Page 33 of Laird of Wrath

They needed every piece of gold they could get. But the girl needed it more.

“I’m sorry,” the girl croaked, fresh tears welling up in her eyes. “I’m so sorry, and I cannae thank ye enough. What can I do? Anythin’, me Laird. I will do anythin’.”

“Are ye seekin’ honest work?” Rhea asked, and the girl immediately lit up as if she had been offered a treasure. “I could find ye a job in the castle, or if ye wish to stay here, we’ll find somethin’ for ye to do.”

A sob escaped the girl’s lips, shaking her entire body. For a moment, she buried her face in her hands, trying to hide her tears, though there was no hiding the sobs that wracked her body.

Callum stood there awkwardly, staring at them, uncertain of what to do. But then Rhea approached the girl and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“What’s yer name?” she asked softly.

“Fiona,” the girl answered, her voice barely audible.

“All right, Fiona, daenae fash now,” Rhea soothed. “Everythin’ will be all right. I’ll make sure ye find a job. Come to the castle by the end of the week, will ye? I’ll meet ye there.”

Fiona nodded, the look in her big, teary eyes so grateful that Callum couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. Her cheeks were blotchy from crying, but her joy was palpable, like a living thing that threatened to infect even him.

“Thank ye, me Lady,” she sniffled. “May the Lord bless ye. May He give ye everythin’ ye wish. Ye’ve been kinder to me than… than anyone ever has.”

“Hush now,” Rhea murmured, patting her shoulder. “Go… go and tell yer family the good news.”

The girl didn’t need to be told twice. Callum watched as she rushed back to the market, her feet carrying her far in a very short amount of time. She was fast, most likely used to this. Besides, whoever had put her up to it must have known that she was skilled at stealing.

“Ye’re too kind,” Callum grumbled, just for the sake of voicing his disagreement.

“And ye’re nae?” Rhea shot back. “Ye let her get away with six pounds.”

“Scottish?”

“British.”

“Damn it.”

“Callum!” Rhea gasped, shocked.

“Six British pounds, Rhea?” He threw his hands up in frustration. “Why would ye carry that amount with ye?”

“Why would I carry Scottish pounds?” she shot back.

“Why wouldnae ye?” Callum asked. “Why would ye carrysixpounds with ye?”

“There was so much to purchase!” Rhea replied, her voice rising an octave as she tried to defend herself. “Anyway, ye were the one who gave the money to the lass.”

“I didnae ken it was sixBritishpounds,” Callum gritted out.

Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm himself. It didn’t matter anyway. He had already given the gold to the girl, and now she was gone. He couldn’t simply ask for it back.

“At least her family will be fed,” Rhea said with a small shrug.

“Aye.” Callum nodded. “For a whole year.”

“Ach, now ye’re just sayin’ things,” Rhea scoffed, waving her hand dismissively. “It’s nae a lot.”

“Och, it is plenty,” Callum countered. “It is plenty.”

The fight was already draining out of him, though, especially when his gaze fell on her hands, which had been scraped by her rough landing.

She wasn’t bleeding, nor did she seem to be in any distress, but he wasn’t entirely convinced she was fine. There was a nagging fear in the back of his mind, a voice that kept telling him that something terrible had happened to her and he simply didn’t know it. Neither of them did.