“The last and most important ingredient,” he said, spooning some of the meat juices into the pan holding the rest of his makings for the gravy. “What do ye usually do with the meat juices?”
“Use them as gravy and just spoon them on what I want.”
“Simple and efficient.”
“Most of what I do falls into that style.”
“Easiest way when ye have to cook for a crowd every day.”
“True. Would be nice if I could figure out how to do a few fancy things more simply and easily.”
“Why do ye think ye need fancy?”
“For the guests. They are paying for a special holiday. Special holidays should have meals that are not just plain old meat and potatoes.”
“Most people like plain old meat and potatoes. Ye will satisfy most of your guests with that. Ye dinnae want to get into menus or the like, as then ye will never get out of the kitchen.”
“You are probably right. I give them the necessities. A clean bed, three satisfying meals, and drink. I set up the social room two years ago and that seems to be working well. And when the season for visitors really gets going, I also make sure there are always some snacks at hand.”
“Sounds like a decent boarding house to me.”
“And that is really all I want. Some call them bed-and-breakfast places. Bed and breakfast would look good on a sign. I shall have to look into that.”
He nodded as he stirred the warming gravy. “This will only take a few minutes. Did ye want to get a tray ready? I can take it to the boys.”
“Yes, thank you, and I will set ours out while you do that.”
Mehitabel put the plates on a tray and began to fill them. She fetched some glasses and filled them with chilled lemonade. Then set out the cutlery and napkins. She handed it to Geordie and he went off to give it to the boys in the infirmary. She turned her attention to setting the table for her and Geordie.
She was just about to sit down when Geordie returned. He stopped to push her chair in, then bent down to kiss her neck before sitting across from her. For a few moments they did not speak as they filled their plates. He then reported on Robbie and Will.
“So they suffered no ill effects from their little swim?”
“Nay. They are tired out though.”
“For a little while, everything they do will tire them out.”
“I recall that with Iain, and he was not pleased.” He had a drink of lemonade and then said, “He got shot by some fool that was hunting his wife.”
“Why was someone hunting his wife?”
“She held part of an inheritance, and her nephew had even more, so this mon wanted them dead. Then he would get it all.”
“It’s always the money, isn’t it.”
“Seems to be, but to hunt down a woman and child and kill them to gain an inheritance?” He shook his head. “That I will never understand.”
“How did Iain get mixed up in that?”
“We found her cabin burning, then found the bodies of her sister and brother-in-law. Buried them and found a locket that showed they had a child. So, we went looking, followed a trail, and found her hiding in the hollow of a tree with her nephew hidden under her skirts. It was not until later we discovered she had also been injured. So, we got Emily and Ned and now are friends with her grandfather.” He grinned at Belle. “A duke from England.”
“You have met him?”
“Aye. Nice fellow, although it took Iain a while to warm to the man. Iain has a dislike for English aristocracy, which was why he was so slow to understand that he wanted to keep Emily. At least we didnae have to suffer that ridiculous confusion with Matthew and Abbie.”
“Matthew met her in a more normal fashion, did he?”
“Nay. Met her during the war. Rebs had attacked her house and killed her parents and we arrived to find her fighting them. So he, James, and their men took her back to the town they were stationed in and put her in what they called The Woman’s House. It was a mansion, and the woman who owned it allowed them to take in orphans and women widowed or lost in the chaos of war. When Matthew brought Abbie home with him, she brought two orphans with her. Noah and a bairn.” He frowned. “We seem to have gathered ourselves up a crowd of children. Not sure why my brothers feel compelled to add to the mob.”
