Page 22 of The Trials of Neilina MacKai
Rhuad was pleased with the preparations for the rescue.The plan agreed upon was much more likely to succeed than the original attack he and Dougal had created.They would have considerably more information, and even he understood that information was power.
He was also pleased that his aunt had taken a genuine interest in teaching Seona how Castle MacFearann should be run.Lady Staunton had even praised some of his wife’s suggestions in Rhuad’s hearing.
“I do not know why no one ever considered inviting our priest to assist with distributing excess food and supplies to our poor,” she exclaimed at that evening’s meal.“In fact, until Lady Seona brought it to my attention, I was unaware that Clan MacFearann had poor folk.I had always thought our clan, though small, was wealthy enough that none suffered from want.”
“And how did you discover this problem, wife?”he asked.
“Ahm, Lady Staunton and I discovered it together, when I asked her to walk through the village with me and introduce me to the people there.She very kindly took me everywhere I asked to go.”
Lady Staunton preened.“It was my pleasure to show the future mistress of Castle MacFearann everything that will help in her future duties.”
Seona’s face grew red, and she took a sip of ale.
Odd, my wife is not given to blushes.
Nonetheless the growing accord between the two women was a pleasant surprise, because Lady Staunton had not been very warm in her welcome of Seona to the clan.Oh, she’d done all that was proper, and his wife never said a word of criticism.But he had eyes in his head.He recognized that his aunt had been vexed to find she was to be replaced in her position as chatelain.He’d no idea what caused the change in her attitude, but he suspected it had to do with Lady Seona’s ability to find exactly the right words to soothe those who felt offended, justly or not.
As Seona placed her tankard on the table, a guard hurried to the table.
“Laird MacFearann, your squire has returned and begs to see you.”
“Why did he not tell me this himself.”
“It seems he had a, er, mishap, and is with the castle healer.She will not permit him to move about right now.”
“Very well.Lady Seona, Dougal, please join me.I know you both have interest in what my squire has to say.”
“Of course,” his wife responded and stood.
Dougal echoed her words and actions.
“Aunt, please excuse us.Tell the cook the meal was tasty.”
“Certainly nephew.”She nodded and stood herself to hurry away.
He led Dougal and Seona to the MacFearann barracks where they found the squire and the healer in a small room at the back.The room had been designed with a door to allow the healer and any patients privacy when needed and a shuttered window to let in fresh air.At the moment, the shutters were open.The room was also used on occasion for the senior men at arms to consult with each other on training the younger men and other duties.At present, the healer was busy stitching a long gash in his squire’s lower right leg.
“Lady Seona, have you met Mistress Camfeld, our healer.”
“Nay I have not yet had that pleasure.”
“Then allow me to present her to you.Mistress Camfeld, Lady Seona is my handfasted wife.”
Seona held out her hand.
The healer stopped her work briefly to exchange clasps.“I hear ye’re a MacKai by birth,” the healer remarked as she resumed her work.
“Aye.”
“I’ve heard of your sister Lady Maeve.”
“She would be honored by your notice.”
The healer chuckled.“Possibly, though I’d only heard tales of the healing work she does until after Sir Dougal came to us.”
Rhuad and Seona looked at Dougal whose neck went red.
At that moment a clatter arose outside.Dougal moved to look out the window.
