“We’re looking for work,” she answered.
“Oh,” Fergus said with a nod. “Alright. I will take ye to Mrs. Donnelly, the housekeeper. I can only bring ye into the castle. It is she who decides if ye get the job or nae.”
Emily nodded.
He took them to the kitchens, where they found the housekeeper deep in conversation with the cook.
“Well, what have ye brought me, Fergus?” Mrs. Donnelly asked.
“They said they’re here for work,” he answered. “I ken ye’re always looking for more hands.”
“Aye, but nae just any hands,” she answered. “Well, lasses, what can ye do?”
“We knit,” Emily answered easily.
In truth, she was better at knitting, while Elize struggled to hold a needle. But she would do the job for both of them until they found their footing, if need be.
Mrs. Donnelly looked them over for a long moment, before nodding. “We’ll see, then. I’ll take ye to yer chambers for the evening, and tomorrow we’ll see about putting ye to work.”
Emily nodded, feeling grateful that they wouldn’t be sent back into the cold.
Mrs. Donnelly rose and indicated that they should follow her. Exhaustion made Emily’s feet heavy as feeling gradually returned to them, but she pressed on.
“We’re nae safe here, Emi,” Elize muttered, falling into step beside her, looking around the halls as they were led deeper into the castle.
Emily shot her a quelling look. Still, she could not deny that she shared the sentiment.
They knew nothing of the land they had been in for as long as they could remember, and nothing of this castle that would house them until they decided to run away again, but she was content to be out of the freezing cold.
She would not complain now.
But at the first sign of danger to her sister, she would do everything in her power to get them away until they found a place they could call home.
“We’re nae safe anywhere, Elize,” she muttered under her breath.
2
“Good mornin’, me Laird,” the councilmen greeted when Adair entered the council chambers.
He nodded and took his seat, eyeing them warily.
He was usually the first to arrive at the council meetings, and he found it odd that the six of them would be present so early or that they would have asked for a meeting when they weren’t set to have another until next month.
Even Abel, who was usually the last to arrive, was already present and had a grim look on his face.
Did something happen last night?
He eyed his man-at-arms, who was standing against the wall, but Fergus shook his head. If he knew nothing of the situation, then it meant nothing of great import had happened.
“Shall we begin, then?” Adair asked.
“Aye,” the councilmen chorused.
“Me Laird,” Douglas MacIntyre began, rising to his feet. “We wish to discuss a matter of grave importance with ye.”
“Go on,” Adair allowed.
“Thank ye, me Laird.” Douglas nodded once. “Yer braither’s marriage is set for autumn, and that is well. But the clan looks to its Laird, nae its Laird’s braither, for an heir.”
