Part 38 (1/2)
Meredith gave Angus a grateful look.
At a knock on the door they both turned and watched as Mistress Snow entered, followed by a serving girl carrying a tray.
”This is the broth you ordered, my lady.” Mistress Snow directed the servant where to set the tray, then turned to study Meredith, noting her pale features, accentuated by the dark circles that rimmed her eyes.
”If you do not soon rest you will be joining my lord Campbell in a sickbed.”
”I am fine.” Meredith knelt and tasted the broth before nodding her approval to the servant.
”Are the wounded below stairs beginning to heal?”
”Aye, my lady.” The housekeeper chanced a glance at Angus before adding softly,
”Though it has been a difficult task to keep some of them in bed long enough. Already some,” she said, staring meaningfully at the man who faced her with a grin, ”are determined to begin repairs on Kinloch House before their wounds have even begun to heal.”
”I heard the sound of axes in the forest and trees being felled. I thought perhaps only necessary repairs were being made.”
”Necessary.” Mistress Snow gave a hollow laugh.
”If Angus had his way, the castle would be as good as new before Brice had a chance to view the destruction left by the MacKenzies.”
”It will cause him pain to know that his ancestral home has been burned by Lowlanders,” Angus said softly.
”I would spare my old friend any more suffering. And now I must go below and see to those repairs.”
When he left the room, Meredith glanced at the housekeeper, who was staring at the closed door with a look of concern.
”I know that you fear Angus is pus.h.i.+ng himself and the others beyond their limits. But it is how a man deals with his feelings of hopelessness. With their leader cut down, and the enemy beyond their reach, they have a need to do something that is physically punis.h.i.+ng.”
”How did a sheltered woman like yourself learn such things?” The housekeeper watched as Meredith dipped the spoon into the bowl of broth.
”My father was a peace-loving man. But he was also a warrior.”
Meredith held the spoon to Brice's lips and watched as he swallowed the first trickle of broth.
”Each time he was forced to recover from battle wounds inflicted by the English, he quickly undertook a difficult, draining task. My mother explained that it was a necessary part of healing.”
”Your mother was a wise woman.” Mistress Snow gave a loud sigh.
”As for me, I would prefer to take Angus to bed and find a gentler way of healing.”
When she realized what she had revealed, the housekeeper blushed to the tips of her toes.
”Oh, my lady. Forgive me for my lapse.”
Meredith's laughter rang through the room.
”Oh, Mistress Snow. If you could but see your face.”
”I--must see to the scullery,” the woman said, hurrying to the door to escape her humiliation.