by Starla Kaye
While he mulled the problem over, Mary looked at Maggie. For just a second he thought he saw something close to hatred in her eyes, but then she offered a smile that lit up her face. She was indeed a beautiful woman in spite of her being near skin and bone. He wondered if he’d even seen the other expressions at all. She now appeared warm and sympathetic.
“You poor thing, you look so travel-worn.” Mary smoothed her delicate hands down the sides of her finely made black dress with much ornamentation trim down the front, more elegant than a typical day would warrant. Her hair had been intricately braided and wrapped around her head. She gave a curious eye to Maggie’s simple Highland dress of plaid skirt, chemise, and black fitted bodice. “Would you like me to have the servants prepare you a bath, Lady Urquhart? I am sure you are most eager to remove a layer or so of dirt.”
Without waiting for an answer, she glanced back at the staff still standing nearby. Instead of telling them her request, she fluttered her hands to motion them to do her bidding. No one moved. None had actually heard her quiet comments. She looked distressed, her cheeks turning pink in embarrassment, apparently not realizing she needed to make her request clear to them. She needed to take charge and tell them what she wanted. They couldn’t read her mind. After being around the much bolder Maggie for several weeks now, Nicholas felt impatient with a timid woman.
“A bath, please. Lady Urquhart needs a bath prepared,” she stated in a slightly louder tone, sounding irritated.
The wind had picked up and when still no one moved, Nicholas assumed they hadn’t heard her request. It was clear she had no familiarity with running a household. She didn’t know how to take charge. Again, he compared her to Maggie and found her seriously lacking.
She faced him, her cheeks flaming even more, worrying her lower lip. “I don’t understand, My Lord. I’ve had trouble getting the staff to do anything I’ve asked of them.”
“Perhaps it is because they can’t hear you when you speak to them. I can barely hear you and I’m standing much closer to you.” He didn’t have time for this. His men needed his instructions. But he needed to make some attempt to settle Maggie and Fia into their new home. Their temporary home, he reminded himself.
He sensed Maggie beside him, knew she could easily handle the situation, but she had no role here other than as guest and she was aware of that fact. He also knew she waited to see how he would deal with the matter. Drawing on his limited tolerance with ineptitude, he forced something close to a smile and faced the dozen or so curious people still watching and waiting.
“As Lady Stanhope was trying to convey, she asks that a bath be prepared for Lady Urquhart. I ask that you prepare one for her. Her travels have been hard and tiring. A bath would certainly be welcome.”
Several nods of understanding and acknowledgement came his way. Relieved, he added, “I’m sure Lady Urquhart would also appreciate something to eat after she has refreshed herself.”
“Certainly, My Lord. We will take good care of your guest,” stated a rather plump woman with a warm smile. “I’m Abigail, My Lord, your head cook.” She gave him an awkward curtsy and then she began herding the other servants back toward the keep much like a chicken hustling her chicks along.
When he gazed at Maggie, he found her studying the slightly older Lady Stanhope. He could sense she wasn’t impressed by Mary’s offer of hospitality; certainly she disapproved of the weak manner in which the woman had attempted to deal with the staff. Mary stood, looking awkward and distressed, until she caught him watching her. Then she raised her chin and smiled once more. He wasn’t sure why, but he feared trouble ahead between the women. Neither woman would be staying here long, if he could help it. But he would not tolerate arguments or strife between them. He had enough to deal with in taking over as the new lord here and making sure all of the men worked well together.
Maggie broke the few seconds of strained silence and called after the departing group. “Please prepare a bath fer Fia as well.”
Mary blinked in puzzlement. “But she’s your….” It was evident she didn’t understand Maggie’s concern for her maid. Staff people normally took care of their own needs. The Lady and Lord of a holding rarely got involved in such a manner.
“Fia has had a rough time traveling, too. A bath would be appreciated,” Maggie countered, her mouth tightening in a stubborn line.
Abigail turned back and smiled in approval. “’Tis no problem, My Lady.”
Fia looked uncomfortable, but grateful. She hurried to catch up with the others. “I shall help prepare the baths.”
“I’m sorry,” Mary said with an apologetic glance at Nicholas. “I suppose I should have thought about her as well.”
“The request was beyond the norm, but then Lady Urquhart and Fia are very close.” Nicholas found he respected Maggie even more for her concern for her friend.
“I will remember that, My Lord.” Mary looked toward the keep and the people hurriedly walking back inside. “I will go make sure the cooks find something for your guest to eat for now. And Fia, too, I assume. Then I will direct them about preparing the evening’s sup.” She turned to walk away.
Even though her statement had been quietly stated with no doubt good intentions, Nicholas didn’t like the way she tried to settle into his household and take the place of what would normally be the lady of the castle’s duties. The thought reminded him of her announcement that she planned to take her sister’s place and she felt her future lie in becoming his wife. She was pretty enough and would not be a hardship to bed, but other than that, he did not see them as in any way suiting. They needed to talk. Soon.
“Aye,” he said, “you may do so for this eve, Lady Stanhope.”
She stopped to peer back at him. “I don’t understand, My Lord. I am only trying to—”
“Beginning tomorrow, I would ask Lady Urquhart to take over the daily running duties of Middleham’s keep,” he said abruptly. He hoped he wouldn’t later regret his sudden decision.
One of Maggie’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “I can, of course. But….”
Mary blinked in surprise, a definite hint of disapproval in her expression. “Why would you do that? Why would you have the staff get used to Lady Urquhart’s directions when she will be here but a short time? I am pleased to offer my help in this manner, since it will be my duty soon anyway.”
Gerald cleared his throat behind them. “I believe I will go see to the horses.”
Nicholas had gotten so caught up in this minor problem between the women that he’d forgotten Gerald and a few of his men were still waiting nearby. It irritated him that they witnessed this scene. He gave a curt nod to his first knight and watched Gerald walk away leading both his and Nicholas’s horses, obviously eager to get away from the strained situation. The handful of men followed him. Nicholas considered just walking off as well. But he wasn’t a coward. He would settle this matter and as soon as he had a few words with Richard and Gerald, he would have a serious talk with Mary.
Maggie spoke before he could gather his thoughts. “Ye’ve n’ver guided a castle’s staff, have ye, Lady Stanhope?”
“No, but I’m sure I can learn how. It can’t be all that difficult.” She gave him a determined look.
Maggie snorted and drew a disapproving glance from Nicholas, but she boldly returned it. “’Tis not as easy ye seem to think.”
Her thin shoulders thrust back, Mary showed a bit of temper this time. “I can learn.” Now she focused on Nicholas. “I will learn if given the chance.”
Nicholas had tired of this discussion. He’d made a decision and would stick by it. “Maggie, Lady Urquhart, is more than competent at running a household. Even for her young age, she has been the lady of the castle of Urquhart for many years. Her people held a great deal of respect for her. She will act the lady here until her new betrothal has been arranged.”
Mary’s face reddened in embarrassment. “If that is your wish, My Lord.”
Now he felt guilty. �
��Perhaps Lady Urquhart can guide you in how to manage a household. Until she leaves. Until you leave as well.”
The brief flash of relief in her eyes fled at his reminder that he didn’t intend for her to stay. “But the king—”
“We will discuss the matter in private, Lady Stanhope. For now I must go see to a few matters with my two first knights.” He didn’t wait around for additional protests. His patience with the situation had faded. He was more than annoyed she’d taken it upon herself to send word to King Edward about her sister’s death and her intention to replace Elizabeth as his betrothed.
He hadn’t gotten more than a dozen feet away when he overheard Mary say, “Apparently you have won for now, Lady Urquhart. But after we talk, I suspect Lord Middleham’s decision will change.”
He hesitated and waited to hear Maggie’s response. She simply said, “There was nay win here fer me. He plans to see me wed quickly to whoever will please his king. I am as much of a burden to him as ye are. Maybe more.”
Oddly her words played over and over in his mind as he walked toward the stables. Burden? Wed quickly? Yes, he had been assigned the task by Edward and her family to find her a suitable husband as soon as possible. But, even though she dared to go nose-to-nose with him at times over one issue or another, he realized he would miss her.
* * *
“She’s no’ as naïve and innocent as she tries to ‘pear, that Lady Stanhope. She shows one face to the staff and another to his lordship. She bears close watchin’, I’m thinkin’.” Fia turned a cold eye toward the woman across the room. “She plans to marry Lord Middleham.”
Maggie tore off a bit of bread, listening to the words of warning. She followed her friend’s gaze across the room to where Mary stood animatedly talking to a serving girl. She’d not shown near that vibrancy in the bailey. The girl’s face had reddened and Maggie wondered exactly what was being said.
She and Fia had each bathed and met down in the nearly deserted great hall only moments ago. Clearly Fia had already picked up some knowledge about the other woman from the maid who’d helped with her bath. The shy young girl who’d assisted Maggie had been too nervous to speak more than a few words. But Maggie had already sensed tension between the staff and Mary. She wasn’t sure why yet, but she’d soon find out.
“I dunna think she will get her wish. She’s no’ right for him.” Maggie chewed on the bread and considered eating a bite of cheese as well. She really wasn’t all that hungry, but Fia appeared famished. She’d rather do some looking around, make acquaintances with the staff.
Fia gave her a curious look. “No’ right for his lordship? Dunna tell me ye have yer heart set on him.”
“Of course no’!” She thought about the big, handsome English lord. Definitely a fine specimen of a man. Not a Highlander, but still a strong leader, confident, and liked by his men. She also knew him to be extremely stubborn and grimly determined at times…especially with her. “Nay, we arena suited either.” Liar. You are far more suited to him than you were to poor Rob MacKenzie.
“I’m thinkin’ Lord Middleham would make a good husband. He’s got land and power, the respect of his men. He was good with the people at Urquhart, too.” Fia sighed, her cheeks blushing. “I’m also thinkin’ he’d know well how to please a woman in bed.”
Maggie felt the stirrings of heat low in her body. It happened a lot when she thought about Nicholas. She wanted to touch his splendid chest, wanted to smooth her hands over the bare skin, feel the play of his muscles beneath her fingers. She wanted to feel the touch of his mouth against hers. She wanted….
She tossed the rest of the bread on the table. “Enough! Lord Middleham may be a handsome devil, but he will ne’er be pleasuring me. I am no’ here for that, nor to become his wife. Besides, he’s English!”
She shoved to her feet, recalling how he had turned her over his knee for going on and on about how much she detested the English. Then she heaved a sigh of frustration. “I am here only because he has been ordered to find me a suitable betrothed. No doubt someone who the English king will approve,” she said the last bitterly.
That thought left a sour taste in her mouth. She would never have a love for the English. They’d destroyed her family and insisted on taking her from her home. No, she did not want an Englishman for a husband and might have to go to drastic measures to prevent it from happening. She’d briefly toyed with the idea of sneaking away, finding her way back to Urquhart. Surely she could convince Douglas to let her hide there until Brodie returned. And he would return!
“And well you should remember that, Lady Urquhart,” Mary said and walked next to them at the long trestle table. “You will soon be gone from here.”
The determined look in her eyes told Maggie she’d heard most of what the two of them had said. She had the hearing of an eagle. Not for the first time, Maggie was certain the woman was playing games here. Fia was right, she sported two faces: the soft spoken innocent and the woman with a definite plan and the acting ability to reach her goal. Nicholas best be careful or he would indeed find himself wed to this woman.
“Eavesdropping, were ye?” Maggie gave her a knowing look.
Mary faced her down, not at all intimidated. “Sounds echo in this hall, especially when so few people are here.” She flattened her thin lips for a second and shook her head in disapproval. “I’m just hoping that young serving girl didn’t hear you talking about Lord Middleham’s suspected prowess in bed. Or about him pleasuring you, Lady Urquhart.”
Maggie hoped so as well, but she didn’t like being taken to task by the likes of Mary. “Well, the man willna be pleasuring ye either. Ye’ll be leaving here just like me, hopefully sooner than me.”
Mary’s hands curled into fists at her sides. Her eyes narrowed. “I’ll change his mind about sending me away. I’m quite confident that the king will back me in my case to take my poor sister’s place as Lord Middleham’s wife.”
Maggie wasn’t in the mood to argue any longer. The woman couldn’t be reasoned with, wouldn’t accept that Nicholas didn’t want her. She turned to head toward the kitchens. It was time to meet the people who really mattered around here.
* * *
Two weeks had passed and Nicholas still had both Maggie and Mary in his keep. They were driving him crazy. He spent more and more time with his men, even considered moving out to bed with them in the knights’ quarters. Now as he broke his fast and sat at the head of the trestle table, he found himself with little appetite. Maggie sat on one side of him, Mary on the other. Neither had spoken a word yet and the tension was getting to him. The keep ran as smoothly as it had at Urquhart; the servants were enamored of Maggie. Yet she’d done as little as possible in the way of guiding Mary in running a household even though he’d ordered her to do so. She always had some excuse or another for not doing so. Mary had come to him again last night with tales of all but pleading for Maggie’s guidance and being refused. He’d had enough.
He washed down the bread he’d eaten with a swallow of mead. Then he looked directly at Maggie. “You will take the time today to begin instructing Mary.”
“I’ve been doing so fer days now. Is there something specific ye have in mind?” She glanced at Mary with suspicion. “Has she come to ye with complaints? I’ve got a few of my own.”
Mary sipped her cup of mead and a look of beatific innocence spread over her face. “You’ve barely explained anything to me. Mainly you’ve had me working on the mending, which I understand is necessary.” She smiled tolerantly at him.
Irritation flashed in Maggie’s eyes. “Ye’ve done a poor job with it, too! I’ve spent more than one night repairing the faulty mending ye’ve done.”
“Enough!” Nicholas blew out a deep breath and noted the amusement flickering on the faces of a handful of men from where they sat breaking their fast at a nearby table. “I’m weary of these games the two of you are playing with each other. You will get along, Maggie, and do as I’ve told you or….” He let the t
hought fade off. He’d already warned her more than a few times she was skirting the need for him to apply the flat of his hand to her bottom again. Maybe he should use the paddle this time.
Her brow wrinkled in vexation and that defiant chin of hers shot up. “Why am I the only one ye threaten to behave? Why no’—”
The hard look he sent her way had her slamming her mouth shut. “Mayhap you need a day spent in your bedchamber thinking over your behavior of late, of how you resist doing as I’ve ordered.”
Her eyes widened and then narrowed. “’Tis no’ right my being kept from my duties. Who will do them if I’m sent to my chamber?”
“I could—” Mary began only to swallow her words at Maggie’s fierce glower.
“She isna ready to take charge.” Maggie’s breasts rose and fell with her anger.
Nicholas watched all too closely the movement of those plump breasts. Too often he thought about how they might feel cupped by his hands. Too often he watched the sweet sway of her hips as she crossed a room. She’d begun haunting his dreams and he awoke with a hard pole and a strong need to drive it into her enticing body. Feeling the stirrings of arousal now because her fighting spirit drew him, he slammed his hand on the table. Mead spilled over the lip of his cup.
“’Tis your fault she isn’t ready. But I’m sure she has learned something these last couple of weeks. Surely Lady Stanhope has learned enough to take charge for today, with the help of the servants.”
He stood and towered over Maggie. “When you are done breaking your fast, you will go to your bedchamber. You will stay there this day. Work on the mending. Work on the tapestry you’ve started. I don’t really care, but you will stay there this day!”
Maggie shoved back her chair and nearly set it on his foot. He stepped back and she got to her feet. “As ye wish, Lord Middleham. Whatever ye say, Lord Middleham.”
