Page 60 of Stealing a Kilted Heart

So far, she had put out several fires in the keep—settling disputes among the servants, making sure the grain storages were properly kept and the records updated, ordering more supplies from merchants. With Knox busy with other clan matters, it was mainly Magnus who helped her, showing her the ropes and making sure that everything went according to plan, even if Fia was sure that made him less than popular among the elders.

No one had outright forbidden him from helping her. No one had given any orders that she was to figure all this out on her own, but no one else offered any assistance either. Magnus and Effie helped her as much as they could, and in return, Fia made sure she was the best student they could ever have.

But now, her greatest challenge had come. Everything she had done up to that point had gained her some respect among the elders, but nothing could compare to the weight that rested on her shoulders that very day.

Some of the elders of Clan Boyd were visiting Castle Stuart to strengthen the diplomatic relations between the two clans, and the elders of Clan Stuart had made sure to make Fia understand just how important they were as allies. Nothing could go wrong that night, when they would host them at a formal dinner—a dinner Fia had to organize from scratch, from the decorations and menu to the seating arrangements and the musicians they would hire.

It had been nothing short of chaotic. For days, Fia had been rushing back and forth, trying to get everything done with the help of the head housekeeper, Mrs. Wilson. She was a stern woman, ruling the rest of the household with an iron fist, but Fia didn’t mistake her strictness and efficiency for lack of warmth. She was the way she was because she had to make sure everything was perfect, and Fia was quickly learning that if she wanted to get some things done, she, too, would have to be stern.

Only she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She had worked hard in her life. She knew the servants in the castle worked hard too, and many of them had become her friends during her stay there. How was she supposed to rule over her friends? How was she supposed to order them around and treat them like Mrs. Wilson did?

That evening, right before the feast, Fia allowed two maids to dress her, simply because she didn’t know how to deal with the finicky laces of the dress she was given—or how to do her hair, for that matter, which the maids easily put into an intricate updo. When she looked at her reflection in the looking glass, she could hardly recognize herself. Though Fia had never considered herself unattractive, she had also never considered herself worthy of any special attention. She was just another plainly pretty peasant girl who could never compare to the noble women in the castle and the grace with which they carried themselves. Callum had it many times and she had had to agree. But now, dressed as she was in a deep green dress that brought out the color of her eyes, she began to think that maybe she could finally pass as one of them, at least upon first glance. Perhaps her manners weren’t quite there. Perhaps she was not yet great at curtsying or mimicking their walk or the way they spoke, but at least when it came to her appearance, she didn’t think she was far off.

“The laird requested that ye wear this,” one of the maids said, holding up a heavy necklace encrusted with jewels. Diamonds encircled a large green emerald that hung in the middle, all the stones sparkling beautifully under the light.

“Me?” Fia asked, her eyes wide with shock. She didn’t even dare touch the necklace, let alone wear it. Never before in her life had she seen such an opulent item, something that could have fed several people for years.

How could she ever wear it, knowing of all the hardships peasants faced? How could she ever wear it knowing it was so precious?

“It belonged tae the laird’s maither an’ her maither before her,” the maid said rather unhelpfully. Now Fia was even more reluctant to wear it, knowing its value extended past the material. This was something Knox had inherited from his mother. What if something happened to it? What if she somehow broke it?

“I couldnae possibly wear this,” she said, shaking her head.

“Ach but ye must!” the maid insisted. “Laird Stuart made it clear that ye are tae wear it tonight.”

Fia sighed, considering her options. She didn’t really have a good enough reason to refuse, and perhaps this was even a strategic move on Knox’s part. If she wore a necklace that belonged to his mother, then there would truly be no doubt as to his intentions. In the end, she simply nodded and let the maid drape the necklace over her neck, taking a moment to admire it. It truly was a beautiful piece, the kind of jewelry that she would dream of wearing as a little girl but never thought she would.

Once she was ready, she made her way to the great hall, mustering as much of her courage and confidence as she could. It was still a little early for the dinner that was to come, but she had to see to some final preparations and make sure that everything was according to plan before the elders from clan Boyd rushed into the great hall for the feast.

She had expected to find everything prepared, the servants well-trained in such matters after years of holding such feasts, but when she entered the great hall, she immediately knew something was wrong.

The decorations were all there, just as they had discussed. The room was adorned in banners and torches and fresh flowers and the tables had been laid out in the exact formation Fia had instructed—but upon counting them, they were one short.

Flagging down the first servant who walked past her, Fia asked, “Why are there only four tables? There were meant tae be five.”

“Five?” the young woman asked, her eyes widening. “But… we thought there would be thirty guests. Three smaller tables an’ one fer the laird an’ the council, is that nae right?”

“Three dozen guests,” Fia said, panic suddenly gripping her. “There are three dozen guests.”

Her hands began to tremble, her skin paling. It seemed like such a trivial thing, a mere table for six guests, that it should have been an easy fix. The servants could simply bring in another table and have it set quickly, before the guests even came into the room.

But it wasn’t the table that concerned her. If there were only chairs for thirty guests, then that could only mean⁠—

“The food,” she said, gripping the woman’s shoulder. “How much dae we have? Will it be enough fer everyone?”

The young servant faltered, her eyes widening, her lips parting only to close again as she didn’t know the answer to Fia’s question. Fia cursed under her breath, stomach turning at the thought that she could fail her most important assignment yet. If there wasn’t enough food and drink, if she had made such a big mistake, it wouldn’t be something the council would overlook. She would be the one to embarrass them all in front of the delegation.

“I dinnae ken,” the woman admitted. “I shall find out.”

“Nay, nay, I’ll dae it meself,” Fia said as she rushed to the kitchens, looking around at the food prepared. People rushed about the large room, some of them carrying platters and pitchers, others bent over large pots, stirring their contents. There was a flurry of activity, to the point that Fia didn’t even know who to ask, but then, as if by some miracle, she spotted Mrs. Wilson.

“Mrs. Wilson!” she called, waving the woman over. She looked over her shoulder at Fia and she must have noticed her state, for her expression darkened and she rushed to join her by the door. “The food, how much dae we have? There were meant tae be five tables, but there are only four an’…. an’ is there enough food?”

“Five tables?” Mrs. Wilson asked, clearly as bewildered as the servant. “Why so many?”

In the distance, Fia could hear a hoard, their footsteps a loud crash against the stone floors of Castle Stuart. Was it already time for the feast? By the sounds of it, the delegation was already heading to the great hall and Fia was about to embarrass herself and the entire clan in front of them all.

“Mrs. Wilson, please make sure there is enough food fer everyone,” she told the woman. “I must speak tae the laird but I will come back as soon as possible. Perhaps… perhaps we can serve some parritch along with everythin’ else if there isnae enough fer everyone.”