Chapter Twenty-Seven
They arrived at the healing hut to see a lass no more than fifteen summers staring at a pile of dried herbs, her hands at her waist. She turned quickly, her face red, almost as if she’d done something wrong. “What is it?” she said, her voice coming out breathless.
Mary must have already left since the room was empty except for the young lass. “I just wanted to introduce ye to the new Lady Gunn,” Janet said.
The poor lass let out a deep breath she must have been holding and walked over to them. “I am so verra pleased to meet ye, my lady. I am Margaret.”
“And I am happy to meet ye as well.” She looked around.
The area was in no way organized and the lass keep brushing things—which appeared to be pieces of dried herbs—off the table and onto the floor, mixing them in with the rushes.
She followed Emma’s gaze, then looked back up at Emma and blushed again.
Emma turned to the kitchen maid who had accompanied her. “Ye may return to yer duties, Martha. Thank ye for your help. I will spend some time with Margaret if my husband is searching for me.”
Martha left. Margaret appeared anything but pleased. She fussed with her apron while Emma continued to look around. She finally turned to the young lass. “Ye needn’t be concerned, Margaret, I am no’ here as Lady Gunn, I am here as another healer.”
The lass’s eyes grew wide. “Ye are a healer?”
Emma smiled. “Aye.”
Tears actually gathered in the girl’s eyes. “That is wonderful news. Our other healer died after only giving me a sennight of instruction.”
“Was she sick?” Emma asked as she wandered around the hut. It didn’t appear to her that the healer before this one was much better than Margaret. Her stores were low, and the garden behind the small hut that should have contained herbs to use for healing was overgrown.
“Yes. I mean, she said she was sick, but I think she drank too much brandy.”
Emma’s brows rose. “Not while she was working?”
The lass shrugged. “I think so.”
“Then, Margaret, it looks to me like we have a lot of work to do. I have a great amount of healer things I brought with me. The laird has ordered the room next to our bedchamber to be emptied so I can use that as a healing room.”
The lass looked surprised at her words, but merely nodded.
“What say ye and I go upstairs and bring down some of the items? I would like to leave my herbs up there so I can make potions and tonics.”
Margaret merely nodded again. “Aye.” She hesitated for a moment. “Will ye teach me how to make potions and tonics?”
“Aye. Once I start doing some of the chatelaine duties I won’t have as much time to dedicate to healing.” She smiled. “Much to my regret. I really like my healing duties.”
She headed to the door and turned. “Since there is no one here right now, would ye like to come with me and help me bring the things down that will stay here instead of in my bedchamber?”
They set off, Margaret asking numerous questions, which made Emma happy since she liked the idea of having an enthusiastic partner, anxious to learn.
The two of them spent time emptying Emma’s trunk with her supplies in it. There was still a line in the great hall when they passed through to return to the healing hut.
She had to make sure when it came time for the nooning that a tray was brought to Morgan, since she was afraid he was tiring again. After that brutal trip here, followed by the attack on Patrick, he needed bed rest. But trying to convince her stubborn husband was not an easy thing.