Black Richard's Heart (The MacCulloughs #1) - Suzan Tisdale Page 0,53
in the morn.”
“Who else works here with ye?” Aeschene asked.
“Well, there be Alyce, who ye’ve just met,” she said before quickly adding, “I swear I dunnae what be keepin’ her.”
Aeschene had a sneaking suspicion that once Loreen learned she’d been found out, she was going to do her best to avoid the impending confrontation. “Who else?”
“There also be Nellie, me younger sister,” Hattie replied.
“That would be me,” Nellie piped up from across the room. “I be right glad to meet ye, m’lady.”
“And I, ye,” Aeschene said, offering the woman a warm smile.
“Then there be Maggy,” Hattie said as she rounded the table. “She be a bit shy,” she whispered.
“M’lady,” came a soft whisper from the far side of the room.
“Maggy,” Aeschene replied.
“Then we have Loreen, of course. I swear by God’s teeth that if I have to fetch her, she’ll be gettin’ a skelpin’ she will not soon forget.”
Marisse giggled at the woman’s threat. “If I dunnae get me hands on her first,” Marisse mumbled.
Aeschene was about to tell them there would be no skelping as long as she was chatelain, when the door opened, bringing with it a rush of cold air and the sound of hurried footsteps.
“And there she be,” Hattie said. The footsteps stopped quickly.
Aeschene felt Marisse stand taller and almost bristle at the sight of the woman. “Loreen,” Aeschene began. “I be glad to see ye. I hope ye are feelin’ better.”
“I am nae,” came her weak yet false reply.
“This will not take long,” Aeschene told her. “We need to discuss the trenchers ye’ve been sendin’ to me.”
She could feel the anger emanating off the woman but was undeterred. “I am certain ye had nothin’ but good intentions in mind when ye began to mush me food. But I can assure ye, and everyone here, that I be not a bairn, nor do I suffer from any ailments or infirmities. I can also assure ye that Marisse does not need to feed me. I am quite capable of takin’ care of myself.”
“But ye’re blind,” Loreen muttered under her breath.
Ignoring the insult, at least for the time being, Aeschene said, “Bein’ unable to see does not a frail, ill, weak person make me. Marisse helps me to get about, so that I dunnae run into things or trip over things I cannae see. She is also me friend. When she tells ye to do or not to do somethin’, ’tis the same as if I told ye,” she paused to let the words sink in. “Dunnae ever bring me food such as ye have been doin’. Do I make myself clear?”
Loreen was silent for a while longer than was necessary. “Yer lady asked ye a question,” Marisse bit out.
Oh, how Aeschene wished she could see Loreen’s face. To look into her eyes and gain some kind of understanding. “Loreen? Do I make myself clear?”
“Aye, m’lady, ye do.”
To the rest of the room, Aeschene said, “If anyone has any questions on what I can or cannae do, let ye ask them. But ask me. Dunnae assume things. I will be happy to answer any inquiries ye might have.”
“Be it true ye were blinded because ye tried to put a curse on someone?” Alyce blurted out. Loreen immediately elbowed her and told her to be quiet.
Aeschene could not help but laugh, but Marisse gasped at the question.
“Nay, that be no true. I was born with good vision. But a few years ago, it began to fade. I can assure ye that I have never tried to put a curse on anyone. I be not a witch.”
The room felt silent for a moment. “Now, if ye will be so kind, Hattie, as to give us a new trencher, Marisse and I will be on our way.”
Hattie hurried to fetch another trencher and handed it to Marisse. “Thank ye kindly,” Marisse said.
Aeschene slipped her fingers into the loop and bid everyone a good eve. After leaving the kitchen, she asked, “How long was my husband standin’ in the doorway?”
Marisse giggled. “He arrived not long after we did.”
“Where be he now?” she whispered.
Another giggle. “Hurryin’ ahead of us. He’s just slipped back into the keep.”
“Me thinks there was much more Loreen wanted to say, but did nae, out of respect or fear of Richard.”
Marisse agreed. “I dunnae trust her,” she said. “No’ as far as I could toss her.”
“I can only hope ’tis ignorance that motivates her, and not hatred.”
Chapter Ten
Admittedly, Richard admired the manner in which his wife handled the incident.