Devil of the Highlands Page 0,37

on sweets, though.

"Would ye like another?" Biddy asked, as Evelinde finished off the first.

"Yes, but I shall get it," Evelinde said quickly. Standing, she moved to where the tray of fresh pasties sat, took one and returned to her stool. Before taking a bite, she asked, "Are you castellan here then, my lady?"

"Biddy," she insisted, blue eyes twinkling. "Or Aunt Biddy if ye like."

"Thank you… Aunt Biddy," Evelinde said quietly, touched at such a generous offer of acceptance.

Biddy nodded her satisfaction, and said, "Aye. I was mistress here when my husband was laird, of course. When he died, and Liam—Cullen's father," she paused to explain, before continuing, "Liam's wife had died long ere that, and he had never remarried, so I remained castellan here for him. And then continued to when he died, and Cullen took over. At least, until he married, then little Maggie was mistress here."

"Were you sorry to step down?" Evelinde asked, worried she was about to displace the woman.

Biddy looked surprised by the question, then chuckled, shaking her head. "Truth to tell, I rather enjoyed being free of the burden during those two years. I got to spend more time in the kitchens. Though," she admitted with a grimace, "little Maggie hated when I did that. She thought it was beneath me." Biddy rolled her eyes, and said solemnly, "Trust me, lass, no task is beneath ye if ye enjoy it. There is real pleasure to be found in making a fine meal, especially if ye hunt it up yerself, clean it, and turn it into a tasty feast. 'Tis most satisfying," she assured her. "Much more satisfying than ordering servants about and dealing with tradespeople."

Evelinde nodded solemnly. She looked down at the oversized gown she wore, then back to the woman, as Biddy hacked the second leg off the chicken and threw it in a pot. "Little Maggie?"

Biddy chuckled at the question. "Nay. The woman was huge; tall, round, and buxom. But she was smaller than her mother, big Maggie, by an inch or two so she was 'little Maggie.' "

"Oh." Evelinde tried to imagine a woman bigger than the one who had owned the dress she wore but found it difficult.

"I'm sure yer mother trained ye well to be castellan, but if ye need any help, lass, or have any questions, ye just have to ask. And I'll even stay out of the kitchens if yer family come to visit and ye'd be too embarrassed to have them know I putter about in here on occasion."

"Thank you," Evelinde murmured, "but that won't be necessary. Both my parents are dead. My mother died some years ago and my father two years past. There are only my brother and stepmother left."

"Oh, I'm sorry, lass," she said sincerely. "There's nothing harder than losing a loved one."

"Aye." Evelinde frowned as she saw the grief flicker briefly over the older woman's face, suspecting she'd made her think of her lost husband. She sought her mind for something to say to cheer them both, raising the pasty to her lips as she did. The sweet melting on her tongue made her add, "Besides, I see nothing wrong with you working in here if you like it. Especially if I get pasties out of it."

Biddy smiled, the grief swept away by pride and pleasure as she assured her, "Ye will, lass."

Evelinde glanced at the women working so industriously as she took another sip of mead, then asked, "Why are there no men in the kitchens? At d'Aumesbery we had men to help with the heavy work."

"Fergus helps out if he's in the kitchens," Betty said, then added, "And he's often in the kitchens. The man is thin as a whip, but is always grabbing something to eat."

Evelinde's eyebrows rose slightly at the wry affection on the woman's face.

"It would be a blessing to have a couple of men working in here permanent-like," Biddy continued. "Unfortunately, they are kept busy guarding the walls and training fer battle. It leaves just the women to tend to everything else."

"Are there so few men?" she asked with surprise.

"Nay. Well…" Biddy paused, then said, "There are fewer men than women here at Donnachaidh, that's certain. Too many good men have been lost in battles, but it's no as bad as it used to be. Liam worked hard to make alliances after Darach's death, and Cullen himself has continued those efforts. We hardly see battle at all anymore. And then many of the daughters who have married