“Three for a penny! Three sweet buns for a penny!” called a baker from his stall.
“Fresh churned butter! Finest quality!” added his neighbor.
“Win a ribbon for yer bonnie lass! Test yer accuracy!” shouted the operator of a game involving a player throwing metals at a stake.
Codie’s head swiveled back and forth, trying to take everything in at once. “Can we try that game? And can we buy some of those sweet buns? And look, there’s a puppet show startin’!”
“Easy, lad,” Elijah said though his tone was gentler than usual. “We’ll try to see everythin’, but we must greet the village elders first. There are protocols to follow.”
But Codie was not listening to his father. He tugged on Iris’ hand. “Lady Iris,” he whispered urgently, “there’s a man jugglin’ fire over there! Real fire!”
She followed his pointing finger and indeed saw a performer tossing flaming torches high into the air and catching them with practiced ease while a crowd cheered their approval.
“Me word,” she breathed. “That’s quite impressive.”
“Can we watch? Please?” he gasped, almost feverishly.
She looked at Elijah questioningly just in time to catch the way his eyes flickered with amusement.
“After we handle the formal greetin’s,” he said. “But aye, I suppose we can take some time to enjoy the entertainment.”
The smile that spread across Codie’s face was worth every concern Iris had felt about this outing. And as they continued through the festival, she began to think that maybe, just maybe, this day might turn out to be more pleasure than duty after all.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“This should do nicely.”
Elijah guided his family toward the Red Stag tavern, noting with satisfaction that it was busy but not overcrowded. The proprietor was a stout man, who immediately spotted them and hurried over with obvious delight.
“Me laird! Me lady! Young Master!” Hamish beamed, wiping his hands on his apron. “What an honor! Come, I have the finest table in the house ready for ye!”
Amidst well expressed greetings from the few patrons, they were shown to a corner table that offered both privacy and a clear view of the room, exactly what Elijah preferred. Codie immediately began examining everything around him with wide-eyed fascination from the hunting trophies on the walls to the villagers enjoying their midday meals.
“Look at that stag’s head!” he whispered to Iris, pointing at a massive set of antlers mounted above the fireplace. “It must have been the biggest deer in all of Scotland!”
“Indeed, it must have been,” Iris agreed, helping him settle into his chair. “Perhaps the innkeeper will tell us the story of how it was caught.”
“Can we ask him? Please?”
“After we eat,” she said firmly, softening her words with a smile. “A gentleman always tends to his meal first.”
Elijah found himself watching this interaction with approval. She had a natural way with Codie, setting boundaries while still encouraging his curiosity, treating him like the child he was instead of the miniature adult everyone else expected him to be.
She’s good with him. Better than me, or anyone who’s cared for him.
Hamish returned with a platter of the tavern’s best offerings: fresh bread, roasted chicken, root vegetables, and a small pitcher of ale for the adults. For Codie, he brought sweet cider and a selection of honey cakes that made the boy’s eyes light up with delight.
“This is the finest meal I’ve ever had!” Codie declared after his first bite, earning a chuckle from both adults.
“Ye should get out more often then, lad,” Elijah said dryly though he was pleased to see his son so animated.
Codie nodded enthusiastically, his mouth stuffed full, all previous future laird training forgotten. The trio ate, the conversation flowing more naturally than Elijah had expected. Iris asked thoughtful questions about the festival, the village, and clan traditions. She seemed genuinely interested in understanding her new role and responsibilities.
“The harvest celebration has been held here for over two hundred years,” he explained. “It’s one of the oldest traditions in the region.”
“It’s wonderful how these customs survive,” Iris said, breaking off a piece of bread. “There’s somethin’ comfortin’ about kennin’ that people have been celebratin’ the same way for generations.”
“Aye, tradition provides stability. It gives people somethin’ to hold onto when times are uncertain.”
