Page 50 of Laird of Steel
She handed him a scarf.
He finished that mortifying task. Then she said he had time to nibble a morsel before the cook would send him for herbs from the garden.
He declined. After chamberpot duty, he had little appetite.
“Ye should keep up your strength,” she said. “Otherwise, ye won’t eat until well after supper.”
“Why not?”
“Ye have to clean up after everyone else first.”
He sighed. There was just enough time to choke down a stale crust of bread and a cup of ale. Then, as she predicted, the cook put in a request for thyme and parsley.
Merraid found it highly amusing that he didn’t know parsley from parsnips.
He grumbled back that she probably didn’t know a bludgeon from a battleaxe.
He was wrong. And to rub salt in his wounds, as they cut herbs, she taught him the names of several weapons from the Orient. He knew none of them.
They delivered the herbs to the cook. Then they trudged up the stairs with besoms and buckets to sweep the hearths.
“Honestly,” he told her as they entered the solar, “I don’t know how you find the time to spy on me.”
“Imakethe time.” She began sweeping ashes into her bucket.
“Why?”
“Ye truly don’t know?”
He shook his head.
“Ye’re in such a hurry to claim a bride,” she said, “that ye’re bein’ reckless.”
“Reckless?” He started sweeping beside her. “You don’t think I have good judgment?”
“Not when it comes to women.”
He scoffed.
“Faith,” she said, “’Tis like watchin’ a great warrior snappin’ up a blunt sword to go into battle.”
He grinned. “You think I’m a great warrior?”
She swatted him with the bristle end of the besom. “Ye’re a great-headedwarrior.”
He swatted her back. Ashes made a gray blob on the seat of her blue kirtle.
Her mouth went round. “Don’t swat me.” She swatted him again.
“Me? You started it.” He swatted her again.
She picked up the besom in both hands, holding it horizontally before her like a quarterstaff. There was a gleam in her eye.
“Och,” he said, “you’re keen for a rematch, are you?”
He tossed aside the bucket. It clanged across the floor. Then he mimicked her stance with his besom.
She attacked first. With skillful lunges, she whipped the besom back and forth, driving him backwards toward the window.
