Thomas thought on that. He was aware that Hector knew of Caria’s true parentage. Hector had gone on that fateful trip to Wales, escorting Penelope de Wolfe to her new husband, so he was well aware of who Caria really was. But like the rest of the family, he kept the secret and went along with the story that Caria was simply William and Jordan’s youngest child even though Jordan had been well past her childbearing years when Caria had been born. No one questioned where the child had come from and the family kept up a united front about it.
“It’s not a bad idea,” Thomas replied to Hector’s suggestion, noting that the gray stone walls of Edenside were looming closer.“It might also not be a bad idea to post a few soldiers here at Edenside. With all of the trouble we’ve been having with the reivers, and the fact that there are now things of value there, I think I will send a few soldiers over to help with the security of the place. Would you accept them, Lady Bowlin?”
He had been rather formal with her in front of witnesses, for obvious reasons, and Maitland went along with it. But she did so miss hearing him call her “Mae”. Coming from his lips, it was like a gentle caress to her ears.
“I should ask the abbot at Kelso to provide us with some soldiers, but considering what happened when he put his sister in charge, I do believe I will accept de Wolfe assistance instead,” she said. “I thank you for your offer, my lord. We can house them in one of the outbuildings, the one that has a hearth.”
Since Thomas was being so generous, Hector spoke up, too. “Is there anything else you need for the foundlings?” he asked. “Anything that Northwood can provide?”
Maitland thought a moment. “Your offer is kind, my lord,” she said. “I suppose we can always use more goats to milk. More goats means more cheese and, according to Sir Thomas, we are going to have the whole of Northumberland demanding our product.”
Hector grinned as Thomas nodded his head firmly. “Itisdelicious,” he said. “Lady Bowlin is ensuring that Edenside is self-sufficient for years to come. More than that, I promised her I would go to the local taverns and demand they buy her cheese.”
Hector cocked an eyebrow. “Certainly, they will not deny an armed knight.”
“My point, precisely.”
They had finally arrived at the gates of Edenside. Garr removed the twins from the back of his horse and Deinwald took Phin by the hand, leading him over to the gate as Tibelda opened it. Thomas and Hector lent a hand at ushering the childreninside, going so far as to enter the compound just to make sure all was well and no one was lying in wait for seven children and two women. In the wilds of the north, one had to be careful of marauders. With everything secure, Hector bid a polite farewell while Thomas lingered by the gate.
The men from Northwood were waiting for him, unfortunately, and Thomas knew he couldn’t linger. It was time for him to return to Wark and wait for word from his father about the information from Kyloe. He’d stayed away as long as he dared, considering Wark was his command, so he knew he needed to go.
At Edenside’s repaired gate, he faced Maitland a proper distance away.
“I will return in a few days to see how things are coming along,” he said, rather neutrally because Hector was still in earshot. “If Hector is sending goats, is there anything else you need?”
Maitland hated to see him go. She really did. They’d spent such a wonderful two days together that she was becoming rather attached to having him around. It was difficult to see him off.
“I do not believe so at this time,” she said, “but if you could see your way to donating more fowl to our home, it would be appreciated. We can use the meat and the eggs for the children.”
Thomas nodded. Then, he lifted his voice and turned to Hector. “Did you hear that?” he said. “Along with the goats, send chickens and geese for meat and eggs.”
Hector lifted a hand and waved, acknowledging the request, and Thomas returned his attention to Maitland. “You shall have your goats and chicken and geese delivered, my lady,” he said. “And when I return in a couple of days, it will be with ten men. Meanwhile, you can prepare the outbuilding you spoke of so they have a place to sleep. You will also need to feed them.”
“I can do that, my lord.”
He smiled at her. “Good,” he said. Then, he lowered his voice so that only she could hear him. “It will seem like an eternity until I see you again, love. Wear the blue dress for me the next time I come.”
Maitland’s cheeks flushed a soft pink. “I will,” she murmured. Then, she lifted her right hand slightly, rubbing on the ring. “I shall think of you often.”
“Swear it.”
“I do.”
He winked at her. “Good,” he muttered. “I shall return.”
With that, he turned for his horse, vaulting up onto the animal’s back as the party from Northwood began to move out. Hermes and Atreus, astride their wild stallions, began to tear off down the road at a gallop, causing the others to follow suit. Soon enough, the entire group was thundering off down the road and Maitland watched them for a moment, shielding her eyes from the sun, watching Thomas tear down the road until he was out of her sight.
With a smile on her lips, she came back into the yard, closing the gate and throwing the big bolt on it to seal it up.
What a day it had been.
Maitland was feeling rather dazed and dreamy as she wandered back into the kitchen yard where the children were washing and drying the bowls and buckets used for the cheese. Out of habit, Maitland jumped in to help, but her mind wasn’t on it. It was on the day, on the moments she spent with Thomas, and on his return in a couple of days. Odd how a man she’d tried to stay away from, or at least keep at a metaphorical arm’s length, had broken down her barriers in more ways than one.
She couldn’t wait to see him again.
Maitland returned to work with renewed vigor, making sure the children took the clean buckets to milk the goats again beforethey were sheltered for the night. Since she wanted to increase the milk production, milking the goats twice a day would stimulate more milk. Marybelle and Nora took their buckets and headed into the pen to milk, followed by the twins and Dyana, who wanted to play with the baby goats. Artus and Phin remained outside of the pen to watch, and Maitland remained in the kitchen, cleaning out the bowls with Tibelda. She kept an eye on the children as they milked and played, thinking that her little charity was coming along better than she could have ever hoped for.
Thanks to one rather handsome and powerful knight.
