A snowy wind rushed her into the kitchen when Elwin opened the door for her and he was quick to close it behind them. Turbett was shouting orders as usual and the workers were jumping to his commands.
He rolled his eyes when he spotted Dawn. “Dorrie see to whatever Dawn wants.”
Dorrie smiled broadly and hurried over to stand close to Elwin and gave Dawn a nod. “What can I get you?”
Dawn turned and grabbed an empty basket by the door. She tapped her chest and pointed around letting Dorrie know she could fetch what she needed herself. She had barely taken a step when Flanna entered the room, her eyes turning wide when she spotted Dawn.
She hurried over to Dawn, grabbed her arm and whispered, “We must talk.”
Chapter Eight
Flanna ushered Dawn into the small storage room off the kitchen and kept her voice low not that it mattered. There was so much commotion in the kitchen that no one would hear Flanna.
“Lady Lucerne ranted like a banshee last night after being escorted back to the keep from your cottage. Sloan was in the Great Hall having returned from one of his nightly trysts just in time to stop her from delivering a hard blow to her servant’s sweet face, though there was a bad bruise on Bree’s wrist this morning, so she took her anger out on her anyway. She knows Cree seeks your bed and she doesn’t like it. Be careful, she’s an evil and untrustworthy woman.”
Dawn nodded having surmised the same herself from what she had seen of Lucerne thus far. There was no doubt she would be a problem and Dawn was concerned that in her position, she could truly be helpless against the woman. Lucerne would be the lady of the keep and therefore Dawn would be bound to obey if such an occasion ever arose. The thought troubled her and her hand went protectively to her stomach, pressing flat against it, suddenly worried about the babe.
“The servants listen and hear, I will learn more,” Flanna said. “Go get food to keep you for a few days. The storm that blows in will keep us close to our hearths. It is the reason the troop stopped in the village and requested shelter. They were returning home when the storm forced them to turn around and it kept close on their heels all the way here.”
Dawn shrugged in question wondering about the troop.
“Laird Kirk McClusky and his son Torr,” Flanna said. “Their land borders Carrick land and are neighbors to Kirk Gerwan , though Lucerne barely acknowledges them. One of the servants heard her refer to them as a fighting brood of poor stock. When she had been informed that there would be guests she fancied herself up and entered the Great Hall as if she were a regal queen. When she saw the boisterous men, her hand went to her head and I knew she was about to feign one of her frequent headaches. Then she caught sight of Torr and her nose wrinkled in disgust and she fled the room. He bears a bad facial scar and a shame it is, since he’d be as handsome as Cree without it.”
Dawn shook her head and smiled.
Flanna grinned. “You’re right. No one is as handsome as the devil.”
Dawn scolded playfully with a shake of her finger, and though meant in jest there was some truth to her admonishment. Cree was no devil; he was a good man.
“He’s a quiet one though, sits there and stares with those stark blue eyes of his. I’ve never seen eyes such a vibrant blue. They can cause you to shiver or send tingles over the flesh.” And Flanna shivered just thinking about them. “I have to get back. We’re busy with the unexpected arrival of the troop and you need to get home and stay put.”
Dawn nodded and took Flanna’s hand squeezing it, letting her know how appreciative she was for the news.
“I have my eyes and ears open. There’ll be more to tell for sure. Now fill your basket with dried apples to brew cider so it appears that’s why I dragged you in here. Don’t want to give gossiping tongues more fodder.”
Flanna joined Dorrie in gathering more food staples for Dawn and when Turbett saw what they were up to he praised Flanna for being sensible in providing Dawn with enough food to see her through the storm so that the servants did not have to brave the horrid weather.
Dawn had to smile. Turbett had eyes only for Flanna when he talked and Flanna actually appeared to soften as he spoke. They made an odd pair; Turbett so large and Flanna small in stature, though not in nature. It pleased Dawn to see that Flanna had finally found someone who cared for her rather than someone who simply used her for his own pleasure.