Page 85 of Laird of Steel
“I heard her say she hates frumenty,” Swannoc said.
“Hates frumenty?” Merraid said, arching a dubious brow. “A Scotswoman?”
“Aye, especially…” Swannoc insisted, glancing again at the platter. “Apple frumenty.”
Now she knew they were lying. “Stand aside.”
Ede gave Davy a fretful look.
“’Tis poison!” Davy blurted out.
“What?”
Davy clapped his hand over his mouth. Even Swannoc and Ede stared at him, aghast.
For one instant, Merraid wondered if that was true. But she’d fetched the frumenty herself. From a communal cauldron. No one had been poisoned this morn.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” She closed her eyes to smoldering slits. “What are ye up to, ye three?”
“Nothin’,” Swannoc said.
“She made me do it,” he said, glancing at Swannoc.
Swannoc punched him in the shoulder.
“Just…don’t go up there,” Ede begged.
“What have ye done?”
“’Twasheridea,” Davy said, nodding at Swannoc and staying safely out of range.
Swannoc had to settle for giving him a cutting glare.
“Don’t be vexed, Merraid,” Ede pleaded. “We didn’t mean any harm. But hearin’ the words o’ love ye spoke to Sir Gellir—”
“Ede!” Swannoc snapped.
Davy gasped.
Merraid’s breath stopped. “What?” she whispered. “What did ye say?”
Ede’s face crumpled as she blinked at Swannoc. “She may as well know.”
“Know what?”
Swannoc murmured, “We heard ye.”
What were they talking about?
Ede ducked her chin. “I heard ye in the storeroom two days ago.”
“And I was passin’ by the armory yesterday,” Davy said.
Swannoc added, “I was goin’ to the buttery last night to fetch a bite o’ cheese when…”
Merraid felt sick. The sound she’d heard in the storeroom. The gasp she’d heard in the armory. “Ye were listenin’ at doors?”
“We didn’t mean to,” Davy said.
