Chapter Nine #2
Maksim could see an entire host of de Wolfe knights waiting for Gar, so he growled with annoyance, took the dog from his sister, and marched off.
That left Gar free to help Mattie from the carriage and not lose fingers.
Instead of helping her step out, however, he scooped her into his big arms and carried her across the mud, very chivalrously.
“It would not do for your dress to become soiled,” he said when she looked at him questioningly. “I know you put stock in a tidy appearance.”
Mattie cocked an eyebrow. “One of us has to.”
He wouldn’t look at her, grinning. He knew exactly what she meant. “I am not taking them off.”
“But they are filthy.”
“They are well used.”
Knowing it would do no good to argue with him, Mattie simply shut her mouth as they approached William and several other knights who were gathered around. Gar set Mattie gently on the ground in front of William.
“Poppy, this is my wife, Matilda,” Gar said, sounding rather proud as he announced her. “She has made a fine addition to the House of de Wolfe and I am honored to introduce her. My lady, this is my grandfather, the Earl of Warenton. The William de Wolfe.”
William smiled at the lovely young woman.
She had such a delicate and fine look about her, with big eyes and a pert nose, that she almost looked like something fragile and unreal.
She was petite, and when she looked at him, smiling politely, he was quite certain that there was strength behind that angelic face.
Something in those eyes told him so. Reaching out, he took her hand gently.
“Lady de Wolfe,” he said. “I am very glad to make your acquaintance.”
Mattie curtsied, a practiced gesture. “As I am glad to make yours, my lord,” she said. “It is an honor.”
William dipped his head in gratitude before extending a hand to the men standing around. One of them was Troy, but there were several others. William indicated the men one by one.
“Permit me to introduce you to my eldest son, Scott de Wolfe,” he said. “He is Troy’s twin, if you were not aware.”
Mattie shook her head. “I was not, my lord,” she said, bobbing a smooth curtsy to Scott. “A pleasure, my lord.”
As Scott de Wolfe, a big and blond man, fair as Troy was dark, nodded his greeting, William continued to the rest of the group.
“This is Gar’s cousin, Thomas de Wolfe, but he goes by Tor,” he said. “And next to him is my son, Blayth, commander of Roxburgh Castle.”
Mattie smiled at the big blond knight that faintly resembled her husband and another big, blond, and very scarred older knight who stood next to him.
“My lords,” she greeted them. “It is an honor.”
The two of them politely acknowledged her as William pointed over to another group, standing with Troy off to the east. “Those are more cousins and grandsons,” he said.
“There are about forty de Wolfe men of armor, but these are some of the men who serve on the western end of the border. You’ve already met Andreas, of course. ”
Mattie nodded. “I have, my lord,” she said. “He is very kind.”
“He’s a good lad,” William said. “His wife remains at their home with their children, but a few women are inside and would very much like to greet you, so let us move in that direction.”
With that, he extended an elbow to her, which she took gratefully. Gathering her skirt, Mattie permitted William to escort her across the muddy bailey, which seemed to grow muddier as they approached the keep.
And what a keep it was.
Mattie’s glance from a distance had only been the beginning.
Now that she was up close, she could see what a truly imposing structure it was.
The castle was surrounded by earthworks and berms, as she had noticed, and every berm seemed to have some level ground where outbuildings or trades were located.
The level ground around the keep had some outbuildings as well, a couple of them built up against the keep itself, but from what she could see, there were literally no windows on the ground level or even the first level of the castle.
It was all stone. Further up, she could see a few windows dotted around the castle, but they had to be thirty feet or more over her head.
The structure itself seemed to reach into the sky itself.
No windows.
And only one door that she could see.
Like a prison.
“How fared your journey?” William asked as they headed for the only door she could see. “Well, I hope.”
Mattie nodded. “Very well, thank you,” she said. “Truthfully, I’ve never been further north than Carlisle, so this has been a bit of an adventure.”
William smiled. “Do you seek adventure, then?”
“I married Gar, my lord,” she said. “I do believe he is an adventure himself.”
William chuckled, turning around to see his grandson walking a few feet behind them. “I like her, Gar,” he said. “She understands you already.”
Gar gave him a half-grin but didn’t reply. William turned his attention forward to the entry to the structure, which was surprisingly small. It was a thick oak door reinforced with iron, extremely sturdy. Once they stepped inside, however, an unusual layout unfolded.
As Mattie could see, it was as if the center of the interior were hollow.
An open space went all the way up to the roof, which was open.
She could see the sky above. That gave it ventilation without compromising safety.
The structure of Gleann na Fola was built around this small, open courtyard and there were a few staircases leading to different parts of the castle.
There were also doorways that led under it, down into the vaults.
There were many doors and staircases, and it reminded her of a labyrinth.
She could smell the cold, dank air coming forth from the belly of the castle.
As dank as one could imagine.
Before them was a mural staircase, one that was wide and sturdy and built of stone.
It led up to a landing and then doubled back on itself, and she followed William up the stairs, which ended on another landing that opened up into a large hall.
It was long and wide, but the ceiling was low given the fact that it was on the first level of the castle above ground level.
It was ventilated by small windows in the walls, which made it rather dark.
A large hearth burned with a bright fire at the end of the room and, much as Gar had told her, dogs roamed about.
And it smelled like it.
In truth, the hall was filthy and Mattie was trying not to be horrified by it.
There were dog feces against the wall, under the tables, and probably more places that she couldn’t see.
The fact that there were plenty of tables scattered throughout the room covered up anything else that might be on the floor.
William took Mattie to what was presumably the dais because there were women there, women who came forward when they saw William and Mattie approach.
“I have her,” William declared. “She does exist. Ladies, this is Matilda, Lady de Wolfe. Gar’s wife.”
There was a good deal of smiling going on.
Mattie found herself looking at a collection of lovely women of all ages.
There was much older woman with pale hair, pulled back in a bun, and pale green eyes that looked exactly like Gar’s.
There was another, taller woman, younger, with dark hair and a lovely face, and still another one with dark blonde hair pulled into a bun at the nape of her neck.
There were others, but those were the three at the forefront.
“Welcome, m’lady,” the elderly woman with the green eyes said in a heavy Scots accent. “We’re so pleased tae meet ye. I’m Lady Warenton. Did ye have a pleasant journey?”
It was the great lady herself, the earl’s wife. She seemed very sweet and Mattie immediately warmed to her, smiling.
“I did, thank you,” she said. “I have never been this far north, so it has been an exciting expedition.”
Lady Warenton’s smile broadened. “That’s lovely,” she said. “Did ye bring yer family with ye? Yer mother?”
Mattie shook her head. “Nay, my lady,” she said. “Only my brother.”
“’Tis nice that he came with ye tae help ye settle intae yer new life.”
Mattie nodded. “He wants to make sure I do not change my mind and run home,” she teased. “He is here to see to the situation and report back to my father.”
Lady Warenton took her hand, patting it. “We’ll make sure that ye’re well settled,” she said. “We’ll provide ye with any support ye need. Let me introduce ye tae some of the others.”
Mattie met Scott’s wife, Avrielle, and a younger daughter of Lord and Lady Warenton named Caria. But when she was introduced to Gar’s mother, the mood seemed to change a little.
Rhoswyn de Wolfe wasn’t, perhaps, so accepting.
“Lady de Wolfe,” Mattie greeted her politely. “I am very happy to make your acquaintance.”
Gar had his mother’s features. Mattie could see that. He had his father’s dark coloring, but his mother’s fine features. Rhoswyn’s gaze drifted over her for a moment, studying the woman who’d married her firstborn son, before she finally acknowledged the introduction.
“Lady de Wolfe,” she said in a heavy Scots accent. “Welcome tae Gleann na Fola.”
Mattie smiled timidly, simply because there didn’t seem to be much warmth in Rhoswyn’s voice. “Thank you, my lady,” she said. “I am looking forward to coming to know the land and the people.”
Rhoswyn nodded, but she was still looking at Mattie rather appraisingly. “We’re in Scotland, ye know,” she said. “Ye’ll meet Scots here and they’re not particularly fond of fine English ladies.”
“Tha mi an dòchas gun urrainn dhomh toirt orra a chreidsinn air dhòigh eile,” Mattie said in perfect Gaelic.
I hope I can convince them otherwise.
That brought a distinct expression of surprise from Rhoswyn, and one of pleasure from Lady Warenton. It was their native language and Mattie had spoken it fluently.
“Ye speak our language?” Rhoswyn said in Gaelic.