“I am told to come find Connor,” William said as he entered the kitchen.
A round aging man with a kind face shot forward. “I told ye. I said our wee one would want a plate come the morn. Welcome in, m’lord. We will see ye tended to. Is it a bath ye be needing? Ale?”
The man seemed like he couldn’t do enough for him.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Connor. Is it possible to get some hot water for the lady’s bath? And aye, she requested a plate.”
“The water is already hot,” he said. “I saw to that first as I thought she would like that too.”
“You know your lady well,” William said in a kind tone. He liked households where the serving staff genuinely cared for the family. It meant they had been treated well, and that said a great deal about the earl and his clan.
“I have known the lass her whole life,” he said. “Loved her even when she stole buns from the kitchen.”
“She thinks you didn’t know it was her.”
“And I intend to keep it that way if ye please, m’lord. I have spent many delightful moments remembering her giggles as she ran off, treat in hand.”
William placed his hand over his heart. “She will never hear it from my lips.”
“I thank ye, m’lord. Now, I will have all of this sent up to yer chamber immediately. Is there aught else I can offer ye, m’lord?”
William shook his head. “No, thank you, Connor. You are a gem in this household, to be sure.”
William loved the way the man’s chest puffed from the praise. He left him and the kitchen to go in search of her father whom he presumed would be up and about as well.
Finding him in the hall, he approached and spied that he too preferred an early plate. He stopped eating and wiped his mouth when William entered.
“You caught me,” he said with a small laugh.
“Not at all, Hugh, keep eating.”
“Thank you,” he said. “By the time the ladies are ready for the real morning meal, my stomach would have eaten itself. I trust my daughter is well this morn?”
“Aye, that she is and I have just come from the kitchen where water has been warmed for her bath and a platter of food readied to send up. I will leave her to some peace and check on her in a while.”
“Then you can join me and share some of this with me. No need for you to wait either.”
“How fared the entertainment after?”
“It was a wonderful time, but we saved your surprise for this evening as I am sure you would wish.”
“Does your wife know about it?”
“No, I could barely keep her from telling everyone about the whittled figures. I knew Agnes always enjoyed those stories, but I didn’t know quite how much until you mentioned it.”
“You should have seen her off in her own fantasies practically telling these tales by expression alone. I knew it was a special part of her growing up here so close to the sea.”
“Aye, ’tis fairly remote. Her mother and I had little interest in court. We are happy securing the king’s interest here in the north as there are many who would oppose him, as you now know.”
“That I do. You are sure none of the men listed in the missives are close at hand and can get to her?”
“I am as certain as I can be,” Hugh said. “I have sent scouts and I have spies in particular towns to watch the comings and goings.”
“I am pleased to hear it. I too have sent direction for the same.”
“How long do you intend to stay?”
“I will speak with my wife about that today. I appreciate the security of this castle, but I know how to defend my own.”
