Highland Courage(29)
Mairead said nothing. She simply sat within his arms, looking horror-struck.
“Are ye all right, little one?” Tadhg asked gently.
“Aye,” said Mairead weakly. She pulled away from him and climbed off the bed. “The evening meal will be served soon, we should get dressed.” Looking at the clothing strewn around the room, she blushed and muttered, “This must have been a pretty picture.” Frowning, she gathered up her garments and dressed.
It was painful to see her so distressed. He was furious. Growling, he pulled on his own clothes. “If ye are sure ye’ll be fine, I need to go downstairs and mete out some justice.”
Mairead became very still. “What will ye do?”
“I have never used a whip as punishment for anyone, but tonight I would like to thrash both of them.” At the look of dismay on Mairead’s face, he said more gently, “Don’t worry, little one, I wouldn’t beat them. However, after I give them a lesson in courtesy, I will dismiss them both.”
“Tadhg, perhaps they truly misunderstood?”
“That doesn’t excuse their failure to knock.”
“Nay, it doesn’t. But I suspect it was just an error in judgment—a mistake. I’m sure it wasn’t done intentionally. Besides, isn’t Meriel David’s daughter and don’t they live in the keep?”
“Aye.” He pressed two fingers to the bridge of his nose.
“I suspect it would be very awkward for ye to dismiss her.”
“Ye are right. But neither can I tolerate that level of disrespect, particularly not from clansmen and women who serve in this keep.” Still Mairead was right, what would this do to David?
“Then perhaps ye could reassign them to another position. The choice to accept or leave would be theirs. Ye will not have thrown them out.”
Tadhg thought about this a moment then began to chuckle. “David won’t let Meriel choose dismissal. Ye’re sure this is acceptable to ye? Many men would say even dismissal would be too lenient a punishment.”
Mairead sighed. “If ye think it would be seen as a sign of weakness, then ye must do what ye think is best. I’m sure once the issue is addressed it isn’t likely to happen again. I don’t want to be the reason for two of your staff to be dismissed within days of my becoming Lady Matheson.”
He put his arms around her. “Mairead, ye are not the reason. Ye are right. It was a terrible error in judgment and it will never happen again. They entered their laird’s chamber without gaining permission or ensuring it was unoccupied and, whether ye were in here or not, that is nearly unforgivable. If ye had not been here, they would have been dismissed before they ever left the room.”
She returned the hug and rested her cheek against his chest. “How ye deal with them is up to ye, but it is all right with me if ye reassign them.”
“Then I will grant ye that. However, they will offer a public apology. Would ye prefer I accept it on your behalf or will ye go with me, my tender-hearted little bride?”
Mairead sighed again. “I don’t want to be seen as weak either. I will go with ye.”
Tadhg tightened his embrace. “Mairead, sweetling, why on earth would anyone have ever called ye a mouse?”
Together they went downstairs to the great hall. A hush fell as they entered. Obviously, the news of what happened had spread rapidly. They took their seats at the table, but Tadhg did not give the signal to serve the meal immediately. He ordered Meriel and Kester to present themselves.
Before Tadhg could say anything to her, Meriel started to explain. “Laird, it was a misunderstanding, an accident—”
“Silence!” The entire hall fell silent. “In spite of the best intentions, misunderstandings and accidents happen and when they do I try to be tolerant of them. However, failing to gain permission to enter my private chamber is neither a misunderstanding nor an accident.” There was an audible gasp in the room suggesting at least a few people were not yet privy to the full story.
“But, Laird—”
He cut her off. “Enough, Meriel! Did ye call out or knock on the door to my chamber before entering it? Did I fail to hear ye?”
“No, but I thought ye weren’t—”
He put up his hand to stop her. “It doesn’t matter what ye thought. Ye should have ensured the room was empty before entering unbidden and failure do that is a level of disrespect I will not tolerate.”
“But I—”
“Do not argue this point further! Surely ye are aware it would be well within my right to have both of ye beaten?” This time the gasp was louder and followed by murmurings.