No windows.
And only one door that she could see.
Like a prison.
“How fared your journey?” William asked as they headed for the only door she could see. “Well, I hope.”
Mattie nodded. “Very well, thank you,” she said. “Truthfully, I’ve never been further north than Carlisle, so this has been a bit of an adventure.”
William smiled. “Do you seek adventure, then?”
“I married Gar, my lord,” she said. “I do believe he is an adventure himself.”
William chuckled, turning around to see his grandson walking a few feet behind them. “I like her, Gar,” he said. “She understands you already.”
Gar gave him a half-grin but didn’t reply. William turned his attention forward to the entry to the structure, which was surprisingly small. It was a thick oak door reinforced with iron, extremely sturdy. Once they stepped inside, however, an unusual layout unfolded.
As Mattie could see, it was as if the center of the interior were hollow. An open space went all the way up to the roof, which was open. She could see the sky above. That gave it ventilation without compromising safety. The structure of Gleann na Fola was built around this small, open courtyard and there were a few staircases leading to different parts of the castle. There werealso doorways that led under it, down into the vaults. There were many doors and staircases, and it reminded her of a labyrinth. She could smell the cold, dank air coming forth from the belly of the castle.
As dank as one could imagine.
Before them was a mural staircase, one that was wide and sturdy and built of stone. It led up to a landing and then doubled back on itself, and she followed William up the stairs, which ended on another landing that opened up into a large hall. It was long and wide, but the ceiling was low given the fact that it was on the first level of the castle above ground level. It was ventilated by small windows in the walls, which made it rather dark. A large hearth burned with a bright fire at the end of the room and, much as Gar had told her, dogs roamed about.
And it smelled like it.
In truth, the hall was filthy and Mattie was trying not to be horrified by it. There were dog feces against the wall, under the tables, and probably more places that she couldn’t see. The fact that there were plenty of tables scattered throughout the room covered up anything else that might be on the floor. William took Mattie to what was presumably the dais because there were women there, women who came forward when they saw William and Mattie approach.
“I have her,” William declared. “She does exist. Ladies, this is Matilda, Lady de Wolfe. Gar’s wife.”
There was a good deal of smiling going on. Mattie found herself looking at a collection of lovely women of all ages. There was much older woman with pale hair, pulled back in a bun, and pale green eyes that looked exactly like Gar’s. There was another, taller woman, younger, with dark hair and a lovely face, and still another one with dark blonde hair pulled into a bun at the nape of her neck. There were others, but those were the three at the forefront.
“Welcome, m’lady,” the elderly woman with the green eyes said in a heavy Scots accent. “We’re so pleased tae meet ye. I’m Lady Warenton. Did ye have a pleasant journey?”
It was the great lady herself, the earl’s wife. She seemed very sweet and Mattie immediately warmed to her, smiling.
“I did, thank you,” she said. “I have never been this far north, so it has been an exciting expedition.”
Lady Warenton’s smile broadened. “That’s lovely,” she said. “Did ye bring yer family with ye? Yer mother?”
Mattie shook her head. “Nay, my lady,” she said. “Only my brother.”
“’Tis nice that he came with ye tae help ye settle intae yer new life.”
Mattie nodded. “He wants to make sure I do not change my mind and run home,” she teased. “He is here to see to the situation and report back to my father.”
Lady Warenton took her hand, patting it. “We’ll make sure that ye’re well settled,” she said. “We’ll provide ye with any support ye need. Let me introduce ye tae some of the others.”
Mattie met Scott’s wife, Avrielle, and a younger daughter of Lord and Lady Warenton named Caria. But when she was introduced to Gar’s mother, the mood seemed to change a little.
Rhoswyn de Wolfe wasn’t, perhaps, so accepting.
“Lady de Wolfe,” Mattie greeted her politely. “I am very happy to make your acquaintance.”
Gar had his mother’s features. Mattie could see that. He had his father’s dark coloring, but his mother’s fine features. Rhoswyn’s gaze drifted over her for a moment, studying the woman who’d married her firstborn son, before she finally acknowledged the introduction.
“Lady de Wolfe,” she said in a heavy Scots accent. “Welcome tae Gleann na Fola.”
Mattie smiled timidly, simply because there didn’t seem to be much warmth in Rhoswyn’s voice. “Thank you, my lady,” she said. “I am looking forward to coming to know the land and the people.”
