“The other lasses are busy deep-cleaning the rooms. I need a lass who follows directions and is a good worker. Elayne is both. Do ye mind if I ask her to help me tomorrow? In exchange, Elayne can bring some candles home from her work.”
“If Elayne agrees, fine with me. She has overtired herself with the extra work at the farrier’s for the laird’s horses these past two months. She has not been herself.”
As she was carrying water from the well, Elayne greeted Bessie. When Bessie explained what she needed help with and that her father had agreed, Elayne jumped at the chance.
“Thank ye, Bessie. I’ll come to see ye at sunup tomorrow to help ye.”
“It’s tiring work, lass. It means dipping many candle wicks repeatedly. I appreciate yer willingness to learn and help me. I’ll see ye tomorrow.” Bessie made her way back to the castle. After finishing her work, Elayne put her tools away and readied for dinner.
Later that night, tucked in her bed, Elayne wondered if Bessie had news of Cailean.Where is he now?Had he made the progress he envisioned in forging alliances? Had he moved to the next clan with another proposal?
Elayne greeted Bessie in the kitchen before the first rays of sun pierced the sky. Bessie gave her a warm hug. “Sit, lass, and ye can break yer fast with me. I am glad of yer company.” Bessie served her a helping of eggs, sausage, and bread with tea. “It helps to have a nutritious breakfast before a hard day’s work, and it gives ye greater energy for yer day.”
Bessie placed her own plate on the worn wooden table and sat across from Elayne.
“Thank ye for yer help today. It is hard to complete the cooking and other things over the summer months. With so many people and guests, the castle needs many candles. We must complete this first batch before the summer fair.”
Bessie explained the process of candle making, what Elayne had to be careful doing, and how many times she had to dip the candles. As they talked and Elayne asked Bessie questions, Bessie was glad to see the lass finish her breakfast. The twowomen walked outside, where a fire burned. Heavy iron stakes were set up to hold huge iron pots.
“Ye need to stir the pot often and remove the impurities at the top. It already cooked during the night, so now this pot is ready for dipping. Men will remove it in a moment and place it on the ground, making it easier for us to dip the wicks.” Bessie showed her how to attach the wicks to the wood frame, how long to cut the wicks, and a finished candle.
Bessie called two strong men, and they carefully took the pot off the fire by using a heavy wooden pole. The men set the massive pot with the rendered tallow on the ground, outside the kitchen. “Thank ye, I’ll call ye later when the other pot is ready.”
Bessie spooned off impurities and demonstrated dipping, and Elayne copied her actions and counted out the dips until the candles were the right circumference. Together, they hung the wooden frame of candles between two barrels to dry.
“I will check in the kitchen and return to help ye.”
“Aye, Bessie.” Elayne picked up the next wooden frame and cut lengths of wicks and attached them as Bessie had instructed her. Replicating the steps she was taught, Elayne dipped the candles to the proper depth. Bessie returned in time to help Elayne hang the next rack of candles, and they continued working together until lunch.
The two women sat in the kitchen and chatted. “I realize now how many candles ye make,” Elayne said. “To get through the long winter months, ye need to make many candles. We have hardly made a dent in the number required.”
“Aye, I can’t tell ye how much I appreciate yer help. So, how have ye fared since Cailean left on his journey? I ken ye were close friends, since he’s never brought a lass into my kitchens.”
Unshed tears sparkled in Elayne’s eyes. “Aye. Cailean has been my only friend for many years,” she admitted. “I miss him.”
“Cailean must miss ye too, lass.”
It was a small comfort to talk about him. “Cailean took me riding, hunting, and fishing. We had fun together, and he shared his books with me. I could talk to him about anything, and he always listened. I told him how I wanted my father to enlarge our animal pen and make a larger garden, but my father works long days and has little time for things outside the forge. Did ye ken, before he left, Cailean, did the work himself? Afterward, he took me into the forest and meadows, and we searched for herbs and healing plants to establish in the garden he made for us. Now, I have heather, many herbs, and he even found a wild rose one and planted it for me. Cailean is so kind and thoughtful, besides being a strong warrior who loves his clan.”
“Aye, he is all those things.”
“Has any word reached ye concerning his journey and the alliances he hopes to make?”
“Aye, I have heard bits and pieces. Cailean left the MacDonnell clan after his brother’s wedding and traveled to the Fraser clan. Another message arrived today for the laird from Cailean. I will try to learn more and share it with ye, lass. I ken he was successful; the laird was in a good mood at lunch. Cailean will travel to the Mackintosh clan now. It will take quite the time to travel with his guards accompanying him.
“Cailean is a charmer, and is working hard in hopes he could return for a few days to converse with his father during the summer fair. He nae doubt wishes to meet the men his sisters are interested in becoming betrothed to as well.”
“It will be hard for his sisters to leave their clan and families and travel with a man they hardly ken to another clan.”
“Aye, it falls to us women to forge alliances by leaving our families behind us. In many respects, men have it much easier than women.”
Elayne’s eyes twinkled as she said, “Aye.” They resumed making candles and worked until dinner, which Bessie needed to supervise.
“Thank ye, Elayne, for yer help. Ye made my burden light-er. Come for lunch with me tomorrow, and I will give ye candles to take home. Let me ken when ye’d have time to return. I’d appreciate yer help making more candles, or even soap. I plan to make soap next week.”
“Aye, I am happy to return to help ye. I will see ye tomorrow for the candles and next week to help make more. And thank ye, Bessie, for teaching me the best way to make candles.”
“Not at all lass. Next time, if ye like, we can make larger pillar candles.”
