Page 71 of A Fearless Rebel

“By the middle of winter, ye will wish to have had a distraction,” Lady Fraser said, sounding annoyed. “Very well. Ye all can stay here. I am going.”

“I must speak to ye about taking over yer duties,” Ava said, noting that Lady Fraser’s eyebrows shot up.

“Of course. I hadn’t considered that ye would need tutelage.” Lady Fraser clasped her hands in front of her chest with a gleeful expression. “We shall walk through the keep and I will tell ye everything.”

Before Ava could say anything else, Lady Fraser took her arm. “Come along, this will take all day. First, we will go to the kitchen.”

Ava was sure that because Lady Fraser accompanied her, the head cook, Eileen, was cordial. Along with the four cooks, the woman stood around the preparation table to listen.

“I am traveling for an extended time, a fortnight. Lady Ava will be taking my place and will give ye instructions to what will be served. Ensure that ye obey her instructions or I will be very cross with ye.”

Every head turned to Ava and she was relieved to see no animosity. “I am sure ye will require little guidance as Lady Fraser assures me of yer competence.”

When everyone returned their attention to Lady Fraser, her expression softened. “The guardsmen will be eating inside from now on as the weather turns colder. Send someone to the village to alert the baker to bring extra bread as with all the cooking, ye will not have time to bake for first and last meal.”

Ava listened to every word that was exchanged. Although she’d helped her mother with running of the keep, the requirements at Fraser Keep were much more complicated. Not only because they fed more people, but also two separate meals were to be served. The guardsmen were to be divided into two separate groups, so that everyone would fit in the great room.

“What will ye be serving?” Ava asked the cook.

“Today, we are making mutton and leek stew, which can be stretched far to ensure everyone eats enough to be full. There will be bread, cheese and figs as well.”

“It smells delicious,” Ava said.

Eileen preened. “It does, indeed, and it tastes very good.”

They made their way to adjoining rooms that opened to the outdoors. There, a team of maids washed soiled clothing and linens while others mended. One young maid stirred a pot over an open fire, her brow scrunched in concentration.

Lady Fraser held her hands up to get their attention and again informed the group of her upcoming travels. Ava stood by, curious to see what their reactions would be to Lady Fraser leaving her in charge. The maids seemed more interested in finding out where their mistress was traveling than in Ava’s taking over the responsibilities.

It seemed Lady Fraser had a good rapport with the servants. They were genuinely curious about where she would travel, what her destination looked like and another host of things. It took considerably longer to get away from the laundresses than the cooks.

Ava was pleasantly surprised when they went out to the corrals where Lady Fraser spoke to an older man who was in charge of a pen of goats and two cows. Apparently, he was very protective of the animals, not allowing them to be considered for eating. His animals were purely used for their milk.

In the pen with the cows was a doe, who looked quite at home amidst the others. Ava wondered if the old man’s poor eyesight made him think it was a goat.

“Why is there a deer in the pen?” she whispered to Lady Fraser.

The old man obviously had keen ears. “That is Esme’s pet doe, Dot.”

“We tried to release her,” Lady Fraser explained. “But she kept returning, so now she remains here. The animal seems content enough.”

As they made their way to find the servants who cleaned the keep, Ava noticed that there were not as many people in the courtyard as usual.

“Esme will never forgive me, nor will she accept me as part of this clan.” Ava’s throat constricted. “I understand, of course, however, I hope that one day she will.”

Lips curving into a soft smile, Lady Fraser slid a look to her. “Esme is very headstrong. Much too adventurous for a woman. In that, ye remind me of her. I believe, in time, ye will become friends.”

She seriously doubted that Keithen’s sister and she would be friends, however, she hoped to be on better terms with her, eventually.

“That reminds me,” Lady Fraser said. “I wish for ye to look after Catriona’s well-being. Flora is wonderful and Catriona’s mother visits often, but some nights she has horrible nightmares and the day after barely eats. I cannot imagine what the poor lass went through.” Lady Fraser shuddered.

“Do not worry. I will ensure to spend time with her every day.”

“In the sitting room. She must leave her room and not remain in her own room the entire time.”

Ava decided it was the perfect opportunity to bring up what she’d overheard. “All of ye hold Catriona in high regard. It would seem to me, a marriage between her and Keithen would have been something that would have pleased ye.”

Lady Fraser chuckled. “I’d not thought of it. Of course, the poor girl pined for Keithen since she was very young. Our son has always known he will marry based on becoming laird one day, so he never gave her hope.”