Relaxing a bit, Melissa felt a wave of relief wash over her body when she realized that nothing had happened to the sweet little girl.
“I told her that she should have left the gift with Beitris,” Isla cut in. “Everyone at the castle is very busy this time of day, we dinnae have time to look after unannounced guests.” She thrust her stubby nose in the air.
Meidra visibly shrunk back as Isla spoke disapprovingly to her.
“Well, it’s a good thing that I’m not one of the servants, then,” Melissa retorted, holding the maid’s gaze. “I have nothing to do at present, and I don’t mind looking after a guest.” She waited for Isla to respond, but she turned back toward Meidra when the maid held her tongue. “You didn’t have to bring me anything,” she said more kindly. “It was Beitris that did the healing. I didn’t do much at all.”
“Och!” Meidra exclaimed, cheering up considerably. “It wasnae naething. Our Tilly has been wary of strangers ever since me husband died in battle. Beitris wouldnae have been able to place the mud on her hands if ye hadnae held her and calmed her the way ye did.” She smiled at Melissa with tears in her eyes. “I’m truly grateful for any kindness we can get. Life hasnae been easy for us, Me Lady. Not since Hamish died.” She took a deep breath as she said her late husband’s name.
“I can imagine. I’m so sorry for your loss.” Melissa reached out and gave her arm a gentle squeeze. “Please, don’t hesitate to ask for help if you ever need it. I will always do all that I can if you need anything.” She glanced over at Isla, who shifted uncomfortably on her feet and averted her gaze.
“I kent ye were a kind soul from the moment I met ye in the cottage, Me Lady,” Meidra said with a smile and lifted the old cloth that had been used to cover the basket. “I dinnae have much to give ye as thanks, but I wanted to show ye me gratitude.” She reached inside the basket and lifted a glass jar. “I used some of the cherries that Beitris sent home to make ye some jam.”
“Oh, Meidra.” Melissa felt her heart warming at the sweet gesture of the old woman, who probably could have used the cherries for herself and her family. “You really shouldn’t have. This is such a thoughtful gift, but I can’t accept it, really.” She tried to give the jar back.
Meidra reached over and enclosed her hands around Melissa’s and the jar. “Please, Me Lady, it is the least I can do for the kindness that ye showed me an’ me kin.” Her gentle eyes convinced Melissa to keep the gift.
“Thank you,” Melissa whispered, completely overwhelmed by having touched another person’s heart without even knowing. “I’m sure this jam will be the best I’ve ever tasted.” She blinked back her tears.
Meidra beamed from ear to ear and reached into the basket once again, retrieving a doll that had been constructed entirely out of twigs. “Our Tilly made this for the beautiful lady with mysterious powers.” She laughed as she handed the bundle of twigs to her.
Melissa accepted the gift and smiled down at the bundle in her hands. Faded and warn yarn had been used to tie dried sticks together, creating a diagonal body and head with two arms sticking straight out on each side. A few strands of dried barley had been used to create the blonde hair. The most impressive part was the Burnet Rose that had been tucked into the side of the head, where she presumed the ear would have been.
“Ye dinnae have to keep it, Me Lady,” Meidra said kindly. “Tilly disnae have to ken if ye throw it out.”
“Never,” Melissa said tearfully as she carefully hugged the gift to her chest. “I will store it away and cherish it always.”
Meidra’s face lit up with pride. “Our Tilly will be pleased as punch to hear that her fine lady friend kept her doll.”
“You can tell Tilly that this doll is the single most beautiful gift that I’ve ever received.”
“Well.” Meidra quickly looked away when a tear spilled over her cheek. “I better be getting back home, the bairns will be wanting their food. I wish ye all the good luck in the world, Me Lady.” She gave Melissa a kind nod before turning toward Isla. “I’m sorry that I disrupted yer busy day. I only wanted to show me gratitude to the fine lady who helped our Tilly.” She pursed her lips sadly and looked at the ground. “Ye didnae ken me husband, but he was a good soldier that fought for our laird.”
“Of course,” Isla said apologetically, a look of shame on her face. “Yer family is always welcome here whenever ye need help. I didnae mean to sound harsh.” She bowed her head respectfully.
“I kent yer nae a bad woman. Good day to ye.” Meidra curtsied politely and left them standing outside the kitchen door.
“Well, I better get going, then,” Melissa said, fully aware of the sudden change in the maid’s behavior but not convinced of her motives.
“Me Lady?” Isla suddenly said and stepped forward as Melissa was about to leave.
“Yes?” Melissa stopped with one eyebrow raised as she looked at her.
“I want to apologize for me behavior earlier. I didnae ken that ye were helping a widow.”
Melissa waited for Isla to continue before making any further judgments on her character.
“I may have jumped to conclusions when we met, an’ I apologize for nae giving ye a chance to settle in.” Isla glanced over her shoulder at Meidra, who was walking away with her basket swinging from her arm. “There are nae many people in the world that would have helped a stranger or even accepted the gifts with the grace that ye did today. I can see that the gesture means a great deal to ye, Me Lady.” She looked Melissa in the eye with all sincerity. “I hope ye can forgive me for the way that I have behaved?”
“Thank you, Isla,” Melissa began, seeing a kinder side of the maid than she had done before. She could see that it took a great deal of humility for the woman to admit that she’d been wrong. “I accept your apology, and I hope that we can get on a little better in the future.”
“Ye have me word that things will be different from here on out, Me Lady.” Isla cracked the faintest of smiles for the first time since Melissa had come to the castle.
“I will appreciate that,” Melissa said more gently, realizing the humility that had been displayed.
“If ye would, Me Lady.” Isla held out her hands. “I’ll take yer things an’ put them away. Ye dinnae want any of the other maids to find the doll an’ throw it away. They may just think it’s a bad wish an’ nae a harmless doll.” She laughed.
“A bad wish?” Melissa asked and handed her the doll along with the glass jar.
