Page 43 of Bride Takes a Charmer
“Sorsha, please… I hope to become close to you, sister. Shaw is happy at your homecoming.”
Corliss made no response either in word or expression about Sorsha’s aim to make her feel welcome. “Were those your children? The two wee scamps that just left?”
“The lass is mine. Her name is Gillian and she has recently returned from the Chattan clan.” When Corliss looked at her questioningly, Sorsha expounded, “I was previously married to Rodick Chattan. He was Gillian’s father. Shaw meantime recently rescued the lad and we took him in. He was alone and—”
Corliss made another sour face and waved at her dismissively. “I detest children. They always get in the way ormake a mess of things.” Then her lips curled into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Ye were married to Rodick? That explains much…If ye ask me, Lady Mackintosh, ye probably would have been better off leaving his child there…with the Chattans.”
Sorsha pursed her lips at the woman’s haughtiness. She didn’t want to dislike Shaw’s sister, but any woman who abhorred children wasn’t a sort with whom she could be easily friendly. “She is my daughter too. Of course, I wanted her to be with me.”
Corliss gave another dismissive wave and, finished with her, turned back toward Shaw. “Ye are still taking in the unfortunates, Shaw? Ye have not changed since we were young. I do not see why ye bother to take in the orphans. Better to let the Church see to them. Do ye not have enough mouths to feed here withinourclan?”
Shaw frowned, seemingly unwilling to retort to his sister’s outlandish claim. But then a light smile set upon his mouth and he nodded. “Oho, aye, we have a good following now and our soldiers’ numbers have increased…all by taking in the so-called unfortunates. We are blessed to be able to help others especially children who might otherwise starve.”
“Ye always gave out handouts. I suppose Mamo encourages ye to do so? She always complimented ye when ye were younger about your altruism.” Corliss took a sip of her ale and blanched again before setting the cup back on the table.
Sorsha rose and couldn’t leave the hall fast enough. “I shall go and see where we might put you up while you are here.” She didn’t await a farewell from Shaw or his crass sister. Idris was even more ungracious with his unrelenting stare.
Sorsha rushed out of the back of the keep and entered the kitchen. She found Mamo and Gillian there, helping Edra by kneading dough. “Ah, there you are. You are behaving?” sheasked Gillian. Her daughter dropped the wad of dough that she held and peered at her.
“Oh, indeed she is,” Mamo said.
Edra approached and set a small basket of carrots on the table. “I am making rabbit stew for supper, Milady. Will that suit for the evening meal?”
“Sounds delicious. But it appears I need to prepare a bedchamber for Shaw’s sister and her husband.”
“We will need to clean out a chamber for there are none readied,” Edra said. She wiped her hands on an apron that wrapped around her body. “Let us tend to it.”
“Can we make certain it is far from my bedchamber?” Sorsha’s shoulders tensed after she spoke such words. She wasn’t sure if Corliss was liked by the maid. But she was relieved by Edra’s response.
“If I had my way, Milady, I’d put her in a cottage beyond the bridge. But och, our laird would not be too pleased by that. He’s always cared for his sister, and she can do no wrong in his eyes. He is a good, kind man.”
“’Tis the truth,” Mamo said. “Unlike my grandson, my granddaughter is self-serving, lass, so protect yourself against her. She shall have ye obeying her every command if ye give in too easily.”
Sorsha took the basket of carrots from Edra and began cutting them for the evening meal. The sharp kitchen dagger allowed her to work out some aggression. It seemed Shaw’s sister was most discourteous. Until she could glean Shaw’s feelings about his sister, Sorsha would be as kind and placating as possible.
Chapter Fifteen
Shaw’s sister hadbeen in residence for less than a fortnight and she constantly irritated her. Now, exasperated, Sorsha fled the hall in the hope of calming her ire. She’d allowed the woman to infuriate her to the point that she couldn’t remain in the same room with her. Corliss repeatedly mocked the children, ridiculed her choices in caring for them, or corrected her on whatever it was that she thought could be done better. Yet Corliss offered no help in the care of the keep. And her endless requests for her needs had poor Edra running in circles.
Trying to simmer her temper would probably take longer than a walk about the fief. Still, Sorsha tried to remain calm and unaffected by Corliss’s chastisement and derision. With some deep breaths and prayers for patience, her anger dissipated and she found herself enjoying the walk.
“Sorsha, there ye are.” Shaw approached from behind.
She stopped and waited for him to catch up to her. “I was but getting some air.”
“Edra said ye were outside. I thought we could spend a wee bit of time together. We have not had much privacy of late.” He took her hand and led her farther away from the keep.
“It has been a trying day and ’tis not even midday. I detest saying this, Shaw, but your sister is unpleasant. She undermines me at every turn and is unkind to the children. I wish she would return to the Chattans. Will she? Can we ask her to?”
Shaw stopped walking and turned to face her. “Corliss means well. She’s always been a wee bit overzealous. Maybe she feels threatened by ye, Sorsha. Ye are a hard woman to live up to. I say ye try to be patient with her. Given time, she will befriend ye.”
Her shoulders slumped. Sorsha had been more than patient and she doubted with all her heart that Shaw’s sister could befriend anyone. Obviously, Shaw cared greatly for her, so she had to bear whatever problems Corliss dealt out. She reasoned that Shaw likely did not see what others saw in his sister—a rude, selfish harridan. He was blinded by his love for her, his only sibling, and besides Mamo, his only direct family. She blew a breath of frustration but didn’t continue to berate him about Corliss. Instead, she took his hand and wanted to enjoy being with him even if it was only for a moment.
“The only thing that troubles me is the lack of privacy we have had of late. Come, I know the perfect spot where we can be alone for a time.”
On the way toward the gate, Sorsha noticed one of the soldiers lurking by a tree. He seemed to skulk toward them. She remembered the man had attacked Shaw when they first arrived. Henny, she recalled, was fond of ambushing his laird.
“We are being followed,” she said, and kept her view ahead.