Page 10 of Trapped by the Wicked Highlander (Lairds of the Loch Alliance #2)
CHAPTER TEN
" L et us see how the patients fair," Cassandra told a maid that aided her.
"Aye, Mistress. Anythin’ ye need," the maid said.
It was the following day, and Cassandra moved from patient to patient, tending to their needs with practiced hands. Her mind remained focused on the work, but her thoughts wandered, constantly circling back to the nagging discomfort she had felt the day before.
"And how's me fair lady, today?" Cassandra whispered as she sat beside Elena.
As she checked, she noticed a small movement—a twitch of her fingers, followed by a faint groan. Cassandra leaned closer, her heart leaping as she realized the girl was waking.
“Elena’s wakin’,” Cassandra murmured to herself, a sense of relief flooding through her.
She quickly turned to the maid. “Go and fetch Jessica and Hunter. Tell them Lady Elena is respondin’.”
As the maid rushed off, Cassandra’s chest tightened with an odd mix of emotions she couldn’t quite place.
Cassandra tried to push the turmoil down, but it lingered like a shadow at the edge of her thoughts. She had to face the fact that Hunter had a family—a wife, a daughter. It made her stomach churn with discomfort, knowing that she, a mere healer, was feeling drawn to a man who was already taken.
She quickly shook the thought away, telling herself that her feelings were foolish and immoral.
Ye have nay right to feel this way.
He was not hers, yet he had claimed that she was his at the inn. And yet, every time she found herself near him, something in her heart stirred. It was a bitter pill to swallow—being attracted to a married man, someone she could never have. It was wrong, and she knew it.
Hunter, Jessica, and Daniel burst into the hall, their footsteps heavy with urgency. Hunter’s eyes immediately locked onto Cassandra, his voice low and rough with concern.
“What’s happenin’, Cassandra? Is she—?” His words trailed off as he stepped closer to the bed.
Cassandra straightened and met his gaze, trying to keep her voice steady despite the emotions bubbling beneath the surface.
“She’s stirrin’. I think she’s respondin’ to the medicine.”
Hunter’s eyes went wide, disbelief and hope crashing together in an instant. “She is?” Without waiting for confirmation, he walked to Elena’s side, lowering himself into the chair beside the bed.
“Elena, lass,” Hunter murmured softly, brushing a stray curl from his daughter’s forehead. “It’s yer faither, I’m here now. Come on, me wee one, open yer eyes for me. Ye’re safe.”
Jessica hovered behind him, wringing her hands nervously, while Daniel placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Cassandra watched silently, her heart clenched tight in her chest. The tenderness in Hunter’s voice struck deeper than she expected.
Elena’s eyelids fluttered, and a weak voice broke through the tense air. “Faither…?”
Hunter’s breath hitched as his hand gently clasped hers. “Aye, I’m here, me sweet. I’m right here.”
The girl stirred again, her voice barely more than a whisper. “Aunty Jessica… Uncle Daniel…?”
Cassandra blinked, surprise flickering across her face. “Aunty?”
The group fell into a brief, stunned silence as all eyes turned toward Cassandra. Her cheeks colored slightly, while Daniel looked at Hunter with confusion.
Jessica was the first to speak, her voice warm but edged with awkwardness. “Aye, I’ve always been an aunty to the lass. Helped raise her since she was a bairn.”
Hunter didn’t look away from Elena, his focus entirely on his daughter. “They’re family, Cassandra. Me cousins, Jessica and Daniel have been there since the beginnin’.”
Cassandra forced a small smile, though her heart ached. “I see… That’s… good for her.”
Relief rushed through her.
Hunter finally looked up, his gaze steady and unreadable. “It means a lot to all of us. Elena’s lucky to be surrounded by folk who love her.”
Cassandra nodded, swallowing down the lump in her throat. “She’s strong. The medicine’s workin’, but she’ll need rest… and plenty of care.”
Hunter’s voice softened again as he turned back to Elena. “I’ll nae leave her side. She’ll get everythin’ she needs, I swear it.”
Cassandra took a step back, feeling suddenly like an intruder in a moment too tender for her presence. “I’ll… give ye all some time. Call for me if she worsens.”
Jessica reached out and gently touched Cassandra’s arm. “Thank ye for what ye’ve done so far. Truly.”
Cassandra managed another weak smile, her voice soft. “It’s me duty.”
Without another word, she turned and moved to the other patients, her heart lighter than before, but still confused. If Jessica was not his wife, then who was? Who was Elena's mother?
Cassandra moved steadily through the great hall, her hands light but sure as she checked each patient. To her relief, many had begun to stir, their breathing stronger and color returning to their cheeks. A quiet sense of accomplishment settled over her, though she knew the fight wasn’t over yet. The worst had passed, but their recovery still needed careful tending.
“Fetch clean cloths and fresh water,” Cassandra instructed the maids, her voice calm but firm. “And ye, make sure the broth is warm—feed only small sips to those who can swallow.”
She turned to another, her eyes sharp. “Change the linens for those who’ve sweated through them, but mind ye daenae wake them if they’re restin’ easy.”
The maids bustled around her, following her orders without hesitation. Cassandra’s focus remained sharp, but her eyes betrayed her heart’s distraction. Every few moments, her gaze drifted toward the corner of the room where Hunter sat at Elena’s side. His broad shoulders were hunched forward, and his hand remained clasped around his daughter’s delicate fingers.
Why does it pain me so to see him there? He’s a faither worried for his child, nothin’ more…
But the softness in his eyes, the fierce protectiveness in every gesture—those were not things she could ignore so easily. Cassandra straightened a blanket around an elderly patient, willing her thoughts back to the task at hand.
Ye’re here to heal, nae to pine after a man who’s already tied to a life ye cannae be part of.
Yet the ache in her chest lingered, stubborn and unwelcome. She gave another order, her voice steady despite the turmoil within.
“Keep the fires burnin’. The chill’ll do nay favors for those still weak.”
As the maids nodded and moved swiftly, Cassandra allowed herself one last glance toward Hunter. His devotion was evident in every line of his body, and it stirred something deep within her.
An hour later, Hunter approached Cassandra with steady steps, Jessica following closely behind. His face was drawn with exhaustion, but there was warmth in his eyes as he addressed her.
“How’re the other patients farin’, Cassandra?” His voice was low, but the concern beneath it was clear.
Cassandra straightened her shoulders and offered a small nod. “Most are stirrin’ now. Fevers are breakin’, though a few’ll need more time before they’re truly out of danger. I’ve got the maids changin’ linens and feedin’ those strong enough to take broth.”
Hunter let out a breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “I cannae thank ye enough for what ye’ve done. Truly, Cassandra, ye might’ve saved half the clan.. and me daughter's life."
Cassandra dipped her head, feeling heat rise to her cheeks despite herself. “I’m only doin’ what I was trained for, Laird. But I’m glad to see them mendin’.”
Jessica, who had been quiet until now, tilted her head and studied Cassandra thoughtfully. “Ye seemed shocked earlier when Elena called me ‘aunty.’ Why was that?”
Cassandra blinked, suddenly flustered, her words tripping over themselves. “Ach, well… I, uh, thought ye an’ Hunter were married, ye see. The way ye hugged him when we first met, I just assumed?—”
Jessica burst out laughing, shaking her head with genuine amusement. “Married? Me and Hunter? Nay, lass, we’re cousins! I’ve nay intention of ever marryin’. I’m quite happy bein’ the head chef here—nay man’s goin’ to tie me down.”
Cassandra stared at her, surprised by the ease of her response. “Funny that,” she muttered, a wry smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “I’ve nay plans to marry, either.”
Jessica’s eyes lit up with sudden fondness, and without warning, she looped her arm through Cassandra’s. “Well then, ye’re comin’ with me, lass. A woman after me own heart deserves a proper break! Ye've worked yerself to the bone.”
“Wait—I've…?” Cassandra blinked as Jessica began dragging her away.
Hunter smirked behind them. “Go easy on her, Jess.”
“Aye, aye,” Jessica called over her shoulder. “I’m just takin’ her for a wee break!”
Before Cassandra could protest, she found herself whisked into the castle’s warm kitchens, the comforting aroma of baked bread and spices wrapping around her like a blanket. Jessica released her arm and went straight for a small platter tucked away on a shelf.
“Here,” Jessica said with a grin, handing over a delicate tart topped with sugared berries. “Ye’ve more than earned somethin’ sweet.”
Cassandra took the dessert hesitantly and, after the first bite, her eyes widened with delight.
“Saints above, Jessica… ye’re a woman after me own heart.” She let out a small laugh. “I’m a bit obsessed with sweets, if I’m honest. Back at me home, I’d sneak down to the kitchens in the dead of night just to swipe a wee pastry or two.”
Jessica’s laughter echoed through the room, full of genuine delight. “Oh, I like ye already. Tell ye what—while ye’re here, I’ll set aside somethin’ sweet for ye every day. If ye ever need more, ye’re welcome to sneak in any time.”
Cassandra’s heart lightened, the heaviness of the past days easing just a little. “Ye’ve nay idea how dangerous an offer that is,” she teased, taking another bite of the tart.
Jessica smirked, leaning against the counter with arms crossed. “Och, I’ll risk it. A healer who loves sweets? Ye’re already the best kind of trouble.”
Cassandra stood near the hearth, her body aching from exhaustion yet her mind still alert. Cassandra offered a tired but genuine smile.
“Thank ye,” Cassandra murmured, her voice soft but steady. “I’m glad to see the patients mendin’. It gives me hope.”
Jessica’s gaze softened. “Ye’ve done more than any of us could’ve hoped for, lass. But ye look like ye’ll drop where ye stand.”
Cassandra stifled a yawn, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. “Aye, mayhap I could use a bit of rest.”
Without hesitation, Jessica turned to a nearby maid. “Take Mistress Cassandra to her quarters. She needs a proper sleep.”
The maid nodded and gestured for Cassandra to follow. As she walked through the stone corridors, Cassandra barely registered the path they took. The room was warm, simple, and comfortable, but what she didn’t realize was that it sat just next to Hunter’s own chambers.