“Aye. Dinnae ye recall? I couldnae e’en bear to be around a mon who had been in the stables or riding for a long time when I carried Benet.”
Triona nodded. “There is always a smell that hits hard. I couldnae abide eggs with my Ella and it was mutton when I carried Geordan.”
Joan nodded. “Eggs with me as weel and then leeks.”
“Weel, I will let the knowledge settle in my own mind and heart for a wee bit and then tell Harcourt,” said Annys as they all headed back to the kitchens.
“He will be happy,” said Triona.
“Aye, I ken it. Especially because he can at least claim this one openly.” The look on Triona’s face told her that Harcourt had not told his family everything and so, carefully she explained.
“Weel, that was an odd price to ask of a mon,” Triona said after a moment, “but at least he didnae pick someone ye didnae like.” She winked at Annys.
“Ye took that verra weel.”
“Your husband couldnae be a husband to ye and he kenned it. He couldnae give ye a child or e’en get his heir if he wanted to and he kenned that, too. Aye, I am a wee bit surprised a Murray agreed to such a thing but Harcourt was young. Still, ye got a bairn and I suspicion ye are verra glad of that and that the making of that bairn was nay a chore. Also, it didnae hurt your husband to have ye do it so no hurt feelings. Save mayhap yours when Harcourt left.”
“Aye, I was hurt and that was stupid.” As they stepped inside the kitchens, Annys looked around again. “This place definitely needs a staff. And, I think that needs seeing to immediately.”
“Then we must go to the village as these cold meats and bread willnae do for a hearty meal. Ye will now meet some of your people, Lady Annys,” Triona said as she led them out of the keep, slipping around the great hall where they could hear the men talking.
Harcourt sniffed. “Is that a roast I smell?”
Brett did the same. “Aye. There wasnae anything but cold meat and bread in the kitchens when I looked earlier.”
Callum, Gybbon, Tamhas, Nicolas, and the MacFingals wandered in and Ned said, “Suspect the ladies from the village are cooking up some of those supplies they brought with them.”
Harcourt looked toward the kitchens but the heavy doors were shut. “I have ladies cooking in the kitchens?”
Brett poured himself another ale. “The ladies must have had a good look at how bare your larder was and went to do something about it.”
“Oh. That is one of those things I should have seen to, had ready before I brought Annys here, isnae it.” He dragged a hand through his hair, silently cursing how quickly she had seen the poor state of the keep.
“Dinnae look so morose,” said Callum. “We will eat a fine meal soon.”
“I ken it and I do look forward to that but I was concerned about what she would find here. ’Tis why I sent word for it to be cleaned. I kenned this would nay be what she was accustomed to. I think it may have been worse than I kenned.” He sat up straight as he suddenly recalled what the garden looked like, something he had glanced at once, decided it was too much trouble, and walked away from. “There isnae even a garden.”
“Oh, there is one,” said Annys as she and the other two women walked into the great hall. “’Tis just buried beneath weeds and there is e’en a little bonnie garden spot but it will need work as weel.”
Joan looked toward the kitchen and straightened her shoulders. “I will go see that I am kenned by the lassies in there and be certain all we asked for arrived and is as good as promised.”
“That woman is going to be a pure gift,” said Callum.
“Aye,” agreed Harcourt and started in surprise when Joan’s two boys came scurrying out with cheese and bread plus the plates for it. “Thank ye, lads,” he said.
“I will get ye more ale, aye?” asked the taller one.
“Aye and cider, if ye will.”
“My mother will ken what is needed,” said the small one and then they both trotted back to the kitchens.
Before long, food was brought out, and the other men from the garrison began to slip in and fill the other tables. Harcourt watched in astonishment as his hall became something close to what the great hall at Glencullaich had been. Good food, servants keeping the platters and jugs filled, and the men all talking, made content by that food. Even a few of the young maids had cautiously come out of the kitchens to help serve the food.
“They havenae done that since I have been here,” he said. “Some men did it for a wee while and then the women from the village would come with food, bake a few things, and leave before the sun set.”