Page 42 of Bride Takes a Charmer
Luthor nodded vigorously. “Aye, Milady, that is Squeaks. I put him into his house! How did he get out?”
“Some mice are very smart.” Mamo held out the mouse and Luthor took it from her. He shoved the creature inside his tunic and continued eating his morning meal.
Sorsha smiled at Mamo for her kindness. She suspected that Luthor might be upset if he’d lost his pet. While she finished eating, she spoke to Mamo about the day and their plans. “We should probably get the bedding washed. I shall see if Edra and Enid need help doing the washing. It might warm enough to spend a little time outside.”
“I would be pleased to watch the children,” Mamo said.
“Luthor will be out of the keep most of the day. He has chores to see to in the stable. But Gillian will be here. Perhaps you can watch her whilst I tend to some things…” She ceased speaking when Shaw entered with an unknown man and woman following him.
“Ah, Sorsha, come and meet my sister Corliss and her husband Idris. They just arrived.”
She rose from her seat and approached the woman. Shaw’s sister had gleaming, almost black hair, and dark eyes. Corliss didn’t resemble Shaw in her looks but she was a stunning woman. Sorsha bowed to her and offered a welcome but the woman passed her by to reach the table.
“Really, Shaw, will ye not offer us refreshment? We have traveled afar and are tired from the journey. We could do with a bite to eat.”
Sorsha hurried and grabbed a pitcher of ale from the buttery. She poured them cups and set them before Corliss and her husband. “We are pleased to have you here. Shaw has spoken of your visit. If I can do anything to make your stay more enjoyable—”
Corliss ignored her and gasped as her gaze settled upon the elder woman. “Shaw, shame on ye for not telling me that Mamo was still living. I thought her dead long ago. Mamo, ye are still with us, I see.”
Mamo raised a brow and offered no welcome to her granddaughter. “Aye, why God keeps me here is quite the mystery. But right now I find I could do with some air and shall take the wee lass outside.” She stood and took Gillian’s hand then the pair of them left the hall.
Sorsha was surprised by Mamo’s abrupt departure. Surely she wanted to spend time with her granddaughter, but it was apparent that she wasn’t fond of Corliss. Now, Shaw sat next to her as she took a seat at the table and grabbed her hand. He squeezed it lightly as if to give her a silent message—what that was she was uncertain. Sorsha took an empty cup, poured her husband a drink, and handed it to him. He grinned at her and gave a nod of thanks.
“Milady, I am going to the stables now,” Luthor said and hopped off the chair. He bowed to her and Shaw.
She almost grinned at the lad’s excitement. Most lads liked being in the busy stable. Before he crossed the threshold, she called out, “I shall come and get you before the evening meal.”
Shaw watched the boy leave then turned and motioned to his sister. “Corliss, tell us… How long do ye plan to stay?”
Corliss took a sip of her drink and made a face, then set the cup down and gave it a look of distaste, pushing it away from her before she returned her attention to Shaw. “Since Idris and I are now homeless, we hoped to beg for your hospitality.”
“There’s no need to beg, sister. This shall always be your home,” Shaw said. “There is a small chamber available within the keep unless ye want to stay in a cottage. I am sure we can find a vacant one…”
“I prefer to stay within the keep,” Corliss said and pressed her hand on her husband’s forearm. “Does that suit ye, husband?” The man nodded but said nothing.
Sorsha wondered how close Shaw was to his sister. There seemed to be an easiness between them and he smiled when he offered her a place to stay. Yet Idris had spoken not a word since he’d arrived so Sorsha thought to include him. “And how was the journey, Idris? How far have you traveled?”
Idris, a man whose looks put him in a somewhat lower category than Shaw, shrugged. He appeared thin-bodied, so she took that as if he hadn’t wielded weapons much. Not only did he appear lanky, but he had a weak, pointy chin, and his reddish-brown hair barely covered his head.
“My clan resided by the borders, Milady, near Lothian. We were recently ousted by the Cummings clan and until we can recoup what we have lost—”
Corliss interjected, “I wrote to ye, Shaw, and told ye about our unfortunate situation. Our home was sacked and burned. There was naught left and we fled for our lives.”
Shaw nodded. “I received your missive, Corliss, but I am unsure why the Cummings would attack your clan. Idris, are ye not on good terms with them? I thought your clan had a treaty of a sort with the Cummings Clan by way of the Chattans?”
“We had, but no longer. Geoff assures me that he will aid me in regaining lands for my clan. When I can do so, my brethren will return to me. Of that, I do not worry.”
“How does Geoff plan to retake the lands? Will he offer his army to assist ye in a war?” Shaw’s face turned grim with the narrowing of his eyes and a small pout on his lips.
“He assures me that even if I am unable to regain my family’s lands, I will have a place to call home. Corliss and I are gladdened ye welcomed us here.”
Corliss spoke up then. “Oh, indeed, brother. Geoff was most welcoming as well but I was impatient to get to ye so we only stayed a night.”
Sorsha was about to make her excuses to leave and attend her duties when Corliss finally addressed her. “So ye are now the lady of the Mackintoshes?”
Fortunately, Shaw saved her from having to answer the woman. “Indeed, she is. King Alexander offered her as a bride. I am well pleased by it too.”
His sister pursed her lips. “I see that ye are. And ye, Lady Mackintosh—”