“You wished to see me, Elsbeth?”
They both turned to see the laird standing in the kitchens behind them.
“Aye, my lord,” Elsbeth said. “Might we sit at the table? I’m not as young as I once was, and I am fair worn out tonight.”
“Of course.” He smiled at her. “That was a fine dinner you served up tonight.”
“ ’Twas not easy, my lord. The kitchen was a jumble ofeverything, and all of it filthy. We cleaned what we needed, but tomorrow we have a great deal of work ahead of us to put this kitchen back in its proper order.
There is much we need. I’ll want a strong lad to chop the wood and bring it in, to draw the water, and to sharpen the knives—to run my errands. There are no foodstuffs in the pantry. No flour, or salt, or a sugar loaf. No spices.
I saw chickens in the court when we arrived. Where are they kept? I must have a daily supply of eggs, milk, butter, and cream. I’ll need a woman from that village where young Murdoc sought supplies for me today to bake bread for me each day. It’s a miracle, it is, that I was able to feed your men tonight. Where is the game for the larder? Not a deer, a rabbit, or a bird to be seen hanging.” She stopped but a second to catch her breath.
“We need soap and sand for the washing. And a broom.
We cannot clean your hall without a broom. And beeswax to polish the furniture. And there are no coverlets for our sleeping spaces either.”
While Elsbeth rattled on, Adair studied the laird from beneath her dark lashes. He was very, very tall, standing several inches over six feet. His hair was every bit as black as hers was. It was not long, but it touched the nape of his collar, and it was straight as a poker. Dark gray eyes peered from beneath eyebrows so thick that the hairs tangled themselves. He had a high forehead and a long nose. His lips were full, but not thick. His hands fascinated her—large and square, with long fingers. They were surprisingly clean, Adair noted.
“And we’ll need some kind of a tub for washing ourselves. My lady is used to bathing on a regular basis.
And I’ll need a woman to help with the washing. If I am to cook for you and your great lot, and Mistress Adair is to keep your hall clean, then we cannot be expected to do the laundry as well. Certainly your good mam, God assoil her soul, had women servants.”
“They departed shortly after she died, for my men can be rowdy at times. My mother’s presence is whatkept them tolerable,” the laird admitted. “I thought we could do without them, but I have obviously been mistaken. I will send you with my brother, Duncan, to the village tomorrow, and you can pick your own helpers.”
“That is most generous of you, my lord,” Elsbeth said.
The laird stood up. He walked into the cold larder and opened a wide cabinet, pulling forth a small round oak tub. “Where do you want it?” he asked Elsbeth.
“Before the fire, my lord. Thank you.”
He gave her a slight bow and left the kitchen.
Adair laughed. “You are truly astonishing, Nursie.
This is a whole new side of you. And I did not know you could cook so well.”
“I’ve spent my life looking after you, my chick, but Margery and I both learned to cook from our mother. I often helped the cook at Stanton when it became too much for her. She was very old, you know. But come, and let us fill the tub for you. I’ll bathe after you have finished. Let me look where he found the tub. There must be a drying cloth or two there.”
“My gown is filthy, sweat-stained, and torn,” Adair said. “How can I wear it again after I have bathed?”
“I’ll wash your chemise while you are bathing. It will be dry by morning. We’ll air your gown in the cold larder overnight, and I’ll repair it. It will have to do until I can persuade the laird to find some material from which we can make new garments,” Elsbeth said.
Together the two women filled the oak tub. Elsbeth found some large drying cloths where the tub had been stored. Adair stripped and climbed into the tub. Taking the girl’s clothes from her, Elsbeth went into the cold larder to hang her mistress’s gown, but first she stepped outside and shook it as hard as she could to free the dust.
Adair wasn’t certain who was more surprised when Conal Bruce walked back into the kitchen. She scrunched down to cover herself as much as she could,her heart hammering nervously. His eyes widened briefly, but then he handed her a cake of soap.
“I found it in my mother’s chamber. I thought it might help,” he told her. Then, turning about, he left the kitchen without another word to her.
“Thank you,” Adair managed to squeak after him.
She brought the cake of soap to her nose and sniffed. It had the fragrance of woodbine. Dipping it in the water, she lathered herself and scrubbed with the little cloth Elsbeth had given her. The dirt began to slough from her body, and Adair began to feel better. She bent over and splashed water onto her head. She rubbed the soap into her hair.
“Where did you get the soap?” Elsbeth asked, returning into the kitchen proper.
“The laird brought it,” Adair said.
“And saw you like that? As naked as your mother made you?” Elsbeth gasped.
