She passed at least three pantries and a study before finding the kitchens.
Lilliana stepped inside and came to a stop, overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle as maids rushed hither and thither, while Cameron, the cook, directed them like a general.
Bramble slinked off under the table, where two maids were kneading bread next to a large tray of fish. Lilliana knew the cat was waiting for her chance to pounce when the food was left unattended for a moment.
She huffed, walking hesitantly towards one of the burning stoves as she looked around for an empty space where she could grind or cut her herbs.
Cameron caught sight of her. “Me Lady!” he exclaimed. “Is there something ye need?”
Lilliana plastered a wide smile on her face. “No—No, I have but idle hands, a little bit of time, and a will to learn. Might I join you, off to the side here, and watch how you manage to keep us all alive every day?”
Cameron blushed and then nodded, a slight furrow on his brow. “Well, we have some still brewin’ over on the small ovens.” He pointed at a stove off to the side.
Lilliana sighed with relief.
It was perfect. She would be out of the way but still have enough room to observe. “Yes, Cameron, that is perfectly fine. Thank you.”
Cameron smiled. “Are ye sure ye daenae need anything, Me Lady?”
“No, thank you. I do not mean to disrupt your kitchen.” Lilliana waved him off. “You should continue with…” She gestured vaguely at the controlled chaos around them.
He grinned. “Right, then. If ye need anything, just tell Stella over there.” He pointed at one of the maids, who looked up and smiled at her. “And she will help ye.”
Lilliana nodded to the girl and smiled back. “Thank you. That is very kind.”
Cameron gave her a non-committal look before turning and shouting at one of the maids for almost spilling a pail of fresh milk.
Lilliana turned to the table next to the stove and watched as Stella separated herbs in front of her. She got to work cuttingup the ginger and garlic, but then hesitated, and her eyes lifted to meet Lilliana’s. It was as if she had been resisting the urge to look.
Lilliana smiled warmly at her. “Did you need help with something?” she asked.
“Nay—I mean, nay, Me Lady… I daenae mean to be rude. It is just that Betsy says she dresses ye every morning. I daenae think ye should be cutting up vegetables, Me Lady. Respectfully, of course.”
Lilliana laughed in surprise. “Oh… um, well… yes, she does help me, but only because I cannot reach the buttons at the back. I am perfectly capable of cutting herbs.”
“Oh.” Stella looked nonplussed. “Well, would ye like to help me, Me Lady?”
“If you need help, I could pull the leaves off this plant. No knives needed.” Lilliana winked and pulled over a bunch of mint.
“Very well, Me Lady.” Stella watched as Lilliana took a seat next to her and started separating leaves from the stems. Her eyes kept returning to Lilliana.
“Is there something else you wanted to ask me?” Lilliana asked.
“Oh, er… nay. Well, can ye tell me about England? How did ye get here, Me Lady?”
Lilliana laughed and began to tell Stella about her journey, though she could see that at least half the kitchen was listening.
“I think ye are very brave to have made the journey by yerself, Me Lady,” Stella remarked.
“I would not have been so lucky were it not for Betsy and my cat, Bramble—I am sure you have seen her around,” Lilliana said warmly.
Just then, a messenger called out to her from the doorway. “Me Lady? Me Lady!”
“Yes? I am just here. What is it?” Lilliana asked.
“The Laird has sent for ye. He says to bring yer medicine bag—it is urgent!” The boy shifted from foot to foot impatiently, as if he could not wait to take off.
“Very well. I need to stop by the healer’s quarters first.” She nodded at Cameron and Stella before dashing after the boy.
