Page 34 of Never Marry a Highlander

She wanted so much to comment on that, but since she thought Helena might have taken offense at the way she left the bedchamber, she decided ‘twas better to keep her mouth closed.

“Aye, Helena will take good care of him, Lorena,” Finn said as he filled his trencher with boiled eggs, pieces of fried pork and a slice of warm bread.

She smiled through her teeth.“Aye, I’m sure she will.We all ken what a great healer she is.”Lorena stabbed her meat with her knife as though the animal still needed killing.

True to the ways of men, neither man showed any sign of being curious or offended by what she said.Arrogant oafs.

“I’m sure yer anxious to find yer place here, Lorena,” Finn said between bites.

She pushed her food around her plate.“I’m no’ sure there is a place for me here.”

That remark finally got Robin’s attention.“Nay, lass.There is much for ye to do here.”

“Do ye have a suggestion?”

“Aye, I do.Just speak with Helena, she has answers to everything.”

The stabbing became quite fierce.Once again neither man noticed.She sighed and looked around the great hall.“Where are yer sisters Mairi and Kendra?”

“I sent them to visit kinfolk shortly before Helena and I married.With no mother here to guide them, I thought a visit to another keep would help them.‘Twas good, too, because Helena needed time to settle in and take her place as lady of the manor.”He grinned.“I shouldna have worried.Helena had won everyone over in no time.”

“Of course she did.”Stab, stab.She put the knife down.“Ah, but now that ye have Helena.I’m sure she can do it all.Guiding yer sisters, running the keep, healing everyone’s scratches, and delivering babies.”

Robin thought for a minute.“Ye may be right, Lorena.Mayhap I will think about bringing my sisters back in a short while.I will speak to my wife about that.”He smiled.“’Twas a good suggestion.”

She picked her knife up again and the stabbing became so loud that Finn looked over at her.“Is yer meat no’ tender, lass?Try another piece.”

Her only consolation was knowing that her husband was not the only dimwit in the family.“If ye will excuse me, I wish to take a stroll in the lovely garden.”

Robin smiled at her again.“Be sure to go to the flower area.Helena—”

She walked away as quickly as possible, Robin’s words fading as she fisted her hands at her sides and growled.She had only been here hours and already she’d had Helena shoved down her throat so many times that she hated the woman and they hadn’t even had one conversation.No wonder Robin decided to taunt the Gunn to dump Lorena and marry the perfect, lovely, helpful Helena.

Like most keeps, it was necessary to pass through the kitchen to get to the gardens, since most, if not all, of the gardens were full of vegetables and herbs to feed the people in the keep.

Lorena stopped when she entered the room.Everyone was busy, the lasses at the tables chopping vegetables, another one cutting herbs that would most likely be used for the evening meal.

“Can I help ye, lass?”The woman at the kettle over the hearth turned to her.

“Nay but thank ye.I was just passing through to the garden.”

The friendly, round, red-cheeked woman smiled at her.“And ye must be Craig’s new wife.”

“Aye.My name is Lenora.”She had to stop herself before she mentioned “Gunn.”

“’Tis a pleasure to meet ye.My name is Maude and as ye can see, I am the cook.Are ye hungry?Did ye get to break yer fast?”

Pleased at the woman’s friendliness, she relaxed for the first time almost since she’d arrived at Dun Ugadale.

“Aye.I did, but if ye had an oatcake laying around I wouldn’t mind a bite or two.”

“Kerry, go get Miss Lenora a couple of oatcakes and some tea.”

“Nay,” Lenora said.“I ken my way around a kitchen.I can get my own.”She’d noticed when she’d come in that there was a stack of oatcakes on one of the counters.She helped herself to two of them and placed them on the table where the lasses were busy with their chores.

Assuming, like most kitchens, there was always a pot of hot water on the hearth, she scooped out a portion into a cup and placed that next to the oatcakes.One of the young lasses pointed, “Over there ye’ll find the tea and also the butter and honey for yer oatcakes.”

“Thank ye,” Lenora said.