Mazey felt a thrill roll through her. She would finally be useful. She could earn her keep.
“Ah want ye to watch my daughter Siusan. Her maid married into another family and ah was left without help. Ah’ve been managing, which is why ah didn’t even think to ask ye.”
He cleared his throat and Mazey picked at her fingernails, a nervous habit she picked up as a child and never changed. She didn’t feel right having the clan chief near her, let alone in her room. “Aye, ah’m thankful.”
“Ye’ll be fine. She’s a sweet bairn and smart as a whip. Ah love her dearly.”
Mazey didn’t know what to say to that, so she kept her mouth shut.
Baile took his leave. “Ah’ll see ye at supper. If ye would start tomorrow, ah would be most grateful.”
She jumped to her feet and nodded, still unsure of what to say. She already expressed her gratitude. After he left, she went back to the chest and took the dress out again. Held tight against her chest, she thought of her bairn once again. How small would she be? This wee’un had a chance at life.
It was almosttime for supper, but Mazey didn’t want to leave her room. What would people think with her in the keep without her husband? She was more worried he would try to come get her. If he tried to take her back, she would probably go with him and hope he didn’t hit her too hard. That is what she did every day since she married the man. Her bairn did a small flip in her belly and she ran her hand up and down over her stomach. She was thin and even though she was far enough along to feel the baby move, the roundness in her belly barely showed. She could feel the baby flipping on the inside, but the bairn was too small to feel with her hand from the outside.
No matter what, she needed to make sure she did everything in her power to keep her bairn alive. She wanted to see the birth of her child and watch it grow. She needed to fight to stay away from Balford. In her heart, she knew her life, and the life of her child, depended on it.
She stood up and wrapped her arms around her sides, squeezing as tight as she could and closed her eyes. She breathed in and out.Ye’re going to be okay. Don’t cry. Just get back up, dust off yer dress and put one foot in front of another. Her mother’s words played through her head when she felt like she couldn’t keep going.
“Ah’m gonna be okay. Ah don’t need to cry. Ah’m gonna get back up, dust off my dress and put one foot in front of the other.” She got up, intentionally dusting off the front of her dress, and walked out the door with her chin held high.
The dining hall was loud and buzzing with activity. Mazey headed for a secluded table and sat on the bench. She received her food when someone sat opposite her on the bench and put a plate of food down.
“My name’s Gohrich, lass,” he said in way of greeting.
Mazey didn’t know what to say. The only man she ever spoke to was her husband. She continued to eat her food without giving him any attention. That didn’t deter him one bit.
“Ah heard ye’re to stay in the keep and watch over Siusan. Ah didn’t hear about yer circumstances, but ah know Hume. Grew up with him. He has a temper that can get him right mad in less than the time it takes to throw a stone in the loch. Ah don’t know if that’s why ye’re here, but if it is, ah want to say we’ll protect ye.”
Mazey felt the palms of her hands sweat as she thought about the reason she left her husband. Appetizing as the food was, she felt a wave of nausea flow through her.
“Are ye okay lass? Ye just turned white as snow.”
“Ah’m okay. Just lost my appetite. Ah thank ye for the pledge to protect me. Ah’m sure ah will be fine.” She tried to sound nonchalant, but she didn’t know if she succeeded.
“That’s not just a pledge lass. It’s a fact. Our clan cares for our own. And while ye were with Hume, ye were his responsibility, ye’re our responsibility now.”
Before she could argue, he picked up his plate and walked away, leaving to sit with a group of men at the other table. She picked up her plate and returned them to a servant and left the dining hall, heading back to her room to sleep.
Where wasshe supposed to be? She had risen early with all the servants and asked people where Siusan would be. An older woman, holding a stack of firewood approached her. “Ah ye’re Mazey then? Sorry ah don’t get out much and ah barley know anyone. Just married into the clan a few years back. The chief told us ye needed to be watching Siusan. That is yer only responsibility.”
Mazey nodded. “Aye, ’tis what he told me. But ah don’t know where to find her or what ah’m supposed to do with her all day.”
The woman chuckled and set her firewood down. She tucked a stray piece of her tightly curled hair behind her ear and wiped the sweat off her freckled face. “My name is Gilla. Ah’m in charge of the fires. Nothing fancy but it keeps me busy since my husband died.”
Mazey didn’t know what to say. She felt awkward around people. The women in the village rarely talked to her, but she didn’t mind. She never opened to anyone, for fear of exposing the extent of her husband’s temper.
“This is usually when ye say, ‘Pleased to meet ye.’ Or some such nonsense. Not much of a talker are ye?” She had a smile on her face that highlighted her round cheeks.
Mazey couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her. “Ah’ve never had someone be so direct with me. Ah don’t talk much, no. Ah don’t have much to say.”
“Well, that will change. But for now ah’ll just keep pointing it out.” She winked at Mazey and picked up her firewood. “Her room is next to Baile’s study. And ye just treat her with kindness, but don’t let her get away with being a pain in the arse. Feed her and get her dressed. Work with her on her manners. Ye know, normal child stuff.”
Gilla walked away, so Mazey took off toward Baile’s study. Malmuira and Mazey often played in the study. If Baile found them in there, he was quick to usher them out before too long. The door before the study was Baile’s personal living quarters, so the one after the study must be Siusan’s. She knocked.
“Enter,” a loud voice boomed.
Mazey meekly entered the room, only peaking up to see who was there. Baile sat next to Siusan brushing her hair. He paused when she saw him and a bashful expression crept across his face. “Ah was just helping Siusan here.” He cleared his throat and put the brush down.
