“Once ye’re grown up it’s too late,” said Anna. “And ye do want to be a fine man, don’t ye?”
Davy frowned. “I suppose.”
Cora patted Anna on the shoulder. “I told Davy he needed a mother. I’m glad to see he is getting one.”
The men had left the hall by the time Anna returned with Davy and Cora. Over their morning meal Anna learned that other than using good manners at mealtimes, just as Cora had said, very little else was expected of Davy.
“Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good lad. An absolute joy in many ways—very much like his mother. It’s really more that he needs to be someone’s priority. He has largely been left in the care of one maid or another, all of whom were very young women with little experience in raising a child. When he was a wee thing, that wasn’t really a problem but once he grew a little older, he became more independent and didn’t need quite as much attention. So, not really knowing any better, the young women tasked with minding him largely left him to raise himself. The only thing that was expected was that he not leave the walls alone.”
“What does raise myself mean?” asked Davy.
Cora smiled at him. “It means just what Lady Anna said, the maids caring for ye have let ye do whatever ye wished all day.”
He furrowed his brow but nodded. “Oh.”
Anna laughed and ruffled his hair. “Well then, that explains a few things. So, Davy, we are going to start with just one rule. I must always know where ye are.”
“How can ye always know that?”
“Because ye’ll tell me.”
“But what if I want to go to the stable to see Grieg or my pony?”
“Ye’ll ask me if ye may do that and then I’ll know where ye are.”
“But what if while I’m there, Uncle Graham says he’ll take me riding?”
“Then ye’ll tell Uncle Graham ye have to ask me first.”
“But what if it’s Granda who wants to take me riding?”
“Then ye’ll tell Granda ye have to ask me first.”
“But Granda is the laird.”
“I know that, but yer da and granda have made me responsible for ye, so they’ll understand.”
“Well Da never takes me riding anyway, but as long as Granda knows the rule, I guess it’s all right. But why do ye need to know where I am?”
Andrew never took him riding? How odd. She wanted to ask why, but helping Davy understand the reason for the rule was more important. “Davy, if ye had told Nessa where ye were going, would ye have fallen into the loch?”
“Nessa didn’t want to hunt dragons with me.”
“Sometimes that might happen, but ye must never wander off without telling me where ye intend to go.”
“Why?”
Anna laughed. “Because bad things can happen.”
“But falling through the ice turned out to be a good thing, because ye’re going to be my mama.”
Anna shook her head. Clearly whether it was good or bad depended on one’s perspective in this case. “I know ye’re happy about that, but I became very ill as a result. And what if I hadn’t been there?”
Davy frowned. “But ye were.”
Anna seized on this. “Aye, I was. And if I always know exactly where ye are, I can know ye’re not doing something that might put ye in danger, like walking on thin ice.”
“Oh.” Davy seemed to consider this for a moment before asking, “Do ye have rules ye have to follow?”
Anna sighed. “Aye, Davy.” Don’t walk northward on the bluff Anna. You must never venture that close to MacLeod territory. “Do ye understand the rule?”
“Aye.”
“Good. Now, Cora said ye haven’t begun to learn to read.”
“Nay. I expect Father Ninian will teach me someday.”
“I’m going to start teaching ye this morning.”
Davy laughed. “Lasses can’t read.”
Anna assumed this statement meant that Mairi couldn’t read. She needed to learn too, but one challenge at a time. “Some can. I can read. This morning we are going to start learning letters and numbers.”
“I don’t know any letters or numbers.”
“That’s why we are going to start learning them.”
“I’d rather go see people and maybe hunt dragons.”
Anna laughed again. “I know. But after ye’ve spent some time learning a bit, perhaps we’ll hunt dragons.”
“Ye’ll go with me?”
“Aye, Davy. But I haven’t hunted dragons in years. Ye’ll have to remind me how it’s done.”
They spent at little more than an hour learning letters and numbers. Anna didn’t want it to feel like a chore, so she made things into games, which Davy seemed to love. When they were through, Anna said, “We can go hunt dragons now if ye wish.”
“Nay, I have a few other things to do first. Can we go to the kitchen?”
Anna cocked her head and looked at him. “What other things?”
“I have to go see people. Like Dallis.”
“Who is Dallis?”
“Ye don’t know Dallis? She’s the head cook and sometimes she makes sweet buns. Ye have to meet Dallis. I love her.”
“Because she makes sweet buns?”
“Aye, but she is nice too. Come with me.”
This suited Anna quite well. She wanted to meet the staff, and clearly Davy could help her do that. He took Anna’s hand and practically dragged her downstairs and out to the kitchens, chattering the whole way about Dallis.
He pulled her into the busy kitchen but before the first word was out of his mouth a tiny, reed thin woman saw him. Her angular face was suddenly wreathed in smiles. “Davy, lad, I thought ye weren’t going to come see me this morning.”
“I had to learn some letters first. Anna says it’s important.” The tone of his voice led Anna to believe he wasn’t convinced.
“Well, lad, ‘tis very important for a young laird to learn such things.” Dallis gave Anna a look of such pure affection, it startled her. “And it’s about time someone remembered that.”
“Well Anna did. But she says she hasn’t met ye so I brought her with me. Anna, this is Dallis. Ye know, Dallis, Anna’s my angel.”
“So I’ve heard, lad. My lady, ‘tis truly a pleasure to meet ye.”
“It’s lovely to meet ye as well. I hope we’re not interrupting.” Anna responded.
“Nay, of course not. Ye’re always welcome and if there is ever anything ye need, just ask.”
“Thank ye, Dallis.”
In a loud whisper Davy said to Anna, “Tell her ye need some sweet buns.”
Both Anna and Dallis laughed.
“Come, sit at the table here and I’ll give ye both a wee bite to eat.”
Dallis brought them sweet buns before sitting down at the table with them. “My lady, I know ye’ve heard this before, but we are so very grateful to ye.”
Anna never knew what to say to that. “Anyone would have done it.”
“Perhaps. But ye were the one who did.” Dallis put her hand over Anna’s where it rested on the table. “And I’m fairly certain ye never bargained for this betrothal.”
“It’s…I…”
“I know, lass. I’m sure it’s all a bit overwhelming. Ye’ll be fine and I promise ye, I will do whatever I can to help ye adjust. ’Tis good to have a lady in the keep again.” Sorrow touched Dallis’ features for a moment. “The laird married Lady Kenna less than a year after Lady Arabella died. Ena, Andrew and Graham were not without a mother long, and Lady Kenna was wonderful. Sir Andrew married Lady Joan just two years after Lady Kenna passed away and she too was an absolute joy. She lit up a room just like wee Davy does. Aye, ‘Twill be good for everyone, but especially for Davy and Mairi. It’s better when there is a lady seeing to things. If ye wish, we can go over the meals for the rest of the week now.”
Anna looked down for a moment.
“What is it, lass?”
“I’m not…that is…the laird…well, I won’t be
managing the household.”
“Ye won’t? Lass, we can teach ye what ye need to know.”
Anna looked her in the eye. “I’m certain ye could, and it’s not as if I have no experience, it’s just the laird said Brenda was to keep handling things. My only responsibility is David.”
Dallis frowned. “Perhaps he just doesn’t want to overtax ye until ye’re fully better.”
Anna didn’t think so, but she said, “Perhaps.”
They chatted about other things until Davy had finished his sweet bun. When he was through, he stood up, wiped his hands on his léine and announced, “Now we need to go see Grieg.”
“Davy, ye need to thank Dallis for the nice treat.”
He grinned. “She knows I liked it. I come every day and I always eat what she gives me.”
Anna shook her head but a smile played at her lips. “Even if Dallis knows ye like yer snacks, ye must still thank her for making them for ye.”
He looked stunned. “Really?”
Anna nodded. “Really.”
“Dallis, is that so?”
“Aye, Davy, it’s considered good manners.”
“Then why have ye never told me that before?”
Dallis tried to hide her amusement. “Because it wouldn’t be good manners for a cook to point that out to the Laird’s grandson.”
“Really?” He sounded incredulous.
Dallis chuckled. “Aye Davy, really.”
“But Anna can tell me I have bad manners?”
Anna shook her head. “I didn’t say ye had bad manners, I just told ye what would be polite.”
Dallis smiled broadly. “And she can do that, because she is going to be yer mama.”
Davy grinned. “Aye she is. Thank ye for making the sweet buns I like, Dallis.”
Dallis gave a small bow. “Ye’re very welcome, Davy.”
“Did I do that right?” he asked Anna.
“Aye, that was very nicely done. Thank ye for taking a bit time for a chat, Dallis. I enjoyed it.”
“Ye’re most welcome, Lady Anna.”
Davy took Anna’s hand and pulled her out the door. “Now we have to go see Grieg.”
“Who is Grieg?”
“The stable master.”
“Why do we need to see the stable master?”
“Because I go see him every day.”
As it turned out, Davy had a series of people he visited each day, and each person seemed genuinely delighted to see him. Some, like Dallis, had treats for him, but it wasn’t always food. The stable master stopped his work to let Davy have a brief ride on his pony. The cooper let him pick a tool to practice using for a while. The fletcher let him smooth arrow shafts with a waxed cloth. But others, like the weavers, the laundress, the chandler and the brewer just stopped to chat with him for a few minutes. He even introduced Anna to Brenda, the woman who had run the household for the last four years, and to Fergus, the steward.
Just as Dallis had said, Davy seemed to be a welcome bright light everywhere he went. Anna slowly began to realize why the MacLeod’s had been so willing to accept her solely because she’d saved him. He was loved, but not just because he was the laird’s grandson, a child they saw from a distance. He was loved because he had endeared himself to each clan member. Few adults had the kind of charisma that Davy displayed and she couldn’t help but wonder how he had become so adept at reading and responding to people. Anna had told him she wanted him to learn to be a fine man when he grew up. Clearly in some areas he was well on his way.
After the midday meal, Davy grinned at her saying, “Now we can go dragon hunting.”
Chapter 11
Over the next week Anna’s eyes were opened to more than just why Davy held such a special place in the clan’s hearts. Davy always seemed to be in a hurry to get downstairs to the great hall for the morning meal. Although Andrew was often just leaving as they arrived, Davy seemed overjoyed and hugged his father enthusiastically. If Andrew was still seated at the table, and the seats near him were unoccupied, Davy climbed into one and chattered away happily.
On the other hand Andrew never seemed to be quite as pleased to see Davy. A brief look of what appeared to be pain crossed Andrew’s face the instant he saw the lad run towards him. He covered it so quickly Anna thought she might have imagined it the first time, so she watched more carefully after that.
She hadn’t imagined it.
Not only did Andrew almost cringe every morning when Davy found him still at the table, he never stayed long after his son arrived. And while Davy was full of suggestions about things they might do together, Andrew was equally full of reasons why he couldn’t do them.
Davy usually sighed and accepted Andrew’s refusals without argument. Anna found his restraint remarkable. She remembered whining and pleading with her own da when he refused to let her do something. Of course, he had doted on his only daughter and very seldom denied her anything. Anna could only assume that Davy was used to being rebuffed by his father.
The only attention Andrew seemed to give his son was during meals, and even then, it was minimal. As Anna thought back to the first meals she had with them in the hall, she realized it had always been Mairi and Davy who had kept conversation going. Andrew had interacted very little with his son.
This truly puzzled Anna. She knew Andrew loved David, so why did he so assiduously avoid the lad?
Of course, Andrew treated her no differently. While she had hoped to get to know her betrothed better during this time before the wedding, she saw considerably less of him than she had before. Like Davy, she really only saw Andrew during meals, and he paid no more attention to her than he did to his son. For someone who had asked her not to shut him out, he was doing a fairly good job of that himself.
After a week of this, Anna decided something had to change. On the day before Holy Thursday, she arose earlier than usual to ensure they did not miss Andrew. Even so, he was rising to leave the table as she and Davy entered the hall.
“Good morning, Andrew, I’m sorry we missed breaking our fast with ye.”
“Aye, well as the next few days start the Triduum and little work will be done, I wanted to make certain the men trained hard today.”
True to form Davy asked, “Da, can I come with ye for a while?”
“Nay, Davy, ye know it’s too dangerous for a wee lad on the lists.”
“All right, but could we go riding later? Just for a little while?”
“Nay, Davy, perhaps another time.”
As always, Davy nodded resignedly. “Aye, Da.”
But Anna didn’t accept the answer. “When will ye?”
“When will I what?”
“Go riding with Davy.”
“I am very busy, Anna. I will find a time to go riding…soon.”
Anna looked thoughtful for a moment. “Ye know, Davy, I love to go riding. Perhaps ye and I can go out for a bit.”
Andrew frowned. “I don’t think so.”
“Why not?” Anna asked. She tried to sound innocently curious although she had expected this answer.
“Because ye’ve been ill.”
Anna laughed. “Oh nay, I’m fine. Clearly I was well enough to ride all the way to the straight and back over a week ago. A brief ride today will not overtax me.”
“I said nay, Anna.”
“What ye actually said was that I couldn’t ride because I have been ill but ye were mistaken in that.”
“Even so, ye and Davy cannot go riding alone.”
“Oh, is that all? Ye’ve no need to worry about that. I’m sure we can find someone to accompany us.”
“Uncle Graham might,” offered Davy, “or maybe Granda—he takes me riding a lot.”
“Then we’ll ask them. Even if neither of them are free, yer granda will certainly find someone to accompany us.”
Davy nodded vigorously. “Aye, he will. Maybe Cormag, or Gavin or even Donald.” His tone when he spoke Donald’s name was something akin to awe. Clearly he admired the cap
tain of his grandfather’s guard.
Anna smiled at Andrew. “See, no need to worry. You can see to training and we will find someone else to ride with us for a bit.” She turned to Davy and took his hand. “Let’s eat so we can go find yer granda or Uncle Graham.”
“What do ye need to find me for?” asked Graham, having just walked in on the conversation.”
“Nothing,” said Andrew.
“Davy and I were hoping ye’d go riding with us,” said Anna.
“I’d be happy to,” said Graham.
“Anna, I said nay,” growled Andrew.
Anna shook her head as if dealing with a slow child. “Ye said we couldn’t go alone, but Graham can go with us, so we won’t be alone.”
Andrew’s frustration was clearly at its limit. “Ye cannot go at all. I’m tired of arguing about this. In fact, I forbid both of ye to leave this keep today.”
Graham stared, speechless, while Andrew turned to stalk out of the hall.
Anna had intentionally pushed him, but she had only wanted him to realize other men were willing to fill the role he should have in David’s life. Andrew’s vehemence both surprised and angered her. She called, “At the risk of sounding like Mairi, ye aren’t my da, my laird or my husband…yet. And I’m fairly certain if I ask the laird, he’ll see things my way.”
Andrew turned around slowly, glowering at her.
Anna crossed her arms over her chest and arched an eyebrow in challenge.
“Andrew, it isn’t a problem for me to escort them on a wee ride,” said Graham, trying to diffuse the situation.
“That isn’t the point,” Andrew ground out through gritted teeth.
“And exactly what is the point?” asked Anna.
He strode back towards her, took her by the elbow and walked to the stairs. “Excuse us for a moment.” He pulled her along at his side, up the stairs and down the hall until he reached an empty chamber. “What is this about?” he demanded.
“Maybe ye should tell me. Yer son asked ye to go riding with him—a perfectly reasonable request.”
“And I said I was too busy today.”
“Aye, ye always seem to be too busy to go riding with him, or to play fox and geese of an evening or to go fishing as he wanted to last week or to do any of the other perfectly reasonable things he asks ye to do with him on a daily basis. What’s the matter with ye? He just wants to be with his da. Why do ye keep him at arm’s length?”
Highland Angels Page 11