Page 29 of The Icy Highlander's Virgin
The teasing note in Mairi's voice made Erica smile despite her earlier worries. "Ye think he's interested in more than yer bannock?"
"Oh, I ken he is," Mairi said with a laugh, setting a plate of delicious-looking food in front of Erica. "But I'm enjoyin' makin' him work for it. A woman likes to be courted proper, even at me age."
Erica bit into the soft bread, savoring the perfect texture and subtle sweetness. "This is even better than what ye served at the weddin' feast. How do ye make it so light?"
"Secret's in the kneadin'," Mairi said, settling onto a stool across from her with her own cup of ale. "And a bit of honey from our own hives. The laird's very particular about his bread."
"He has strong opinions about food?"
"Strong opinions about everythin' that affects his people," Mairi corrected. "Food, shelter, safety—he takes it all seriously. But he's got a particular fondness for me honey cakes. I used to catch him sneakin' them when he was a lad."
The image of a young Lachlan stealing sweets made something warm flutter in Erica's chest. "He grew up here then?"
"Born in the castle, aye. Though his childhood..." Mairi's expression grew troubled. "Well, that's nae me story to tell. But I will say this—he's become everythin' his father never was."
Erica's pulse quickened. Here was someone who'd known Lachlan his entire life, who'd witnessed his transformation from boy to man. "What do ye mean?"
Mairi studied her for a moment, as if weighing how much to say. "The old laird was a hard man. Cruel, some would say. But Lachlan... he's kind. Fair. He remembers what it feels like to be powerless, so he uses his power to protect rather than harm."
"That's quite a change from father to son."
"Aye, it is. And nae an easy one." Mairi leaned forward, her voice dropping to a more intimate tone. "The lad carries guilt about what happened with his father. Thinks himself a monster for doin' what needed to be done."
Erica wanted to hear someone else’s opinion about Lachlan, not just what he had told her about what happened between him and his father. "But ye daenae think he's a monster."
"Monster?" Mairi laughed, but there was sadness in it. "M'lady, I've watched that boy—that man—sacrifice his own happiness over and over to ensure others' safety. A monster doesnae spend his own coin to make sure the village children have warm clothes for winter. A monster doesnae sit beside a dyin' man's bed for three days straight, offerin' comfort to a family he barely kens."
Erica's throat tightened. "He did those things?"
"And more. Much more." Mairi's eyes grew soft with obvious affection. "He's lonely, though. Has been for years. Always keeps himself apart, always carryin' the weight of everyone's problems on his shoulders."
"Until now?"
"Until now," Mairi agreed, studying Erica's face carefully. "Ye're good for him, m'lady. I can see it already."
"How can ye tell?"
"Because the air around him is lighter now," Mairi said, studying Erica's face carefully. "He carries himself differently—nae like he's bearin' the weight of the world on his shoulders alone."
"Ye're much more than just the cook," Erica said firmly. "Ye're the heart of this place. I can feel it."
"That's kind of ye to say." Mairi reached over and patted Erica's hand. "And ye're the heart of somethin' too, though ye might nae realize it yet."
"What do ye mean?"
"Our laird has been isolated by duty and guilt and the fear of becomin' what his father was. But with ye... I hope he remembers that he deserves happiness too."
"I'm nae sure I'm the right person to bring anyone happiness, Mairi," Erica admitted quietly.
"Why would ye say such a thing?"
"Because I'm... broken, in some ways. Damaged by things that happened to me." The confession slipped out before she could stop it. "I'm nae sure I can be what he needs."
Mairi's expression grew fierce. "Listen to me, lass. We're all broken in some way. All of us carry scars from the battles we've fought. But that doesn't mean we can't heal, and it doesn't mean we can't help heal others."
"But what if I cannae? What if I'm too afraid, too damaged to?—"
"Then ye take it one day at a time," Mairi interrupted gently. "One moment at a time. And ye remember that the best relationships aren't between perfect people—they're between people who choose to see past each other's scars to the beauty underneath."
