Highland Courage(32)
Mairead smiled warmly. “Aye, I need to speak with Oren before he begins his work today. I will wait for him here.”
Elspet nodded. “Certainly, I will make sure he finds ye immediately. I will also ask him where your harp is stored so it can be brought to the great hall.”
“I think perhaps it should be put in my solar instead of the hall.”
“Aye, my lady, I will see to it.”
“Another thing, I would also like for a fire to be laid in the hearth of my solar. I think there may have been some confusion in that regard over the past few days.”
Elspet looked stunned. “But I sent—nay, my lady, I am sorry. I will make sure there is no mistake today.”
“Thank ye. I’m sure there won’t be. Elspet, I know it has taken several days to put the keep to rights after so many guests. How are things coming along?”
“It is mostly completed. We should be back to our normal routine today.”
“Very good. Then if ye have no other pressing work, I would like the hall cleaned and the rushes replaced and strewn with rosemary. I know ye probably did this right before the wedding, but since we had so many guests and days of feasting, the reeds are well trampled, and there is probably more debris in them than there might be otherwise.”
“Certainly, my lady. I will see to it right after the midday meal. Will there be anything else?”
“Other than my—”
At that moment an extremely tall, gaunt, man with sallow skin and a dour expression approached. He paid no heed to the fact that Mairead was mid-sentence. “Ye wished to see me, Lady Matheson?” His voice dripped with contempt.
“Pardon me?” asked Mairead, incredulous at his lack of manners.
“I understand ye wished to see me.”
“Perhaps ye didn’t notice I was speaking to Elspet when ye approached. Otherwise, I am sure ye would not have interrupted me. If ye will wait a moment, I will finish here, and ye will have my full attention.” She turned back to Elspet. “As I was saying, other than finding my harp and having it moved to the solar, I think replacing the rushes in the hall will be sufficient for today.”
“Aye, my lady, I’ll see to it.” Elspet started to leave, but Oren stopped her.
“Oh, nay, replacing the rushes now won’t be necessary, they were only done less than a fortnight ago, just before the wedding,” said Oren.
“Thank ye for your attention to these matters, Elspet,” Mairead said. She smiled, but her frustration with Oren grew by the second.
“Ye’re welcome, my lady.” Elspet bobbed a curtsy before she left.
Oren raised his voice a notch. “Didn’t ye hear what I said? The rushes don’t need changing.”
Mairead ignored the insolence. “I don’t believe we have met. I am Lady Matheson, and I assume ye are the steward, Oren?”
“I know who ye are and aye, I am the steward here, and I am in charge of this household. Did ye hear what I said about the rushes?”
The servants in the hall had stopped their work and were staring openly as the steward argued with her. Oren’s voice carried, and he had made no attempt to be discreet.
“Aye, I did, and while I appreciate your observation, I would—”
“It isn’t an observation, it is a fact.”
With more pluck than she felt, Mairead lowered her voice so as not to make a scene. “That is the second time ye have interrupted me, and my tolerance is wearing very thin. As we have already established, I am Lady Matheson, and as such, I am in charge of this household. The decision regarding when to change the rushes is mine to make. It is abundantly clear ye disagree with my decision. However, in the future if ye wish to discuss a request I have made, ye will have the courtesy to do so without an audience.”
The servants who had been staring took the hint and returned to their tasks. More gently, she continued, “I understand ye are the steward, and ye have taken on many additional responsibilities over the years to help this household run smoothly. I know Laird Matheson truly appreciates your service. However, now he expects that, as his wife, I will manage his household going forward, including directing Elspet, Ide, and ye in your tasks.” She waited for him to acknowledge what she had said, but when he didn’t, she asked, “Is that clear?”
“It is my responsibility to plan the daily meals with Ide. I have been doing it for years, and it only makes sense. I am the person who is fully aware of all of our inventories.”
“Again, I appreciate that ye have been doing this, but ye needn’t any longer. However, I’m glad ye mentioned the inventories. Ye are right, in order to run any household efficiently, one must be aware of what resources are available. Therefore, I would like to meet with ye daily to review the books briefly so I can make informed decisions. As I am new to Cnocreidh, I would like to start by reviewing the books in depth.”