Page 15 of Wolf Alliance
Cook took a taste, stood watching him, and raised her brows.
He motioned for her to leave and get on with serving the meal while the others on the kitchen staff did as well.
Accalia took a bite of her venison. “Your boys looked like they havena bathed in a while.” Like weeks, or they had been playing in the dirt all day.
He glanced at them as if he hadn’t noticed before. “You can take care of that matter after dinner. I will warn you they might be…quarrelsome for a bit.”
She didn’t know what to say or to do about it. She would have to see what would happen and take it from there. Unenviable tasks didn’t often stump her, but this time might be an exception.
5
While eating her meal, Accalia watched Erik’s boys. They were eating a little bit but throwing food at each other or quarreling with each other for the most part. Then they tossed some of their food to the dogs that scrambled to get it before the others did. It was no wonder the dogs were at the boys’ table.
Everyone was talking to each other at the lower tables, a few heads turning her way from time to time, the clansmen and women probably trying to determine if she would stay for longer than…some time. Beathag was smiling and laughing with a couple of maids but glanced in Accalia’s direction and gave her a haughty look.
Erik said, “You will put the lads to bed tonight. I will warn you, that isna a pleasant task. Their nannies will happily give that chore up to you.”
“Are you hopeful I willna succeed?” She felt he was trying to push her away, not solicit an agreement on her part. Was it because he was unsure if he wanted to mate again? She could understand that.
But if they didn’t want to mate with each other, she could be stuck with Freigard.
“Nay. I wanted you to know what you’re up against. I suspect you’ll succeed where I wouldna.” Erik smiled imperceptibly.
That made her feel better to know he thought she was up to the task when he couldn’t handle it.
She never gave up easily and was willing to do what she could to see if this might work. How difficult could the boys be? Troublesome, she was certain, since their nannies didn’t even want to put them to bed at night.
She wanted to ask him about his deceased wife, but she didn’t feel comfortable asking him right away. But if she were to mate him, she wanted to know what she’d been like as a mate, a mother, and a pack leader and though she hated to admit it, if Accalia measured up.
After dinner, Erik said, “I have business to conduct with my men. You’re free to explore the castle, but since you said you believe the boys should be washed, I’ll leave it to you to handle. You will have maids to help, naturally. After that, you will decide when they go to bed.”
It was already getting late. As far as she was concerned, they needed to go to bed now. Well, after they washed up.
“All right then,” she said, and as they were leaving the table, she motioned to Etta.
Erik hesitated, as if he wanted to say something else, but then thought better of it and headed out of the keep.
The maid hurried over. “Do you want to see your chamber now, my lady?”
“I want to ensure Erik’s lads have baths.”
Etta’s blue eyes widened. “Oh, my, that will be a difficult thing to do.”
“Where do they normally bathe?”
“In the loch, when they feel like it. Not so much for a few weeks now.”
“It is too late at night. Have the water heated for a bath in their chamber and I will be up presently.”
“I will gather three maids to help us.”
“We will need that many?” Accalia asked.
“Maybe more, my lady. They are indeed a handful. We quit trying to bathe them because of it.”
“Oh, you’ll have to show me where their chamber and mine are.”
“Aye, my lady. I’ll take you there first. I was told you would need gowns. Tailors are working on them now.” Then Etta escorted Accalia up the winding stairs to the upper floors of the keep. “We didna expect the lord to bring you home without any bags. We thought he would stay for a week at your da’s castle and if you suited each other, he would wed you and bring you here.”