncan would be oblivious, but Marcus had always been able to read Callum like a book—and moved over to the window.
Jealousy was an ugly emotion. It was like an infection, spreading through an otherwise healthy love. It destroyed friendships, romantic relationships, and could even eat away a family from the inside out.
I’ve seen it happen.It can come so quickly, so quietly, ye dinnae realize until it’s too late.
He wasnota jealous man. He worked hard to root out any possessiveness or envy from himself, and he was not about to let one pretty woman ruin it all.
It didn’t matter how beautiful she was, how kind, how fascinating. It didn’t matter that he’d thought of nothing but her since the moment he met her.
Possessiveness and jealousy were a rot, and he wouldn’t let it take hold in Keep McAdair again.
“Lad?” Marcus prompted softly, his hand landing gently on Callum’s shoulder. “Are ye well? Ye dinnae seem yerself today.”
Far below, unaware that she was being watched, Ava was placing a handful of tiny, frothy white flowers in the basket, wiping green-stained fingers on her dress. Desire and yearning mingled in Callum’s chest, white-hot and aching. He swallowed hard, closing his eyes.
She isnae mine.I am not me faither. I willnae let this happen. Ava is never going to be mine, and if I ken what’s good for me—and for her—I’ll steer clear of her.
He glanced over at his uncle and flashed a wide, false smile. “Oh, aye, I’m fine. Just tired, ye ken? It’s been an eventful few days, eh?”
Marcus smiled thoughtfully. “Aye, lad, it certainly has.”
8
Ava felt an itch at the back of her neck as if somebody was watching her. She glanced over her shoulder, looking up at the high, forbidding walls of the Keep behind her. There were countless windows, like dark little eyes staring down, but nobody stood there.
Just yer imagination.No point in seeing ghosts and shadows around every corner, eh?
She got to her feet, shaking dirt and dry leaves out of her skirts. As Moira had warned her, the ground was indeed damp. She had no apron, and there were smudges of wet earth on the knees of the gown. She sighed to herself. It would rain soon. She could smell it in the air.
Well, it’s nae as if I’ll be washing the gowns meself, eh?
“Did ye find what ye were looking for?” Moira called, standing over where the earth was sturdy and paved over and a little gentler on her weak, old knees.
“Nay, I’m afraid nae,” Ava replied. “Indian saffron willnae grow here. The Highlands are too cold for it. Have ye a healer’s chamber here?”
“Of course,” Moira responded, sounding a little affronted.
Ava didn’t blame her. A “good” Keep would have a healer of their own, not to mention apprentices being trained up. The Keep healer would live in the castle with the Laird and his family, often traveling to and fro. The healer’s chambers weren’t just to house the healers but to provide a place of learning. Books were kept there, along with an impressive stash of herbs and powders, handwritten notes, and even areas for surgery and childbirth.
Ava glanced up at Moira and felt a pang of guilt at letting the woman stand out in the cold for so long. Damp air was painful for swollen, old joints. Duncan had disappeared, and Ava didn’t much care where he’d gone. He would be watching her closely, she knew. Watching to make sure she deserved his cousin.
