He bowed again, and Leila instinctively liked him.It was clear to her that his enthusiasm was bound to the creations of his kitchen and that was a trait she could both admire and encourage.
“If there is a dish I can prepare to tempt your palate, my lady, you have only to tell me of it.If there are recipes you remember and would have served in the hall, you have only to tell me of them.”
Leila doubted that Xavier would have access to many of the ingredients she recalled but she appreciated the offer.“I thank you.I would not meddle in the administration of your domain, Xavier, but perhaps I can be of aid to you with the inventories.”
“But of course, my lady.It is your right to approve all expenditures in the kitchen.”Xavier offered a pair of keys to her, gesturing to a storeroom.Within it, there were sacks of dried peas and of flour.A small trunk was built into a wooden shelf, and the smaller key opened it.The spices were kept there, and Xavier showed her the inventory Hamish had created the day before.A quick glance proved to Leila that all was in order and she smiled to dismiss Xavier’s concern.
“And you were pleased with the spices Laird Fergus brought?”
“Of course, my lady.It is only sad that we will use them so quickly.”
Leila nodded.“My lord husband and I journeyed from Outremer with a company of Templars.”
“So, I understand, my lady.”
“One of his friends, a former Templar, now commands his father’s holding in France, to the west of Paris.We stopped there on our return.”
“I am told those lands are most beautiful.My own origin is in the north and east of Paris.”
“I anticipate that my husband may communicate regularly with his friend in France, who might well maintain his connections with the Templars.It thus seems likely to me that when a spice is diminishing in our stores, we might be able to request the assistance of these friends in purchasing more.”She smiled at Xavier.“And you might never lack for cloves again.”
Xavier was clearly delighted.“This is most generous, my lady, and most kind.”He frowned, thinking of this.“I wish I could devise a way to better anticipate a shortage or even the use of our last stores.”
“We have an inventory made already,” Leila noted.“Let us keep a record of the use of each spice.Then we shall best know how much of each is consumed by the household over time, which can inform our purchases.”
“And by season!”Xavier added.“For winter meals should have more spice than summer ones, and the Yule uses the most of all.”He nodded with satisfaction.“This is an improvement, to be sure.”
Leila turned to Iain, who had been trying to follow the conversation and by his expression had not gleaned all of the details.She explained her intention to him more slowly and he beamed with pleasure at her.“I shall see that there is a ledger prepared for this very task, my lady.I can use the inventory compiled by Hamish and can make that the first entry.”He dropped his voice.“For I should not see such wealth wasted.”
Xavier glared at him, then gestured to the kitchen once more.Leila preceded him, as indicated, and raised a brow to find the two boys chatting with Agnes.The girl had evidently brought some of the rushes through the kitchen and saw fit to jest with the boys rather than complete her task.
Xavier yelled at the pair of boys and they hastened back to their labor.Agnes swept the rushes into the bailey as Xavier bellowed at her to use another portal and keep such mess from his kitchen.He swept the floor furiously in her wake, muttering curses beneath his breath as he restored all to rights.
“He does not appreciate the girl,” Iain sniffed and went to the hall in search of a ledger.
Xavier glared after him.“He does not see what is before his eyes.I am glad to have that one out of my kitchen, but regret that she now is assigned to serve you, my lady.”The cook dropped his voice to a confidential whisper.“Do not trust her overmuch.She came from Dunnisbrae and I cannot think any good of that holding since Laird Fergus was treated so poorly by Lady Isobel.”
Leila was aware that the boys were watching, but secretly liked the cook a little more.Not only did they share a view of Agnes, but one of Isobel.
How curious that Agnes had arrived from Dunnisbrae.Was that a coincidence, or something more?
“I thank you for your counsel, Xavier,” she said smoothly.“I understand that you sent to Dumfries for fish this morning.What kind of fish do you find here?And how do you intend to prepare them?”
“There will be fresh salmon at the market this morning, my lady, and Laird Calum favors the filets fried in a little butter.He tires of the eels from the millpond, no matter how I prepare them.I like to tempt his appetite, but perhaps he will eat better now that Lord Fergus is returned.Worry, as I am certain you know, my lady, is a great destroyer of the appetite.”Leila nodded as the cook continued to enthuse and she had the sense that he had been waiting for a patient ear.“I thought the last of the wine could be made into a sauce for eggs...”
It waspast noon when Fergus and Hamish reached Dunnisbrae and a gentle rain had begun to fall.It was not a heavy onslaught but it was persistent, and the back of Fergus’ cloak was soaked through by the time the keep came into sight.
They had been compelled to take a longer route, since spring rains had washed out some of the fords and narrow bridges on the shortest path.As a result, they arrived later than Fergus had hoped.The clouds were darker in the west and he doubted their ride home would be pleasant.
He dared not linger.A mere word with Isobel, a glimpse of her beauty, a cup of ale, and a piece of bread, then he and Hamish would return to Killairic.
He noted that the keep looked less prosperous than he recalled, or perhaps it had not flourished since he had last journeyed this way.It was still a single tower, wrought of timber like the surrounding walls, but Fergus had a sense of decay.There was a fine portcullis on the gate to the bailey, though, which was a surprise.Did Isobel’s father still draw breath?His own father had not said.
Dunnisbrae was to the south and west of Killairic, perched on the southernmost tip of the Mull of Galloway.The isle of Mann was to the south, Galloway and the rest of the Kingdom of the Isles to the north, the lands of the English king veiled in the mist to the south.
Hamish had been quiet on their journey, and Fergus had guessed the reason why.“There will be a fire and a cup of ale soon enough,” he said to Hamish with forced cheer and the boy nodded with a semblance of enthusiasm.
“Aye, my lord.”
