“You question my will?”
“No, my lady, but—”
“Is it the task you object to? Or that you must follow the orders of a child? But I have seen with my own eyes that you know nothing about keeping a kitchen clean, and I have tasted what fare has come out of that kitchen, so I assume you also know nothing about cooking. What good are any of you, except to pull weeds?”
One of the others stepped forward. “I can produce meals that would tempt any palate, my lady.”
Leonie raised a brow. “Can you? Well, I will not ask you why you have kept that knowledge to yourself until now, but I will give you this day to prove your words. If you do not lie, you will be cook henceforth, and the kitchen will be yours to rule. But if you are not telling the truth…”
She left the threat up in the air. It was best for them to guess how harsh she might be. If she threatened a beating, some might think they could withstand it or that she wouldn’t follow through. The same with banishment. But if they had no idea what she would do, they were not likely to risk incurring her wrath.
“I—I will need help, my lady.” The new cook indicated his fellows.
“What is your name?”
“John.”
Leonie smiled at him, surprising and enrapturing him. “You will have all you need, John, help and supplies. I ask only that you do not order more than you need, or find yourself short. Report daily all purchases to Master Erneis for the accounts. Can you guess what else I want done?”
He could not meet her eyes but he answered, “A thorough scrubbing from top to bottom.”
“Yes. All utensils, pots—everything. There is no excuse for an accumulation of filth in the kitchen and I will not tolerate it again. See that the cleaning is done before the next meal is started. You may make use of the three men who have already begun the work, the men I brought with me. Eight men should be quite enough.”
“Thank you, my lady.”
Idelle looked miserable again as the five men followed their new leader to the kitchens. “Does this mean I will have to pick all the ‘good-for-naughts’ by myself?”
“Indeed, no.” Leonie grinned. “But this is an important task, important to me. Can you think of anyone who would do a good job of it?”
“My friends in the kitchen,” Idelle suggested eagerly.
“The other two children?”
“Yes.”
“Then you may get them to be your helpers. And there is no rush, Idelle. The point is to do a good job the first time. When you finish, there will be much planting here that you can help me with.”
“I would like that, my lady.”
“Good. Now run and get your friends. Sir Evarard is coming to speak with me.”
Leonie moved across the bailey to meet him. He did not look at all agreeable.
“Sir Evarard—”
He cut her short rudely. “Do not think, my lady, that this will please Sir Rolfe. You wait until he is gone and then you turn this place upside down. He will see that you are set on causing trouble.”
“You dare take that tone with me?” Leonie said icily. She glared up at the man, her eyes hot. “If you will not give me the respect due me as your lord’s wife, then I will not abide in the same keep with you. You can tellthatto my husband when you bring him tales of what youthinkI have done!”
The man squared his jaw stubbornly. “You think to talk circles around me, my lady, but no one can even enter the hall because you have caused such a mess. What excuse do you have for tearing everything apart?”
“You idiot! Do you not recognize the process ofcleaning when you see it? But how could you, since there has been no cleaning done here since you came?” She added icily, “The hall will be in proper order by the end of the day. And the food you eat tonight will be wholesome. What I have done, Sir Evarard, is save myself from having to treat you for food poisoning, which would have struck you and everyone else here soon enough if the conditions in the kitchen were allowed to go unchecked. Now you tell me—who is inconvenienced by what I am doing except the servants who are now paying for what they have neglected all this time?”
Sir Evarard was no longer as belligerent. “Perhaps I did not understand.”
“Is that all?” she demanded stiffly, and he reddened. “Forgive me, my lady. I saw only the upheaval. I thought you still meant my lord ill. It—it is known that you were forced to marry him, and a woman forced is discontent, so I believed that you…”
Leonie relaxed completely, all her anger flowing out of her. “You are very loyal to my husband.”
