Devil of the Highlands Page 0,38

outsiders have brought them home to Donnachaidh with them, which has increased the number of males, too. 'Tis probably close to equal again."

Evelinde nodded slowly before she asked, "If the men are rarely needed for battle anymore, why do some of them not help out in the kitchens now? I realize they still must train, but surely one or two would not be missed, and it would make it easier to have men in here to do the heavy lifting and such."

Biddy paused in her cutting to glance at her with surprise, and finally said, "Well, aye, but… 'Tis the way it's always been."

Evelinde let the matter drop but tucked it away in her mind as something to discuss with Cullen. 'Tis the way it's always been was not a reason to keep doing something if there was a better way. She saw no reason why a couple of men could not be spared to help out with the heavy work in the kitchens.

"So, the men are all out guarding the wall or practicing in the bailey?" she asked, setting her empty mug on the counter.

Biddy snorted at the suggestion. "Nay. They are all out in the paddock celebrating yer wedding."

Evelinde raised her eyebrows in surprise, and asked, "Celebrating our wedding in the paddock?"

"Aye." Biddy grinned at her bewilderment. "They'll be drinking ale and baiting old Angus. He's a bull," she explained before Evelinde could ask. "A mean old bull with a nasty temper. Anytime there's something to celebrate, the men take a couple of barrels of ale down to the paddock and bait the poor bugger. Then they'll run across the paddock with him chasing them to prove their courage and speed. Some will even wrestle the mean beast."

"This is their idea of celebrating?" she asked with amazement.

Biddy laughed, and said, "They're men," as if that explained it.

Evelinde shook her head, and asked, "And what will the women do to celebrate?"

Biddy paused again, surprise once more on her face. "We've no time fer celebrating, lass. We've too much work to do around here to take the time."

Evelinde frowned. "So the men practice at swords or celebrate while the women do all the work?"

"Aye." Biddy nodded and turned back to hacking at her chicken. " 'Tis the way it's always been."

"I see," Evelinde murmured, "Will my husband be there celebrating as well?"

"No doubt," Biddy said. "He was carrying one of the barrels of ale when he left."

"I think I shall go speak to him, but when I return I shall probably pester you with more questions, if 'tis all right? I was castellan at d'Aumesbery since my mother's death, but every castle is different, and I—"

"Yer stepmother didna take up the role as castellan when she married yer father?" Biddy interrupted with surprise.

Evelinde wrinkled her nose. "Edda preferred to be a lady of leisure."

"Ah." Biddy nodded in understanding. "Well, welcome to Donnachaidh, lass. We have no ladies of leisure here but are glad to have ye. I'd be more than happy to help ye settle in and figure out what is what. Ye come talk to me when ye're ready."

"Thank you." Evelinde squeezed the woman's shoulder in affectionate appreciation as she stood up, then turned to leave the kitchens.

Her gaze swept over the great hall as she crossed it. For a keep kept mostly by women, it was very plain, with little that would not be considered necessities. There were the tables arranged in a squared-off u shape in the center and two chairs by the fire, but both were square and without any sort of cushion. They didn't look particularly inviting. And that was it for the great hall. While there were rushes on the floor, there were no tapestries on the walls, or even any whitewashing, she noted with a frown, and had to wonder if Cullen's first wife had really preferred it this way, or if it had been more inviting while she'd lived but had since been emptied out.

The sight of the barren walls reminded Evelinde of the two tapestries she had left behind. Her father had purchased them for her mother during their marriage. The first depicted Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, and the second featured a unicorn and a lady. Both had hung in the great hall at d'Aumesbery until Edda's arrival. On learning they had been gifts to his previous wife, the woman insisted they be removed. She'd done away with anything having to do with the first Lady d'Aumesbery.

Evelinde's