Highland Courage(40)

When they reached their chambers, Mairead wanted to see the harp and play it for just a few minutes, but Tadhg pulled her gently to the bedroom. “I want to talk with ye first.” He put his arms around her and kissed her soundly.

“Laird, it is difficult to talk if my lips are busy doing something else,” she said with mock severity when he broke the kiss.

“Well, then, we had better get the talking out of the way so your lips can get back to the more important business at hand.”

“Was there something specific ye wanted to talk about?”

Still holding her in his arms, he looked at her seriously. “Aye, Mairead, and I think ye know what it is.”

“I’m not sure I understand.” Had Cael told him about the conversation with Jock?

“Do ye not? Care to tell me what happened this morning?”

“This morning?” This definitely had nothing to do with Jock. “What do ye want me to tell ye?”

Tadhg considered her for a moment. “Oren sought me out, clearly angry about your request to see the books.”

“I’m sorry. I told him I had your support, but he just wanted to confirm it.”

“Mairead, I’m not angry, just puzzled. Ye knew he was going to be angry at breakfast. Ye were worried about ‘overstepping bounds’ and ‘causing offense.’ I assured ye that ye wouldn’t cause any offense, and I was barely out of the keep when my normally unruffled steward tracked me down looking like an angry rooster. How did ye know it was going to happen? I was supremely confident Oren would accept your orders as if they were my own and yet ye seemed to know he wouldn’t.”

“I didn’t know—well, not for sure.”

“Mairead, I don’t believe ye. Ye expected to meet resistance. Why didn’t ye tell me?”

Mairead sighed. “It is really nothing. I had tried to speak to him for two days and thought he might be avoiding me. Even ye said it was unusual for him to be ill.” She still chose to leave the more damning details unsaid. “I know having a mistress here after so many years is a big change. I was worried, that is all. Once I was sure there was absolutely no question about my role, I was able to do what I needed to do.”

“I see.” Tadhg chuckled. “Now can ye tell me what happened at the noon meal?”

Mairead smiled up at him. “I knew his pride was injured this morning and I wanted to repair it a little.”

“His pride was injured because he challenged ye, which he should not have done.”

“I know, but he learned I do act with your authority, and I am confident he won’t challenge me again. Besides, what I said was true. The system he uses is excellent. I just thought praising his work in front of others would undo a bit of the damage.”

“I am impressed, Mairead. Ye are firm but have a tender heart. Still, if ye are having trouble, I don’t want ye to hide it from me. Now, I believe your lips were interrupted moments ago, and it would be unfair to make them wait any longer.”

He kissed her deeply again and all thoughts of playing her harp that evening fled.





Eleven





Mairead did not have the opportunity to play her harp for a while. After Jock’s revelations regarding the chilly reception she had received from the clan, Mairead knew she needed to win their respect and doing so was going to require more than just quietly running the household. She had no doubt she truly loved her husband and felt loved in return. She needed to do this for him. She wanted to win the hearts of his clan. Mairead, ye will just have to work harder. She had to make herself more visible, and retreating to her solar alone would not help her accomplish that.

As planned, she met briefly with Oren the next morning to review inventories and discuss the household’s needs. Although, after her attempts to soothe his ego yesterday, he had softened a little, he was still far from friendly. She checked the previous day’s entries while he sat somewhat stiffly beside her. She glanced at him surreptitiously, noting his rigid disapproval. Yes, Oren was as good a place to start as any. “Hmmm. We appear to be running a bit low on candles.”

“Yes. Many were used during the wedding.” His tone clearly suggested he believed too many were used.

“Aye, I can see that. There were an awful lot of guests—more than I ever imagined. I was surprised really, but the laird told me he felt it was important to invite his many allies. I can only believe he was right. We wouldn’t have wanted to insult anyone.”

Oren’s face reddened a little. “Aye, I suppose that is true. It wouldn’t do to cause offense.”

“And, ye and Elspet did a wonderful job making everyone feel welcome. Inviting lots of guests is one thing, catering well to them takes skill and an eye to detail. Still, we will need to replenish our stores, don’t ye think?”