The Brat Page 0,104

into the kitchens announcing, "I shall bring some out at once and some ale as well. See she stays seated, Thibault." The steward watched him go, then settled on the bench beside Murie with a sigh.

"It will be delicious, my lady," he assured her sadly. "His lordship brought back some vegetables as well from Carlisle, and Clement makes the best soup in the county. The smell has been permeating the keep and driving me wild for the last hour at least, but he will not let any of us near. Not even to sample it for him. He insists it is for you and you alone." He smiled at her and added, "I think Clement likes you."

Murie raised her eyebrows in doubt. The man was rarely anything but short and surly with everyone, including herself. She found it hard to imagine he liked anyone. She asked, "What makes you say that? Because of the soup?"

"Nay. Because he said so," Thibault explained. "When his lordship learned that you had given suggestions on how better to set up the kitchens and had removed the parsley from his gardens without the man throwing a fit, he asked Clement why he would allow such with you when he'd had fits at the tiniest suggestions from his own father, and Clement said, "Because I like your wife, my lord.'

"He did not care much for Lord Balan's father," the man went on. "He didn't like the way he neglected our Juliana. He is really very soft at heart, is our Clement. He seems tough and gruff, but I have seen him feeding birds and squirrels out in the garden. He is softer than he likes us to think."

"He is not softer than he likes you to think," Clement snapped behind them, making them both jump and turn to face him guiltily. The cook glared at Thibault for a moment, then added, "I simply prefer squirrels and birds to people."

Murie bit her lip as Thibault's expression fell, then sat a little straighter when the cook turned to her.

"Your soup." He set the steaming bread bowl he carried on the table. " 'Tis not as flavorful as 'twill be later in the day, but I will have you eat every last drop. 'Tis good for you. Estrelda is bringing your ale and shall be here momentarily."

"Thank you." Murie inhaled the steam pouring off the thick soup. "It smells divine."

Nodding abruptly, Clement turned and made his way back to the kitchens.

Murie glanced at Thibault once the cook was gone and patted his hand reassuringly. "I am sure it is as you say and he is softer than he wants us to think."

"Aye." Thibault was cheered. "Did you see? I think he almost smiled when you said it smelled divine."

Murie chuckled.

"I should be about my business." Thibault got to his feet as Estrelda hurried out of the kitchens with her mug of ale. "Even with more servants, there is always something needing doing. Enjoy your soup."

Murie thanked him, and then thanked Estrelda, who set down her ale. She then turned her attention to her soup. Despite Clement's claim that it really needed to simmer longer to be fully flavored, it was the best soup she'd had in ages. It was rich and thick and full of chunks of meat and vegetables. It was more a stew than a soup, really, and Murie gobbled it up quickly and then even ate the juice-soaked, hollowed-out bread it had been served in. By the time she'd finished the last bit, she felt almost her old self again. And she was immediately ready to find something to do.

Her gaze slid around the great hall. Despite their feverish work over the past two and a half days, there was still much to be done, but much of it was likely to ruin her gown and was probably too strenuous for her at this point; but there was something she thought she could manage. Something that would make the great hall smell nice, as well as work as a protective charm.

Murie stood and waited a moment to be sure the dizziness and weakness did not return. When they didn't, she began to make her way toward the keep doors. She would just take a nice leisurely walk around the woods outside the castle and collect some birch and clover to be strewn among the rushes in the hall. Both were said to help avert bad luck. Elder too, she thought. That was supposed to protect against