“Of course, he will,” Aaron agreed. Then they both shooed her out the door as Lilah finished packing.
Clara heard them speaking in low tones to each other as she left. She didn’t try to make out the words. It was hard enough to stop her tears.
She had only a vague idea where the kitchen was. It had to be off the great hall, right? She made it down there to find that someone had cleaned the tables and set the room to rights. That had been a great deal of work for someone. She’d have to find out who and thank them.
She found the kitchen sure enough, but there was no one inside. Not a soul except for a small boy tending the fire.
“Hello—” she said, but the child took one look at her and dashed away. “Wait!”
He didn’t. So without any other idea, she scrambled after him. If she couldn’t catch him, he’d surely lead her to other people. Or so she hoped. It was awkward rushing along the twisting, cluttered corridors while carrying the gown for Deirdre, but she managed as best she could.
Fairly soon, Clara realized she’d travelled into an older part of the castle. A second keep with rough stones, tight corners, and—hallelujah—the sound of people speaking. Girls, by the sound of it, laughing as they scolded the boy.
“Davie! What’s got into you?”
“Who’s tending the fire?”
Clara knew that voice. It was Deirdre, the very girl she’d been looking for. “No one, I’m afraid,” she said as she tried to make a friendly entrance. Unfortunately, she stubbed her toe on something and stumbled into the room.
“Bugger,” she cursed, as she twisted around. “Damned stupid place to put a… a…” She frowned as she realized that she’d tripped over an uneven stone in the path. “Someone made a mistake there,” she said as she looked at the architecture. The problem was where the old stonework met up to the newer. None of the stones fit correctly, and the result was a hazard to anyone who crossed the threshold. “As if they couldn’t be bothered to cut the set the things properly.”
There was no condemnation in her tone. She found it an oddity, nothing more, but when she turned to the girls, they looked like they were going to burst with outrage.
“Oh dear. I’m terribly sorry. I didn’t mean to insult…” Her words faded away as the two girls covered their mouths as they tried to hold in their laughter.
Not outrage, then.
Careful of her steps, she set the gown on a nearby chair and then turned to the girls. “Go ahead and laugh. It will serve you well in the coming days. And tell me what I said that was so funny?”
“Nothing, my lady,” Deirdre said with a rushed curtsey.
“Nothing at all,” said the other one.
“Now none of that. I mean to hear the truth of my ridiculousness. Out with it.” She turned to Deirdre who she’d tried to befriend yesterday. “Please.”
The girl blushed. “That’s exactly what Mrs. Owen used to say. Every day. It made us giggle, is all.”
The other girl nodded as she lowered her very big brown eyes.
“Ah, well, it’s a remarkably intelligent comment, I would think.” Then she took a look around. This was obviously the old kitchen, used by the less important workers in the castle. Better yet, she could smell the scent of bread baking and, if she didn’t miss her guess, there was stew in a huge pot over the fire. These two girls were making food! Or rather, the second one was. Deirdre, she now saw, was working on a gown. A young seamstress, then. Better and better!
“Do you have a gown for me to fix, my lady?” Deirdre asked.
“What? Oh, no. This gown is for you. To replace what was destroyed last night.” She pointed to where she’d dumped the thing on a chair. She really had to start being neater with clothing. “I know it won’t fit now, but you’re a seamstress, yes? You can fix it.”
“Oh no, my lady. Nothing so fancy as that. I just sew things when things are needed.”
“Well, that’s a seamstress, Deirdre. And this is yours now.” Then she turned to the other girl. “And what’s your name?”
“Rhona, my lady.”
“And you must be the baker, yes? That’s bread I smell?”
“Aye, my lady, but it’s rough bread. Not at all fit for your table.”
Clara snorted. “I’ve had black bread before, and it’s plenty fine for me.” She looked around. “Where is everybody?”
The girls exchanged a look, but it was left to Rhona to answer as Deirdre was busy stroking the fabric of her new gown.
