“Are they not in your 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 your 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 your attention, I wouldn’t have expected ye to, my lady. I will send Oren to ye when he is available.”
“Nay,” Mairead said a little too sharply. “I—I—please, when he is available ask him to wait in the great hall and send someone for me. I will meet with him here.”
“Whatever ye prefer.”
“Thank ye, Elspet.” Mairead entered the south tower and headed up the stairs. On the second level, the sound of maids’ voices came from one of the rooms being cleaned. She would have ignored them and continued her climb, but a snippet of the conversation grabbed her attention.
“I thought those MacKenzies would never leave.”
“We are going to be cleaning for ages. There were so many of them.”
“A score and ten guests just from her family. Eleven children. Was it completely necessary for all of them to descend on us?”
Mairead froze where she stood. They were upset because her family came to her wedding? The children had been no bother. All eleven children and their nursemaids stayed in two chambers, and the nursemaids performed all the tasks required for the care and keeping of the children.
“I won’t even mention her highness.”
One of the voices laughed harshly. “They certainly did treat their little mouse like a princess, did they not?
“I can’t believe the cosseted little chit has become Lady Matheson. She can barely speak for herself.”
“At least she won’t be like the high and mighty Lady MacKenzie, stepping in and bossing everyone around.”
Her mother was nothing but polite, and she did what Tadhg asked her to do, Mairead thought indignantly. What did they expect? Is this what the Mathesons thought of her and her family? Mairead didn’t want to hear more, she ran the rest of the way to her chambers.
She shut the door of the antechamber and leaned against it, wondering if the entire clan hated her. Pay no attention, Mairead, it was just two gossiping chambermaids. Still, it was hard to ignore the hurtful words. Tadhg had made her feel so wanted and valued, she hadn’t considered what the rest of the clan might think. Perhaps it would just take some time for them to get to know her better. In fairness, her family could be daunting.
She decided to let it go and explore the other two rooms. The one to the left, dominated by a large table on which rested some papers, was clearly Tadhg’s study. It had a hearth at one end, in front of which stood two upholstered chairs. The room to the right was her solar. It was a little chilly because there was no fire in the hearth, but like the bedchamber, this room had several tall windows, which let in quite a bit of light. Thick rugs were scattered on the floor, and a group of comfortable looking chairs stood near the hearth. To one side of the room was a small desk and chair and on the desk was a supply of parchment, quills, and an inkwell. Most intriguing was a large wardrobe-like cabinet. Opening it, she found shelves holding her tapestry frame, sewing supplies, and smaller musical instruments including her lute, recorder, and several wooden flutes of varying sizes.
She was thrilled to see the instruments she loved, and forgot her earlier hurt. With everything that had been going on, it had been weeks since she had played one. She removed the lute from the cabinet and took it to one of the chairs by the hearth. She lost herself in the music and wasn’t sure how long she had been playing when she was interrupted by a knock at the door. Mairead thought perhaps this was someone letting her know the steward was available now.
“Enter,” she called.
A chambermaid opened the door and curtsied. “My lady, the midday meal is ready to be served.”
“Oh my, it is much later than I thought. Thank ye.” Mairead, ye need to start getting to know your new clan. “I don’t believe we have met yet, what is your name?”
The young woman smiled, appearing genuinely pleased to be asked her name. “My name is Gallia, my lady.”