Page 27 of Bride Takes a Laird
Linet approached the basin and picked up the pitcher. “I’ll get fresh water and we’ll have you soothed in no time.” She left the chamber.
Kendra laughed to herself thinking about Linet and her comment. Just how shameful was Linet, and who had she been wanton with? Kendra would have to pry it from her because Linet never revealed much about herself. It wasn’t that her friend was secretive, but she was quiet and kept her matters private. Many times, Kendra had to question her repeatedly to get her to confess her thoughts.
Kendra hurried to remove the bedding and she rolled it into a clump. She blushed mightily at the thought of what she and Magnus had done the night before. Yet, she looked forward to their next encounter. Magnus had said there was more to the sensual act and she longed to find out what that was. He was already up and about when she’d awakened and she wondered if he was still within the keep’s walls. Would he come and greet her or should she seek him out? Marriage and wifery were positively unknown realms to her.
The door opened and Linet entered carrying a pitcher set against her hip. She reached the basin and put the pitcher on the floor. Then she dumped the old water out of the window casement before she refilled the basin. “I’m sure you’ll want to check on your father thismorn. Let us get you dressed so you can be on your way.”
Kendra took a clean cloth and pressed it over her face. Sleepiness instantly abated. After she was clean and soothed, Linet helped her pull on a blueish-gray overdress. She slipped her feet into her boots while Linet combed her hair.
“There, I tied it behind your neck. It’s chilly and you should leave your hair down to keep you warmer.”
She always listened to Linet’s sound advice when it came to matters of dress and hair arrangement. Linet always appeared put-together even in her plain frocks with her red hair. She admired Linet’s hair and wished hers was as bright and becoming.
“I should go.” Kendra picked up the laundry from the floor and headed for the door.
“Leave that, I’ll take care of it. I’ll have someone come and take the tub away too. I know you have much on your mind and I am here to help you, so let me.”
Kendra set the laundry on the floor next to the door and retrieved her shawl in case she needed it. “I am glad you are here. It would be lonely without you.” Kendra embraced her and felt eased. “But you should come with me. I don’t want to walk to my father’s cottage by myself.”
“Very well. Let me take the laundry to the kitchen and I’ll ask Ellen if someone will see to it and the tub too.” Linet snatched the pile from the floor and waited for her to open the door.
With apprehension, Kendra left the chamber and strolled with slow steps to the great hall. Linet followed along silently. Kendra hadn’t expected to find anyone there, but Magnus’s mother was eating her morning fare.
“Good day, Lady Faye.”
Linet set the launder by the entrance and hastened to the table to fill a trencher for her. Kendra eyed her but smiled. Linet went beyond and treated her as the lady of the keep but Kendra wasn’t comfortablewith that honor. In her mind, the role of lady still went to Magnus’s mother.
At the same time, while Lady Faye lived there, she would have to curb her tendencies to take charge. She’d been the lady of her father’s manor for so long that Kendra was uncertain it was possible to behave otherwise. Still, she would try.
Musing on this, Kendra took a piece of warm bread and smeared it with a jellied relish.
“Lady Kendra, good morn.” Faye poured herself a drink and filled it nearly to the rim. She lifted the cup and took a small sip to keep it from overflowing.
“Please, Lady Faye, call me ‘Kendra.’ It is still morning? I thought I had slept away the morn and apologize if you awaited me. I was overtired from the events of the past sennight and the journey.” She set to eat a bite and poured half a cup of mead into a clean goblet.
“Oh, I am sure ye were tired from your journey. It is rather a long way from Edinburgh. Did I see laundry in your maid’s hands?” She set her cup down and gave her full attention to them.
Kendra nodded and felt her face heat. She didn’t want to have to explain why the bedding needed to be laundered and hoped Magnus’s mother didn’t ask. “I thought to have the bedding washed but Linet shall take care of it.”
“There is no need. Ellen has a group of lasses that come each day to help her. Oh, here is Ellen now.” Faye turned in her seat and waved the maid forward.
A woman near Lady Faye’s age approached. She had a pleasing demeanor and her grayish-blue eyes peered with kindness. Her hair was the shade of hay when autumn was in full. Kendra dipped her chin to the woman and smiled.
“Ellen, this is our new lady… Lady Kendra, Magnus’s wife. She has left laundry there by the entrance, will you see to it?”
Ellen smiled. “Oh, ’tis a pleasure to meet the laird’s wife.Welcome, Milady. If ye need anything, ye have only to ask. I shall see to the washing for ye.”
“I do not wish to give you more chores, Ellen, or the maids that help you. I am used to looking after myself for the most part. Linet will help me, if you’ll only direct us to where you do the washing. You met Linet last eve?” Kendra finished her drink and pushed the goblet away from her. It was so sweet that she puckered her mouth.
Linet stepped forward and stood beside her chair. “Good day, Mistress Ellen.”
“Oh, aye, and what a sweet lass. Good morn, Linet. Ye be fortunate to have her, Lady Kendra. But I have several lassies who help me, so worry not about the wash. I will see to it. Besides, ye are now our laird’s wife. We must take care of ye and ye shall allow us to do so,” Ellen said. “The bedding will be laundered and replaced before ye seek your bed this night.”
“You are kind. Is the weather fair? I had hoped to visit my father this morning.”
Lady Faye seemed to shrug and didn’t answer.
Ellen folded her hands in front of her and nodded. “It is a wee bit chilly but fair. I heard that your father stays near Laird Hugh in Old Angus’s cottage. He shall find our laird’s grandfather good company.”