Highland Courage(35)

Mairead ate her meal quietly, listening to the conversations around her. She had hoped to chat a little with Flan. With all of the uproar yesterday, she hadn’t spoken with him since their family left. However, she was surprised to see Flan was not sitting at the laird’s table today. He sat at one of the trestle tables but seemed to be by himself. Furthermore, he didn’t make eye contact with her.

After the meal, Flan left the hall with the men, again without saying anything to her. Mairead decided she would try to talk with him at supper, or afterward if need be.

Determined to be involved, Mairead thought she would help with changing of the rushes, and she found Elspet.

“Oh, nay, my lady, ye can’t be changing the rushes. It is dirty work and I’m sure the laird wouldn’t approve.”

“Elspet, ye have told me I can’t do any sewing or mending, and I can’t do any dirty work, but I can’t sit in my solar alone all day. Please.”

Elspet thought about it but shook her head. “My lady, I really don’t think the laird would approve of ye changing rushes. However, there are three elderly people living in the village who I like to check on a few times a week, just to make sure they are getting along well. None of them has any family left, and everyone keeps a bit of an eye on them. I am certain they would like a visit from the laird’s new bride.”

“Elspet, ye know I am not the most outgoing of people. Frankly, it would be easier for me to change rushes, but ye are right, I should pay some visits.”

“It will be fine, my lady. Go ask Ide if she has anything baked for ye to take to Eilis, Dolan, and Jock, and I will find a guardsman to escort ye.”

“A guardsman?” asked Mairead tentatively. Inwardly Mairead cursed herself for a coward as the fear she always experienced with strangers rose in her like bile. Maybe she shouldn’t make these visits today.

Mairead’s disquiet must have been clearly written on her face. “My lady, is there something wrong?”

I have to get past this. “Nay, Elspet, everything is fine. I will go see Ide while ye arrange an escort.”

When Mairead told Ide what she needed, the cook seemed to thaw a bit more toward her. She prepared three generous packages of victuals wrapped separately in linen towels and put them in a large basket.

“Now the one on the top is for Dolan. Ye should go there first. He probably won’t talk to ye so ye won’t be there long. He loves fish and there was some left from the midday meal so I put it in there with a fresh loaf of bread and some current preserves.”

“The next one is for Eilis. She is the sweetest woman ye will ever meet. She will chat with ye a nice bit, but she does get tired, so ye will want to see her set for a wee nap before ye leave. I put in one of the pheasant pies from yesterday, a crock of stewed apples, and a fresh loaf for her, too. Did ye see how I made the tisane this morning?”

“Aye, I did.”

“Well, I’ve put a packet of the herbs and a small crock of honey in as well. She would like it if ye make her a cup while ye chat.”

“I’ll do that.”

“The package in the bottom is for Jock. Ye will want to see him last, or ye will never get to the others. Jock will talk ye cross-eyed. I have put in a crock of the rabbit stew we will have for supper. His teeth are not the best, and the rabbit is nice and tender. There is a loaf for him, and I have pulled out a crock of raspberry preserves. I usually save it for special occasions because we don’t have much of it, but it is his favorite. There is also a small jug of ale for each of them. There now, the basket is too heavy for ye to carry all the way to the village, so have your guard carry it for ye.”

“Aye, I will, Ide.” Mairead was amused by the way she fussed.





Ten





Mairead was barely out of the kitchen when, instead of Elspet, Tadhg met her accompanied by a guardsman. “Let me take that for ye, Mairead.” Tadhg lifted the basket from her arm. “Elspet tells me ye are going to visit some of the elders this afternoon.” He seemed very pleased by this.

He wanted her to do this, and she wanted to please him. “Aye, Elspet thought it would be a good idea.” She eyed the guardsman hesitantly.

“I know they will be delighted. Jock was the only one of the three who was able to come up to the keep for the wedding.”

Mairead leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m a little nervous.”

He smiled broadly at her and his deep green eyes twinkled. “I know ye are, but ye will be fine. This is Cael. He is one of my guardsmen who I don’t think ye have met yet.”

Roughly the same age as Tadhg, Cael was a little shorter with a slender wiry build, sandy blond hair, and hazel eyes, which seemed full of laughter.