Forgiving Hearts: Duncurra 1-3 (28 page)

“What, lass?” he prodded.

“I guess I just never imagined being married to the laird of a clan. I assumed the only home I would ever manage would be the one I was raised in.” She considered everything for a moment before adding, “I guess the rest of my life starts now.”

“Aye, little bride, it does. And if I haven’t told ye yet, I’m glad it will be with me.”

To her dismay, the rest of Mairead’s life started like a dive into an icy mountain loch.

She and Flan may have been forlorn to watch their family leave that morning, but it didn’t take her long to realize most of the staff at Cnocreidh were ecstatic, and they didn’t hide it well.

When her family arrived, Tadhg had asked Lady MacKenzie if she wished to oversee the final wedding preparations and had given instructions for his staff to give her their full support. Mairead’s protective family met all of her needs and gave orders to the staff on her behalf. It was traditional for a bride to be pampered in the days before the wedding, and Mairead most certainly was. Tadhg himself barely let her out of his sight and didn’t allow her to lift a finger. She wasn’t too proud to admit she had needed their attention. She suspected every bride entering a new clan would want to feel the same kind of love and support. Therefore, with the attention of her family and groom, as well as having so many other things about which to worry, the only member of the household staff with whom Mairead had interacted significantly was Elspet.

So after her family departed and Tadhg had gone to train with his men, Mairead sought out Elspet. She believed the best way to start managing her new household was to get an idea of the established routine. Elspet was very helpful. She explained the division of labor between herself and Tadhg’s steward Oren. “When Lady Matheson died there were no daughters or close female relatives to run the household. I was in charge of the staff at the time, and old Laird Matheson entrusted the running of the castle jointly to me and Oren.”

“So ye shared the responsibilities? Ye were equals?”

“Not exactly. Although it may have been what the old laird intended, Oren continued his duties as steward but also assumed responsibility for the craftsmen and the planning of the meals. I handle the management of the keep.”

“The steward plans meals?” Mairead was more than a little surprised by this news.

Elspet laughed. “Aye, he does. At the time, he made the argument that since he was the most familiar with our resources he was, therefore, the person best able to do it. Frankly, the truth is much simpler. Oren loves to eat better than any man I know and, as fate would have it, his wife is a terrible cook. She is a truly gifted weaver but hopeless in the kitchen. Oren takes most of his meals in the keep, and he is well satisfied with the meals he plans. Nevertheless, I’m sure ye can begin to assume the responsibility. It certainly is yer right as Lady Matheson.”

“Well, I don’t want to intrude, but yes, I would prefer to make those decisions.”

Elspet also explained the daily routine of the household staff. “Normally the day would begin with Mass, just after dawn. However, with Father Keenan away and Father Colm having returned to Duncurra with the MacIans, there is no one to say Mass for a spell. So after breakfast I guide the women in the work that needs to be accomplished. I try to see the things that must be done on a daily basis completed before the midday meal. In the afternoon, I address whatever else is needed.”

“Aye, it was much the same at ho—at Carraigile. Usually after breakfast, my mother also met with the baker and the head cook to finalize plans for the day’s meals. Then either she or I would meet with the steward in order to have a general idea of our inventories on a daily basis.”

“Since Oren took over, he meets with our cook, Ide, in the evenings. However, I can’t imagine meeting with her in the morning would be a problem. We can go see her now if ye would like.”

“I do want to meet her, but I don’t want to insult Oren. Perhaps it would be best if I spoke with him first, maybe after a nice meal.” Mairead smiled shyly.

Elspet grinned. “Ye’re a smart lass, Lady Matheson. It is much easier to handle a well-sated man. Here you’ve only been married a few days. How did ye learn so much?”

“Elspet, surely it didn’t pass yer notice that I have six brothers and three married sisters, not to mention a very wise mother.”

“Aye, so ye do.” She laughed. “Maybe ye would like me to show ye around the keep then? After ye’ve seen a bit more, ye can meet with Oren.”

“That would be perfect. Cnocreidh keep appears to be huge, and I have seen very little of it.”

“Well, ye have certainly seen the great hall here in the center of the keep.” She motioned around her. “The towers ascend from each of the four corners of the hall. We’ll go up the stairs in the east tower first.” On the second floor, there were some rooms within each tower, but open galleries overlooking the great hall connected the towers. On the third level, in addition to the tower rooms, there were rooms built over the galleries and great hall. Corridors connected the west, north, and east towers, but not the south tower.

Mairead found this perplexing. “That is odd. There doesn’t appear to be any entrance to the south tower.”

“Nay, there isn’t. Above the second floor, ye can only access the south tower rooms from the south tower stairs, or where the tower opens onto the battlements. Because this is where the laird’s chambers are, it provides more security for the laird and his family. If necessary, a guard can be posted at the entrance to the south tower on the second floor and another on the battlements, thus securing the entire tower. All of the towers are connected again by the battlements on the fifth floor. There are always sentries posted there. Above the battlements, the towers are not connected.”

When they reached the battlements, Mairead was surprised to see each tower had three more levels. She was awestruck by the sheer size of the keep. “Cnocreidh is truly massive. How many people live here?”

“The unmarried guardsmen have rooms. Some of the unmarried men-at-arms sleep in the great hall, but there are also rooms in the barbican towers where some of them live. Most of the others who serve in the keep live with their families in the village.”

“Do ye live in the village?”

“Nay, my husband, Loman, and I used to live in the village. He is a fletcher and a bow-maker. When Lady Matheson died, the old laird wanted me to be more easily accessible. He asked us to take rooms within the keep. We live on the fifth level of the south tower. He also asked Ide to live within the keep. She is a widow so it suited her well. Her chamber is also in the south tower.”

“And Oren? Does he live in the keep?”

“Nay, I’m not sure whether the old laird asked him to or not. He and his wife have always lived in the village. They have a lovely daughter, but while his wife is respected as a very talented weaver, she has a sharp tongue. She can rub people the wrong way. It is probably for the best they don’t live within the keep.”

“I suppose I understand that. But are ye telling me the rest of the south tower is empty?”

“Hamish, Laird Matheson’s commander, has rooms on the fourth level of the south tower as does his squire. Normally the laird’s squire would sleep in the antechamber to his chambers, but the laird moved Flan into a room directly across the hall just before the wedding.”

Mairead blushed, feeling a bit silly. Of course the antechamber was for his squire.

“I can see ye think it was a good idea. I wouldn’t have wanted my little brother just outside my bedroom when I was newly married, either,” teased Elspet.

Mairead nodded her agreement. “Aye, ’twas a very good idea.” Once again she realized how careful Tadhg was of her feelings. He didn’t overlook the smallest detail. As Elspet showed her around, she introduced her to the various servants they met along the way. Mairead tried to be friendly to the staff she met, but she sensed coolness from them. Being rather reserved herself she did not take offense.

When they returned to the great hall after the tour of the keep, Mairead asked, “Elspet, do ye know where all the things I brought from Carraigile were put? I am sure everyone is very busy returning the keep to normal after the wedding, and this can wait until someone is available, but my harp was packed in a crate in order to transport it. I’m not sure where it was stored when we arrived, but I would like for it to be brought to the great hall and removed from its crate.”

“Truthfully, I’m not sure where everything was stored. Oren took care of all the things that ye brought, but I’ll send for him and we can see about unpacking it.”

Elspet sent a chambermaid named Meriel to get the steward, but the lass returned without him.

“Oren said to tell ye he is very busy at the moment and unpacking will have to wait.” Meriel looked oddly smug, but Elspet looked stunned. Mairead herself was surprised, but thought surely she had misunderstood. No servant in her father’s house would have refused to present himself if summoned by Lady MacKenzie, or any member of the family, for that matter. Nevertheless, Mairead would give him the benefit of the doubt.

She asked calmly, “Perhaps he misunderstood me?”

Meriel shook her head. “Nay, my lady, I’m sure he didn’t.” Mairead had the unwelcome desire to slap the self-satisfied expression off Meriel’s face. She didn’t know how to handle this. She had never encountered a situation like it before, but she was not going to start a battle over this with a servant playing messenger. “Please inform him I would like to see him immediately after he completes the task he is unable to leave.”

“I suspect it will be a while.” Her flippant answer did nothing to calm Mairead’s ire. To make matters worse, the girl simply walked away, without being excused.

If anything, Elspet looked more upset than Mairead. “My lady, I don’t know what to say. Laird Matheson is not an overly demanding man, but he would have been furious if Oren had sent a similar message to him. I will go speak to Oren.”

“Thank ye, Elspet, but I will let it go for the moment. Maybe there is a good reason. I’m sure he’ll explain when I speak with him.” Wishing to change the subject, she asked, “perhaps ye could show me Cnocreidh’s herb garden?”

“Is there something I can get ye, my lady?”

“Nay, thank ye, Elspet. I just want to see it.”

“There are two herb gardens. One is in the kitchen garden, but the only herbs growing in it are those suitable for eating and seasoning food. That one is Ide’s domain. I’m sure she’ll want to show it to ye when ye meet with her. The other one contains medicinal herbs. They are separate to avoid a potentially dangerous herb being used accidentally in food.”

Mairead nodded sagely. “That is an excellent approach. We only have one at ho—at Carraigile.” Again Mairead stopped herself from referring to Carraigile as “home”. She had to begin thinking of Cnocreidh as her home now. “My mother, or those of us she trained, were the only ones allowed to tend it and harvest herbs for the same reason. Where is the other garden?”

“It is behind the chapel, my lady. Our priest tends that garden.”

“I would very much like to see it.”

“My lady, I’m terribly sorry, but Father Keenan doesn’t like for anyone to enter the medicinal herb garden. He prefers people to ask him for any herbs they need. Again, it is to prevent someone from accidentally taking something dangerous.”

“Aye, I understand his concern. I won’t take any herbs from the garden. I just want to see what grows there.” This whole morning had taken an extremely frustrating turn.

Elspet’s brow furrowed. “I would be happy to show ye the chapel herb garden, however it is walled and locked. Father Keenan has the key. As ye know he is away at the moment, but as soon as he returns I am sure he will be delighted to show it to ye. He is rather proud of it.”

“That is disappointing. I would have liked to have seen it today.” Elspet looked distressed at this comment. Although it wasn’t what Mairead intended, her irritation with the entire situation had seeped into her voice. Still, she certainly was not upset with Elspet. She tried to shake her frustration and gave Elspet a warm smile. “Still, I suppose it will give me something to look forward to. I will wait to see it until he returns. Perhaps there is some sewing I could do until time for the midday meal? There was always mending to be done at Carraigile.” As she said the words, it occurred to Mairead one reason for this might have been because of her very large family.

“Oh, nay, my lady.” Elspet smiled proudly. “Ye needn’t be bothered with mending and such. We have seamstresses who take care of any sewing or mending needing to be done.”

She guessed she would have to resign herself to needlework until she had the opportunity to meet with Oren. “Hmm, then perhaps ye know where my tapestry frame would have been put? It was with my things in the chamber where I stayed before the wedding. It seems none of my needlework supplies were brought to the laird’s chamber when my clothes were moved.”

“Are they not in yer solar?”

“I didn’t know I had a solar.” Mairead gave a little laugh.

“Oh, my lady, I am so sorry. I assumed ye knew. It is one of the two rooms off the antechamber to yer bedchamber. One leads to the laird’s study, and the other one was always the lady’s solar, although no one has used it as such for years. Laird Matheson had it freshened up and prepared for ye before ye arrived. I am sure ye will find it comfortable. Shall I show ye to it now?”

“Oh, nay, that won’t be necessary. I hadn’t actually looked into those rooms yet.” When the implication of what she had just said sunk in, Mairead blushed crimson.

Elspet just smiled indulgently. “With so much going on, and a braw new husband requiring yer attention, I wouldn’t have expected ye to, my lady. I will send Oren to ye when he is available.”