Page 41 of Bride Takes a Charmer
Shaw stretched and set an arm over her waist in his reach to touch Gillian’s hair.
“Good morn, fair lassies. ’Tis early. What is everyone doing up so early?”
Luthor finally made it to the bedside and peered at the floor. A dawning must’ve struck her husband when he grunted.
“Oh, I see now… Luthor, did ye do something to frighten Gillian?”
Luthor’s head bobbed.
“Come, sit upon the bed and we shall talk about it.” Sorsha shifted and placed Gillian between her and Shaw. Luthor crawled onto the bed and sat at the end.
“I did not mean to scare her. Och ’twas just a wee mouse.”
Sorsha glanced at Shaw briefly then returned her gaze to Luthor. “A mouse, you say? Where was this wee mouse?”
“I put it in ’er bed. ’Twas just a wee mouse but it would not hurt her. I thought she would yell or something akin but she did not make a sound.” Luthor sighed and wouldn’t look at either her or Shaw. His wee face remained grim.
Sorsha felt bad for him because he did seem to want to help Gillian. And Shaw had explained what the boy had disclosed about hoping to assist Gillian in speaking.
“I know you were trying to help but scaring her with vermin in her bed is wrong, and ye know that. Ye know, lad, ye must go and find the mouse even if it takes ye all day. Remove it from the chamber and set it free outside. Ye will not be getting any morning fare until ye do so.” Shaw sat up, tilted his head at the lad, and pointed at the door. “Go on and we will have a talk later.”
“But, Laird, it weren’t Squeak’s fault. I put him on the bed. I’ve had Squeaks for a long time. He is only a wee field mouse. If I let him go,” Luthor said and sniffled, “I…won’t ever see himagain. He will run away.” The boy paused. “I made a house for him in an old bucket.”
Sorsha empathized with the lad. “I think that sounds like a good house for a mouse to live in—as long as you promise not to frighten Gillian with Squeaks again. What do you think, Shaw? Is that not agreeable?”
A quick smile widened her husband’s face but he hid it readily enough. “Aye…aye, but if ye find the mouse, ye will still need to be punished for trying to scare the poor lass. I shall tell the stable master to expect ye.”
“Can I have my morning fare?” Luthor asked and shimmied to the edge of the bed.
“Aye, after ye find yer mouse. Then report to the stables. Go on,” Shaw said.
The lad disappeared quickly but left the bedchamber door open.
Sorsha set Gillian on the floor. “I suppose I should rise and make sure Luthor’s mouse has a home and that the children eat a good helping. He’ll probably hurry to the stables and forget to eat if I’m not there. I have to wonder if his pranks are more than an attempt to scare Gillian into speaking. After all, lads are always up to mischief.”
Shaw shook his head but she saw a flicker of humor shine in his eyes. “I should get up too because I promised to meet Trey and go over the soldier’s schedule.”
Before he left, Shaw leaned over the bed and kissed her face. Then he pressed a hand on Gillian’s hair and smiled. “There is no need to be afeared here, Gillian. This is your home now. I promised that I would not allow anyone to hurt ye. Ye remember that, do ye not? And I always keep my promises.”
Gillian made no sounds or movements to acknowledge him. Sorsha’s shoulders slumped because eventually, she’d have to do something drastic to get her daughter speaking again.
Shaw washed at the basin, dressed, waved to her, and left in a hurry.
Sorsha took her time and went through her morning routine, taking care to dress warmly since there seemed to be a chill. After she washed, combed her hair, and pulled on the underdress, she selected a woolen overdress that would keep any breeze from making her cold. She tidied up the chamber and pulled at the bed covers, pressing the wrinkles from the edges, and fluffed the pillows.
Gillian stood by the window casement and peered through it. When she called her, Gillian turned and followed her to the children’s chamber. There, she readied her daughter for the day, mimicking the tasks she’d just performed for herself.
Sorsha was anxious to get to the great hall to ensure Mamo hadn’t gone to the graves overnight. When she reached the large room, Mamo wasn’t there. She settled Gillian at the table where she found an assortment of breads and a pot of pottage. It was still warm and smelled delicious. As she set a bowl before her daughter, Luthor capered into the hall. He sat next to Gillian and stole a piece of her bread.
“There is plenty of bread for you both.” Sorsha snatched up another piece and set it before Gillian. Then, she spooned a good helping of pottage for Luthor and slid it in front of him. “Eat, both of you. I will return shortly.” Before she’d left the hall, Enid strolled in and stopped to pour a vat of ale into the large container by the buttery. “Oh, Enid, I am glad you are here. Will you look after the children for a moment? I need to check on Mamo and make sure she’s within the keep. I fear she may have gone to the graves again.”
Enid nodded. “I shall, Milady, but usually Clovis tells us when she’s left through the gate.”
“Oh, well, that is a relief. Perhaps she is here.”
Sorsha rejoined the children and as she ate some pottage herself, Mamo shimmied through the threshold. She hurried to get up to assist the woman to the table and pulled a chair out for her. “Good morn, Mamo. I am so glad you are here. Let me get you a bit of food. Are you hungry?”
“Ravenous, lass, and my thanks.” Mamo sat opposite Luthor at the table and smiled at him. “I found a wee white mouse outside my bedchamber door, lad. Does he belong to ye?”