“They’ve gone to send off the men.”
“Of course. But they’ll be back this evening to make supper?”
“Er, no my lady. Most’ll go back to their homes. Fair day was a lot of work, and most just want to rest afterwards.”
That made sense. “They’ll be back in the morning, then?”
“Not likely, mum,” Deirdre said, her voice low. “They won’t get paid this eve with Mairi gone. And they’ll not come back without coin.”
“I see.” She would have to find the castle lockbox and sort out who got what. She hoped Mairi kept good records. “So why haven’t you two gone?”
Deirdre gathered the gown into neat folds then set it in the corner atop what looked like thin bedding. She looked up with a guilty shrug. “We sleep here,” she said.
“It’s warm,” added Rhona, “and we share the work.”
And probably safer given that they were two girls just growing into their looks. “Well, I am very pleased to meet you.” She peered into the bubbling cauldron. “Is that enough to feed everyone who will be here tonight?”
“Maybe…” Rhona said. “But we haven’t enough bread for everyone.”
“Then I guess we’ll have to make more.”
“Yes, my lady,” both girls said together, but neither did anything more than that. Nothing but stare at her as she pulled on an apron that was hanging on a peg.
“Well?” Clara said as she turned back. “Come on, how do you cook bread?”
It was a simple question, but they both gaped at her.
“I know I’m an idiot because I haven’t learned how to do that. I think even my mother knew how, though she hated going into the kitchen. But we’ve no choice now. I’ve got to learn how everything works here, and this sounds like a good place to start.”
“Uhm…” Rhona began. “I…”
“Start at the very beginning. Assume I know nothing. In fact, pretend I’m Davie and I want to learn how to cook.” She smiled. “In fact, for right now, refer to me as Davie.”
Well, that broke the ice. Both women giggled at the idea of the boy trying his hand in here. Clara grinned. “That’s better. Now let me help you. Say, Well, Davie, the first thing we do is…”
Rhona looked exquisitely uncomfortable, but she dutifully responded. “Well, my lady Davie, the first thing…”
And so began the most exhausting afternoon of Clara’s life. It wasn’t just the pounding, kneading, and unfortunate burning. Clara was determined to understand the way everything worked in the castle, and the two girls had a wealth of information on who did what and why. But it was so much information! And as clever as Clara was, she couldn’t understand it all. Not at once, and not while trying to pull bread out of a hot oven. Which is why, when evening came, Clara was a frazzled mess. And Liam looked even worse when he finally found her well past time for the evening meal.
