needed to talk. Soon.
“ Aye ,” he said, “you may do so for this eve, Lady Stanhope.”
She stopped to peer back at him. “I don’t understand, My Lord. I am only trying to —”
“Beginning tomorrow, I would ask Lady Urquhart to take over the daily running duties of Middleham’s keep,” he said abruptly. He hoped he wouldn’t later regret his sudden decision.
One of Maggie’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “I can, of course. But… . ”
Mary blinked in surprise, a definite hint of disapproval in her expression. “Why would you do that? Why would you have the staff get used to Lady Urquhart’s directions when she will be here but a short time? I am pleased to offer my help in this manner, since it will be my duty soon anyway.”
Gerald cleared his throat behind them. “I believe I will go see to the horses.”
Nicholas had gotten so caught up in this minor problem between the women that he’d forgotten Gerald and a few of his men were still waiting nearby. It irritated him that they witnessed this scene. He gave a curt nod to his first knight and watched Gerald walk away leading both his and Nicholas’s horses, obviously eager to get away from the strained situation. The handful of men followed him. Nicholas considered just walking off as well. But he wasn’t a coward. He would settle this matter and as soon as he had a few words with Richard and Gerald, he would have a serious talk with Mary.
Maggie spoke before he could gather his thoughts. “Ye’ve n’ver guided a castle’s staff, have ye, Lady Stanhope?”
“No, but I’m sure I can learn how. It can’t be all that difficult.” She gave him a determined look .
Maggie snorted and drew a disapproving glance from Nicholas, but she boldly returned it . “’Tis not as easy ye seem to think.”
Her thin shoulders thrust back , Mary showed a bit of temper this time. “I can learn.” Now she focused on Nicholas. “I will learn if given the chance.”
Nicholas had tired of this discussion. He’d made a decision and would stick by it. “Maggie, Lady Urquhart, is more than competent at running a household. Even for her young age, she has been the lady of the castle of Urquhart for many years. Her people held a great deal of respect for her. She will act the lady here until her new betrothal has been arranged.”
Mary’s face reddened in embarrassment. “If that is your wish, My Lord.”
Now he felt guilty. “Perhaps Lady Urquhart can guide you in how to manage a household. Until she leaves. Until you leave as well.”
The brief flash of relief in her eyes fled at his reminder that he didn’t intend for her to stay. “But the king —”
“We will discuss the matter in private, Lady Stanhope. For now I must go see to a few matters with my two first knights.” He didn’t wait around for additional protests. His patience with the situation had faded. He was more than annoyed she’d taken it upon herself to send word to King Edward about her sister’s death and her intention to replace Elizabeth as his betrothed.
He hadn’t gotten more than a dozen feet away when he overheard Mary say, “Apparently you have won for now, Lady Urquhart. But after we talk, I suspect Lord Middleham’s decision will change.”
He hesitated and waited to hear Maggie’s response. She simply said, “There was nay win here fer me. He plans to see me wed quickly to whoever will please his king. I am as much of a burden to him as ye are. Maybe more.”
Oddly her words played over and over in his mind as he walked toward the stables. Burden? Wed quickly? Yes, he had been assigned the task by Edward and her family to find her a suitable husband as soon as possible. But, even though she dared to go nose-to-nose with him at times over one issue or another, he realized he would miss her.
* * *
“She’s no’ as naïve and innocent as she tries to ‘pear, that Lady Stanhope. She shows one face to the staff and another to his lordship. She
“ Aye ,” he said, “you may do so for this eve, Lady Stanhope.”
She stopped to peer back at him. “I don’t understand, My Lord. I am only trying to —”
“Beginning tomorrow, I would ask Lady Urquhart to take over the daily running duties of Middleham’s keep,” he said abruptly. He hoped he wouldn’t later regret his sudden decision.
One of Maggie’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “I can, of course. But… . ”
Mary blinked in surprise, a definite hint of disapproval in her expression. “Why would you do that? Why would you have the staff get used to Lady Urquhart’s directions when she will be here but a short time? I am pleased to offer my help in this manner, since it will be my duty soon anyway.”
Gerald cleared his throat behind them. “I believe I will go see to the horses.”
Nicholas had gotten so caught up in this minor problem between the women that he’d forgotten Gerald and a few of his men were still waiting nearby. It irritated him that they witnessed this scene. He gave a curt nod to his first knight and watched Gerald walk away leading both his and Nicholas’s horses, obviously eager to get away from the strained situation. The handful of men followed him. Nicholas considered just walking off as well. But he wasn’t a coward. He would settle this matter and as soon as he had a few words with Richard and Gerald, he would have a serious talk with Mary.
Maggie spoke before he could gather his thoughts. “Ye’ve n’ver guided a castle’s staff, have ye, Lady Stanhope?”
“No, but I’m sure I can learn how. It can’t be all that difficult.” She gave him a determined look .
Maggie snorted and drew a disapproving glance from Nicholas, but she boldly returned it . “’Tis not as easy ye seem to think.”
Her thin shoulders thrust back , Mary showed a bit of temper this time. “I can learn.” Now she focused on Nicholas. “I will learn if given the chance.”
Nicholas had tired of this discussion. He’d made a decision and would stick by it. “Maggie, Lady Urquhart, is more than competent at running a household. Even for her young age, she has been the lady of the castle of Urquhart for many years. Her people held a great deal of respect for her. She will act the lady here until her new betrothal has been arranged.”
Mary’s face reddened in embarrassment. “If that is your wish, My Lord.”
Now he felt guilty. “Perhaps Lady Urquhart can guide you in how to manage a household. Until she leaves. Until you leave as well.”
The brief flash of relief in her eyes fled at his reminder that he didn’t intend for her to stay. “But the king —”
“We will discuss the matter in private, Lady Stanhope. For now I must go see to a few matters with my two first knights.” He didn’t wait around for additional protests. His patience with the situation had faded. He was more than annoyed she’d taken it upon herself to send word to King Edward about her sister’s death and her intention to replace Elizabeth as his betrothed.
He hadn’t gotten more than a dozen feet away when he overheard Mary say, “Apparently you have won for now, Lady Urquhart. But after we talk, I suspect Lord Middleham’s decision will change.”
He hesitated and waited to hear Maggie’s response. She simply said, “There was nay win here fer me. He plans to see me wed quickly to whoever will please his king. I am as much of a burden to him as ye are. Maybe more.”
Oddly her words played over and over in his mind as he walked toward the stables. Burden? Wed quickly? Yes, he had been assigned the task by Edward and her family to find her a suitable husband as soon as possible. But, even though she dared to go nose-to-nose with him at times over one issue or another, he realized he would miss her.
* * *
“She’s no’ as naïve and innocent as she tries to ‘pear, that Lady Stanhope. She shows one face to the staff and another to his lordship. She
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