Page 75 of When A Laird Loves A Lady
Archibald sighed but nodded. “I’llbe happy to aid ye any way ye wish, my lady. I’m sure ye picked me because—”
“Yes, yes, come with me,” Marioninterrupted and hurried off, leaving Bridgette and Graham standing alone infront of the kitchen doors.
The chaos of the kitchen wasshocking. She stood in the entrance with Archibald beside her and gaped at thescene. A score of cooks ran around shouting at one another, and women whosurely had to be the bakers—if the dough covering their arms was anyindication—traded nasty and very loud barbs. Meanwhile, the poulterers—ten ofthem that Marion could see—all seemed to be waving their knives and cursinginstead of actually preparing the birds for supper.
She glanced quickly at the shelvesand saw that many were almost bare and not properly stocked, either. Fiona mayhave been mistress of the castle, but she clearly did not care about it, or atleast not the kitchen, which was odd since she would benefit from a well-runkitchen.
Marion cleared her throat. When noone even glanced her way, she turned to Archibald. “Can you whistle?”
He narrowed his eyes at her,confused. “Aye.”
She’d tried for years to masterwhistling, but the only way she could manage it was by inhaling air, and thatnever produced the loud, shrill whistle she longed to make.
“Would you mind?” she asked him.
His brow stayed wrinkled for amoment, and then it slowly smoothed and he grinned. “I’d love to.” He put hisfingers up to his mouth and let out the loudest, shrillest whistle Marion hadever heard. She was awed, jealous, and immensely pleased.
The occupants of the kitchen cameto a complete standstill, and silence permeated the room.
Marion cleared her throat, suddenlyvery nervous. “Good day. I wanted to present myself to each of you.”
“We ken who ye are, my lady,” saida woman with salt-and-pepper hair and kind eyes. “Many of us were gathered bythe sea when the laird returned and presented ye.” The woman glanced aroundher. “And those of us who were nae there have certainly been told of ye.” Thewoman wiped her hands on her dark apron, leaving a trail of flour across itsfront. She stepped forward and offered an awkward curtsy. “I’m Kyla, Neil’swife.”
“Neil!” Marion smiled, inadvertentlytouching her ear as she thought of the man who Froste had mutilated twice now.“I did not know he was married. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
The woman grinned broadly.“Likewise. Neil told me how ye risked yer life to help him, and then how yedressed his ear. I was hoping for the opportunity to thank ye, and tell yesimply to ask if I can ever do anything for ye.”
Marion was aware that the entirekitchen staff was listening to their conversation. This would be the perfecttime to tell them of her intention of being involved in the running of thekitchen, but she needed to make certain she didn’t sound obtrusive. She wantedthem to see her as a peer, not a Sassenach that suddenly appeared and told themwhat to do.
“Actually, Kyla, I would very muchlike to learn about how things are done in the kitchen here, and in other areasof the castle, as well. You see,” Marion said sincerely, “I was mistress of myfather’s castle in England, but I fear that is very different from overseeing agrand Scottish castle. Would you help me learn?” Marion purposely met thecurious gazes of the women surrounding her, and she was very surprised andpleased to see Elspeth standing among them. Marion settled her attention onElspeth. “Would you all help me?”
“Of course, my lady,” Kylaimmediately replied, and others, Elspeth included, quickly echoed their agreement.“What would ye like to ken?”
Marion smiled. “Well, the firstthing I’d like to know is if you would all please call me Marion.”
“As ye wish it, my lady—er,Marion.”
“Excellent!” Marion looped her armthrough Kyla’s. The woman’s eyes widened, but she did not pull away. “Are youhead of the kitchen?”
“I was,” Kyla murmured, bitternesstingeing her voice. “But when Lady Catriona passed away, her sister Fiona tookher duties upon herself and declared that we were nae to do anything withoutasking her first.” Kyla glanced pointedly at Elspeth. “But Fiona never comes tothe kitchen and kinnae be bothered with the needs of the kitchen.”
“Truly, she does nae want to bebothered with much that does nae pertain to her own needs,” Elspeth added,glancing shyly at Marion.
“I see,” Marion replied softly. Itsounded as though Fiona simply liked to lord over people. Marion took a deepbreath. “Well, I’m mistress now, and I firmly believe it’s good to havedifferent people running different things. You all know this kitchen and thecastle’s needs better than anyone. I’d like to appoint someone to head thekitchen, who will then deliberate with me.” Murmurs of agreement filled theroom. She had been careful to use the worddeliberatebecause she wantedthe women to understand that they had a voice and a say in what was to happen.
“Would everyone be in agreementwith my appointing Kyla as head of the kitchen?” Hearty agreement swiftly came.“Wonderful!” Marion glanced sideways at Kyla. “Would you please counsel me asto who you think should head the bakers, and the poulterers, and the otherareas of the kitchen?”
For the next hour, Marion followedKyla around the kitchen as the woman personally presented Marion to each personwhom she felt should run a part of the kitchen. At the end of the hour, Marionwas parched from all the talking and she noticed Archibald had found a chair ina corner and looked as if he was about to fall asleep. She excused herself fromKyla and went over to Archibald and assured him that he did not need to staywith her. He offered a weak protest but then left at her behest. Once it wasjust Marion with the kitchen ladies, who seemed willing and ready to accepther, she felt a sense of real hope.
The women gathered around a largerectangular table in the middle of the kitchen and partook in a light morningmeal. As they ate, Marion entreated them to tell her what they thought neededimprovement in the kitchen. The cooks themselves readily admitted the food wasnot as good as it could be, but they were adamant that it was because thingswere so disorganized and the food stores were not properly stocked. Marion toldthem that she would oversee the stocking of the kitchen herself and thattogether they would strive to please Iain. While he never complained of thelackluster meals, he never complimented the food, either. Marion could tell ithad hurt the women’s pride, and having known just how it felt to want to benoticed for your efforts, Marion was determined to see that Iain and the othermen were so impressed by the meals that they’d rave about them.
As she departed, she promised tospeak to Iain about gathering the proper spices and supplies the kitchen needed.True to her word, Marion spoke with Iain that night as they lay in his bed.
“Iain, have you noticed the food atDunvegan tends to be bland?”
He frowned. “Aye. It used to bemuch better.”
Marion wanted to lay the blame atFiona’s feet where it belonged, but she restrained herself. “The kitchen is notbeing properly stocked. The cooks tell me they don’t have the herbs they need,nor enough barley and rye to make the bread and mead. And they don’t have anyhoney from the beekeepers to sweeten the food.”
