Gordie was truly ashamed for his brother that the man’s son was such an imbecile. “Because I dinna want tae correct ye in front of the men,” he said. “Ean, the only way this will work is if ye draw out the Sassenach. Ye have tae make them want tae open the gatehouse. Once they do that, we can fight them. Otherwise, they’re going tae murder us.”
Ean wasn’t quite following him, but at least he wasn’t refuting his idea. “Draw them out?” he said. “How? They willna want tae leave the castle once we arrive.”
“They will if we raid the village tae the south.”
Ean stared at him, all of the fury suddenly drained from his face. “A raid?”
Gordie nodded. “Aye,” he said. “A few of us raid the village and when the English come tae chase us off, the rest of us rush the gatehouse. We can get in that way. They’ll never know what happened until it’s too late.”
Up ahead, one of Ean’s men was shouting at him, waving his arms, trying to catch his attention. Both Ean and Gordie turned in the man’s direction, seeing that he was excited about something.
Gordie gave Ean a push.
“Go,” he said quietly. “Tell the men what we intend tae do. Send about ten or so intae the village and tell them tae burn it. Do what they can. It has tae be enough tae draw the Sassenach out of Gleann na Fola.”
He was going to let Ean claim the idea, which was as it should be as far as Ean was concerned. With a lingering glance at his uncle, he ran on ahead, to where his youngest and bravest warriors were gathering, and told them of the raid on the village south of Gleann na Fola.
Something to lure the Sassenach out of their castle.
Something that would start the chaos they intended.
The plan was set.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“And then wecan make goat cheese, for eating or for selling,” Mattie said. “According to Gar, this castle relies solely on the stipend provided by the Earl of Warenton. It would be nice if we could earn our own money or at least be more self-sufficient.”
She was speaking to Jordan, Rhoswyn, Avrielle, and Mariane. Caria and Perseus were playing games with each other and not particularly paying attention to Mattie, but she didn’t care. She wanted to know what these women thought, older and wiser than she was and women who had their own castles to manage. She held her breath with anticipation as the women seemed to seriously consider her suggestion.
“I like yer spirit, lass,” Jordan said. “There is always something more a castle can be doing tae help itself. Castle Questing is the heart of the de Wolfe empire and we generate income with sheep and cattle, but also by training royal troops. The Crown pays handsomely for that.”
“Mae has her foundlings make goat cheese,” Rhoswyn said. When Mattie looked confused about whom she was referring to, she quickly clarified. “Mae is the Countess of Northumbria.She is married tae Tommy, Lady Warenton’s youngest son. My husband’s youngest brother.”
Mattie nodded. “Gar told me about her,” she said. “I think it is a very good idea.”
“As do I,” Rhoswyn said. “Ye have a head on yer shoulders, lass. I like tae see that. Ye’re thinking of ways tae help Gar.”
“I am,” Mattie said. “Though I am not entirely sure he appreciates it. I do not want to push him to do something he does not want to, but he did give me charge of the castle. And I say a castle should try to earn money for itself.”
“Agreed,” Avrielle said. Scott’s wife was a lovely, elegant woman with a refined look about her. She smiled at Mattie. “Every property of ours is a working castle. Castle Canaan, to the south, has miles of orchards. I believe we supply apples and pears to most of Cumbria.”
Mattie was feeling bolstered by their support. She honestly wasn’t sure how they would perceive her trying to change things at Gleann na Fola so soon after her arrival. And speaking of change, there was something else she wanted to do.
Perhaps now was a good time to discuss it.
“Then I appreciate your words of wisdom,” she said. “But there is something else I would like to do and I am not entirely sure how to go about it.”
“What is that, lass?” Jordan said.
“I’d like the hall… during meals… to be a little more civilized.”
Jordan cocked her head curiously. “What do ye mean?”
Mattie looked out at the great hall. The women were seated on the dais, but at one end of the table. All of them, together. Gar, his brother, father, uncles, and cousins were at the other end, laughing and drinking. Even Maksim was there, integrating into the group, which Mattie thought was rather nice. At Hensingham, Maksim was the only knight. He didn’t really haveany other friends to eat and drink with. Such was one of the curses of being a peaceful castle—it could be lonely and she knew that Maksim was lonely from time to time, which was why he tended to chase women. But here—here, he had an entire group of elite knights to feast with and he seemed quite happy about it.
Mattie was happy for him.
But it didn’t solve the problem of the great hall, as a whole.
