“Ye didn’t wake me, but I was worried when ye weren’t in bed. Your father didn’t exaggerate about your skill. That was lovely, Mairead. At the risk of making ye blush more than ye already are, I must say I have never heard a more talented musician. Your brothers said ye played several instruments well, but they didn’t mention your voice. What were ye singing?”
“The prayers of Matins.”
“Your voice is as pure and sweet as ye are.”
“I don’t usually sing where people can hear me,” she said, blushing deeply as he predicted.
He frowned. “Well, lass, ye will sing where I can hear ye.”
She smiled at the odd command. “If ye wish, Laird. Shall we go down and break our fast now?”
“Sing something else for me first.”
Mairead picked up the lute and thought a moment. Then with a sly grin, she played a melody to which she sang the words of a Psalm, Domine labia mea aperies et os meum adnuntiabit laudem tuam.
He laughed when the meaning of the words she sang sunk in. “Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall sing your praise.”
When she finished, they went down to the great hall. Over their breakfast, Tadhg asked, “Did ye speak with Oren yesterday?”
“Nay, I didn’t.”
“I thought ye were going to discuss the planning of meals?” He looked slightly disappointed.
“That was my intention but I wasn’t able to.”
“Mairead, sweetling, ye are the mistress here. Ye can’t let your shyness keep ye from your responsibilities.”
“It—it isn’t that, really.”
“Then why haven’t ye spoken to Oren yet?
“I would have, but he hasn’t been here. Apparently he hasn’t been well. I will speak to him today if he is feeling better.”
“That’s odd. I can’t ever remember Oren being ill.”
This came as no surprise to Mairead. Based on the steward’s behavior toward her for the last two days, she was sure his sudden illness was simply an excuse to avoid her. She wanted to get off on the right foot today so she thought this might be a good time to clarify Tadhg’s expectations. “Tadhg, I assumed when we were married ye would want me to run all aspects of your household, however, yesterday it occurred to me we had never really spoken much about it.”
He looked a bit puzzled and slightly irritated by the question. “Aye, Mairead, I do expect ye to run my household. Has something made ye think otherwise?”
“Nay, not really. I just wanted to make sure. I know Cnocreidh has been without a mistress for a long time, and I didn’t want to do anything wrong or overstep any bounds.”
“Ye are Lady Matheson and therefore second only to me here. My staff knows that. It goes without saying, Mairead.” There was the smallest bit of exasperation in his tone.
“That is good to know.” At his irritation, she wanted to tell him that although they might “know” his expectations, some of his staff certainly didn’t behave that way. However, she didn’t wish to disappoint him or cause a problem by telling him about the rudeness she had encountered just yet.
“Where is this coming from? Is there something specific ye are concerned about, little one?”
“Aye, I suppose there is. There is something I want to do. It is something my mother always believed was important, but I won’t do it if ye don’t think I should.”
“What is it ye want to do?”
“My mother briefly reviewed the steward’s books on a daily basis so she would know details about inventories and so forth. Also, several times a year, she reviewed the books in more detail, or more recently asked me to do it. It isn’t that she didn’t trust our steward, but she thought it was important.”
Tadhg considered this momentarily. “Aye, that seems like a perfectly reasonable thing to do. In fact, while I have seen the books regularly, I haven’t ever studied them in great detail, and I think it is a good idea to do so. Would ye prefer for me to review them?”
“Nay, I would be happy to do it, if ye wish.”
“Is this what ye were worried about? Asking Oren to see his records?”
“I just wanted to be sure I didn’t cause any offense.”
“Ye have a gentle heart, lass, and I am sure ye would never intentionally cause anyone offense. Ye are the lady here. Ye need to stop worrying about things like this.” She smiled but said no more.
After they had finished their light morning meal Tadhg left for the training fields, and Mairead remained in the great hall. She sent for Elspet, who joined her almost immediately. “Good morning, my lady, is there something ye need?”