Page 38 of To Winter at Wildsyde

Sheenagh sighed and shook her head before handing Ruth her tea. “Ah well, there’s always next time.”

Ruth gave a bark of laughter and Sheenagh grinned. “I love what ye did to his study. I crept in when that ol’ sneaksby wisnae looking. I never saw such a fright in my life. I cannae believe the laird didnae tan yer hide for that.”

The young woman shook her head in wonder and Ruth couldn’t help but chuckle. Although Sheenagh ought not speak to her employer so boldly, Ruth found she rather liked it.

“I believe he is afraid of reprisals,” Ruth replied, before taking a sip of her tea. “After all, I might redecorate his bedroom.”

The girl looked delighted by this and Ruth felt a surge of triumph, and then remembered that Sheenagh had been in a foul mood when she came in.

“But tell me, Sheenagh, what was it ruffled your feathers this morning?”

The girl’s expression darkened, and she crossed her arms, a more familiar glint of belligerence in her eyes now. “’Tis that blasted hog-grubbing sneaksby,” she muttered.

“Which particular hog-grubbing sneaksby?” Ruth enquired, aware that Sheenagh was not on speaking terms with any of the English staff.

“Ol’ long shanks.”

“Ah, Garrick.” Ruth surmised, as the butler was certainly the tallest of her staff.

“Aye,” Sheenagh said, her tone sour. “Him.”

Ruth settled herself on the chair in front of her tray and lifted the lid on the covered plate to discover herrings fried in oatmeal, and sighed. She’d never been partial to the little fish but had discovered they were a staple of the region, the ‘silver darlings’ being an important part of the local economy and now due to become a part of the income on the estate. Gordy had provided five fishing boats for those tenant families who lived on his land by the coastline. She’d decided she’d best acquire a taste for the wretched things.

“What is it in particular you find so objectionable about Garrick?” she asked Sheenagh, taking a determined bite of the fish and chewing.

“He’s always bloody well there,” Sheenagh replied, exasperated. “I turn around and there is he is, glowering at me and demanding if I’ve done this, that or the other.”

“And when he asks, are you able to reply that you have done so?”

Sheenagh flushed and folded her arms a bit tighter.

Ruth hid a smile and gestured for Sheenagh to sit down. After a brief hesitation, the girl perched on the edge of the bed, watching Ruth with a wary expression.

“Garrick and Mrs Crust, just like Mrs MacLeod, have a responsibility to see the household is properly run, Sheenagh. Every person who lives and works at Wildsyde, myself included, is a part of the effort to ensure the castle is an efficient and well run estate that provides work and shelter for us all. You are an important part of that effort. If you fail it reflects badly on the other staff and therefore upon me.”

Sheenagh snorted at that idea.

Ruth set down her knife and fork. “You don’t believe me?”

“If I were important, he’d nae look at me like I crawled out of cheese.”

Biting her lip against reacting to that illuminating description, Ruth ploughed on. “Sheenagh, do you have any idea how coveted a position lady’s maid is? In London, the way a lady is turned out can make or break her reputation. She is entirely in the hands of the woman who dresses her and does her hair, and that woman’s skill or lack thereof can have dire consequences.”

Sheenagh’s eyes widened at that idea.

“Ach, but ’tis nae the same here at Wildsyde,” she snapped, dismissing this idea with irritation.

“No,” Ruth allowed. “Not at the moment, but I have friends who will probably visit us, one of whom is a duchess, and I will no doubt visit them, too. There may well be occasions for me to return to London. Will you shame me before everyone by not learning your job as you ought? Should I perhaps send for an English woman to take the position, one who understands the importance of her role?”

She watched as Sheenagh cast her a look of utter loathing, springing to her feet. “Well, why not? Ye will anyway. ’Tis not like ye would care to take me with ye to such fine places, for I will shame ye with my ignorance, no doubt.”

Ruth stared at her, holding her gaze and unimpressed by her outburst. “You will sit down and keep a civil tongue in your head,” she said coldly, daring the girl to disobey her.

Sheenagh did as she was told, though her unwillingness to obey was not hidden as she slouched and sulked.

“I have no intention of dismissing you, not if you will do the job as it ought to be done.” Ruth said, keeping her tone crisp. “I will not put up with belligerence and sulking though, I warn you. I think we could get on very well, if you would only give me a chance. Don’t you wish to continue, Sheenagh?”

“Aye!” the girl burst out, her exclamation so fierce that Ruth jumped. “But I cannae!”