The egg in Helen’s palm cracked, sending yellow goo oozing through her fingers. Has the woman no shame?
Peter handed Helen a cloth. “Gratitude for the eggs, Mary. We’ll see you at the evening meal.” He inclined his head toward the door.
She gave Helen another look, her eyes as deceitful as a snake’s. Mary drew in a breath as if she had something more to say, but she smirked, then turned with a huff and left.
“That windbag’s head will be too fat to fit through the door soon,” Peter said.
Helen chuckled and rubbed her hands clean. Gossip of Aleck’s indiscretions would have run rampant through the castle like a brushfire. After all, he hadn’t even tried to be secretive upon her appearance in the great hall. Even if that was his only slip, one act of carelessness was enough. It was human nature for everyone to love scandalous gossip—everyone aside from me, that is.
Hamish, one of the crofters, strode inside and dropped a massive mule deer stag across the table. “I’ve come to pay me rent, m’lady.” He puffed out his chest and gestured toward the dead animal, blood encrusted around its nose. “He’s an eight-point beauty.”
Helen clapped. “My, that is an impressive animal.”
Peter grabbed the basket of eggs from the table and clutched them to his chest. “Remove the beast from me board and go hang him in the cellar.”
“Thank you, Hamish.” Helen smiled. “I’ll ensure the ledgers reflect your payment.”
Peter put the eggs on the bench against the wall where they’d be less likely to be broken. “Mayhap I should set the boys to turning the spit on the morrow. That stag will keep us fed for days.”
Helen watched the crofter disappear through the passageway. “The meat will be better after it cures for a bit and Sir Aleck will appreciate a meal of roasted venison upon his return.”
Peter looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. “Aaaaye.”
“You disagree?”
He scratched his greying head of hair. “Your affability never ceases to amaze me, m’lady.”
Helen knew what he meant. She’d always catered to Aleck’s whims and, though he didn’t show appreciation for her efforts, he expected her to run the keep and see to his comfort. And she took pride in doing it well. At least that was one thing her husband was unable to take from her. She picked up the ledger. “I’ll order the flour and oats and see to it everything else runs smoothly at Mingary.” She turned and faced him. “Let no one say I’ve been remiss in my duties.”
“Nary a soul would ever think that, m’lady. You’re the one who keeps the castle in order.”
She hesitated. It was pleasant to receive a compliment. A small patter of pride swelled in Helen’s breast. “Thank you. ’Tis ever so nice so hear you say.”
Chapter Three
Helen sat in the rocking chair in the nursery and watched Maggie wrap her tiny hand around her pointer finger. “I cannot believe she is already five weeks of age.”
Having sent the nursemaid for a moment of respite, Glenda folded linen swaddling clothes near the window embrasure. “And I cannot believe how much she’s grown already, m’lady.”
“’Tis a pity Sir Aleck will not visit the nursery.” Helen sighed. “I do think even he would agree Maggie’s a healthy lass, and she’s so bonny, he’d truly fall in love with her.”
The chambermaid frowned over her shoulder. “He’s missing an opportunity to be a part of the greatest miracle of life, if I may be so bold as to say.”
Helen’s throat closed. But then Maggie cooed and grinned, snatching the lady from her sudden melancholy. “Oh my, look at that. She just made her first smile.”
Glenda hurried across the floor. “Honestly? I must see.”
“Have you another smile for me, lass.” Helen cooed and smacked her lips. “Come now, show us your wee grin.”
Maggie didn’t disappoint and squealed with an even larger smile. Glenda clasped her hands together. “Oh, m’lady. Doubtless, she will turn the heads of every laddie in the Highlands.”
Helen cringed. “Let us delight in her infancy for a time. I hope not to see any lusty lads for twenty years or more.”
“If I know Sir Aleck.” Glenda shook her finger. “He’ll marry her off as soon as her menses show.”
For a moment, Helen could scarcely draw in a breath. Not if I have any say in the matter. She looked into her daughter’s innocent eyes. “We shall see. Perhaps my next child will be a lad and Maggie will find favor