Page 48 of The Lion

His mother paled and the other women became silent, their gazes locked to her. “I suppose from here, from yer coffers. I-I should have…”

“Ensure ye leave enough for those that come here to eat and request help. Perhaps some of those baskets can be prepared and stored here for those times,” Darach said and continued eating.

He didn’t look up as he wanted to allow the women to regain their composure.

When his mother’s hand covered his, he gave her a wink. “Ye do good work, Mother, I am very proud of ye.”

When her eyes teared up, he wondered if he’d done something wrong. At the first tear slipping down her cheek, he turned to Isobel.

She gave him a warm smile. “Ye should be proud. Lady Mariel has wonderful ideas for great work. We will not have spare time in the least.”

The women became animated; Ella appointed herself scribe rushing off to gather paper and quill.

Darach leaned over to Isobel’s ear. “Would ye like to go to one of the villages with me tomorrow?”

His wife nodded.

“I best go see what the needs of the people are today.” Darach pressed a kiss to Isobel’s temple and stood.

There were only a few people there to see him. A couple wishing to marry, several farmers, and a sheepherder.

A family came to stand before him with an elderly couple in tow. “We cannot house them any longer,” the woman said giving the elderly couple a side glance. “They are a bother, we have six bairns and no place to keep ’em.”

“What do ye suggest I do?” Darach asked, looking to the elderly couple. The man did his best to comfort his wife, who cried into a dirty handkerchief. Their clothing had been mended multiple times, their shoes barely holding together.

The man, at least, looked as if he didn’t wish to be there. He looked to the elderly couple with sadness. “My parents do not need much, my laird, a simple cottage.”

“We should be the ones to get a cottage,” the woman interjected, lifting a chubby bairn higher on her hip.

Darach looked to where Isobel and the women sat. They’d obviously not overheard. He motioned to a servant. “Bring my wife here.”

Isobel hurried over, her gaze falling on him, then to the family gathered. “What happens?” she asked standing next to the elderly couple.

“It seems,” Darach said. “That instead of honoring his parents, Seac defers to his wife, who wishes them sent away.”

The woman’s face turned red, and she glared at the couple as if it were them who’d done wrong by her.

“Laird, allow me to explain,” Seac said. “I do not want my parents sent off. It is just that we have many mouths to feed and not enough food.”

Holding back the urge to point out that he and his wife and the bairns looked quite plump, compared to the thin elderly couple, Darach met the man’s gaze until he looked away.

“They should remain here with us for a spell. We can ensure they have a warm roof and food until a proper cottage is built for them,” Isobel suggested. By her bright expression, she was anxious to get on with her first project.

“I agree,” Darach said, then looked to the son. “If not for yer bairns, I would strip all the farmland and livestock ye have been granted. I would have more respect for ye, if ye’d come to ask for help to build yer parents a proper home of their own. But instead, ye pay heed to yer wife’s evil tongue.”

The man paled. “I offer my apologies and true alliance to ye.”

“Yer land and livestock will be halved. A young family who came seeking a grant will be given the other half. Now be off.”

The couple exchanged a look of terrified alarm. When the woman started to speak, the man yanked her back. “Ye have done enough. Let us go.”

Already the elderly couple was surrounded by the women and being fed. The woman sat next to Ella, who was showing her some sort of knitting. It was endearing to see them both smiling as they talked.

Chapter Fourteen

It was late when the bed sunk under Darach’s weight. Isobel had watched him undress, enjoying the sight of his strong hard body. By the time he neared the bed, he was aroused by her perusal.

For these few precious days, Isobel allowed herself to think that Darach was exclusively hers. She pretended she and her new husband were to be happy together, just the two of them.