"We thought it better to teach her away from the others," Lady Annabel said quietly. "And no one comes back here but for the servants."
"Ye're right, o' course," he murmured."
"Not that it matters," Joan said with a sigh. "We have been out here for over an hour and I've yet to hit the target even once."
"But you are getting better with each shot," her aunt said encouragingly. "With enough practice you will do well."
"I'm afraid practice'll have to wait fer now," Cam said with a faint smile. "Garia has talked the ladies into helping to sew ye new gowns and they need ye in the solar to take yer measure."
"Oh, that's wonderful!" Annella cried, jumping up from where she and Kenna had been sitting, sewing as their mother tried to teach Joan to shoot straight. "We can get gowns done much more quickly with their aid."
"It is wonderful news," Lady Annabel agreed, smiling faintly. "And we have practiced enough at archery today. Let's go in and let the ladies have your measure, then we will switch to music or dance I think."
Joan managed not to grimace at the suggestion. While she liked Garia, she wasn't eager to meet the other women, especially Finola. She also wasn't eager to move on to training in music or dance. Joan had never had much time for such pursuits while growing up. She'd always been trailing her mother around, learning her skills, so knew darned right well she would be as bad at those pastimes as she was with the bow and arrow. In truth, all today's lessons had taught her so far was that she was indeed a peasant, a peasant playing at being a lady.
"ARE YE DONE?"
Joan glanced to Cam with surprise and then back to her empty trencher. She'd been considering having a bit more pheasant, but supposed she could do without it. She didn't need to gain weight and not fit in the gowns the ladies were planning for her. The thought made her smile faintly. Garia, as it turned out, was not the only one of the ladies who were nice. Several of them were. Of course, a couple weren't too. Finola wasn't the only one with a less than pleasant personality, but Joan had mostly enjoyed her time with the women that afternoon before her aunt pulled her away to start dancing lessons.
That thought made Joan's smile die as quickly as it had grown. She was no better at dancing than archery. Truly, she had stomped on her cousin's toes so many times she would not be surprised did they not refuse to help with those lessons in future. Joan didn't mind if they did. She had not enjoyed the lessons. She'd felt awkward and clumsy and the whole ordeal had left her hot and sweaty and miserable.
"Joan?" Cam prodded with a small frown.
Forcing a smile, she nodded and opened her mouth to say aye, she was done, but snapped it closed and glanced around as Lady Sinclair called her name.
"If ye're done eating, dear, I would ha'e a word with ye."
Joan's eyes widened and she glanced to Cam uncertainly.
"Go ahead," he said with a sigh. "I can wait."
Nodding, Joan stood and walked along the table to her mother-in-law as the woman got to her feet.
"Lady Annabel and I had a chat this afternoon," Lady Sinclair said, slipping her arm around Joan to usher her to the stairs. "And she reminded me that ye're in need o' a lady's maid. So I asked one o' the maids to wait fer us in Cam's room so ye can see if ye think she'll do."
"Oh," Joan murmured blankly.
"The girl has ne'er held a position as lady's maid as her main position, but she has acted as one in the past when we've had guests without their own in accompaniment. They ha'e said she was surprisingly good. And o' course, me maid, Edith, and Lady Annabel's maid too, shall help train her if ye think she'll do after ye've spoken to her."
"Thank you," Joan murmured. " 'Tis very kind."
"Not at all, dear," Lady Sinclair said. "I am just sorry I do no' ha'e a fully trained lady's maid to offer ye."
" 'Tis fine," Joan said quietly, and it truly was as far as she was concerned. What was more fitting than for her to have a maid in training? After all, she was a lady in training.
Joan was still smiling over that thought when they reached the bedchamber she was presently sharing with her aunt and cousins. As Lady Sinclair had promised, a maid waited there for them, and Joan's eyes widened as she recognized her. It was the young pale woman named Jinny that the cook had ordered to bring her food to break her fast with that morning.
"I shall just wander down to the solar to wait while ye confer with her," Lady Sinclair announced. "Ye can find me there when ye're done and let me know if she'll do or no'."
"Thank you," Joan murmured as her mother-in-law pulled the door closed. Turning back to the maid then, Joan managed a smile, hesitated and then gestured to the chairs by the fire. "Let's sit, shall we?"
The maid nodded, but waited for her to lead the way. Once seated, they peered at each other silently, the maid waiting expectantly, and Joan wondering what the devil she was supposed to do now. Finally, she cleared her throat and asked, "Would you like to work for me?"
"Oh, aye, m'lady," Jinny answered eagerly.
"You would?" Joan asked, vaguely surprised at her enthusiasm. "Why?"
"Why?" Jinny seemed equally surprised at the question. "Every maid in the castle would love to be yer lady's maid, m'lady. 'Tis a prime position. I'd answer only to ye. I'd ne'er ha'e to work in those hot kitchens again, and cook wouldn't dare pinch me bottom were I yer lady's maid and not just one o' the kitchen girls."
"The cook pinches your bottom?" Joan asked, frowning.
"Aye. And worse. He's a nasty, randy old--" She stopped abruptly and covered her mouth, eyes wide with alarm. After a moment she lowered her hand and whispered, "Oh, pray ferget I said that, m'l
ady. Cook is fine. I just would prefer working fer ye to working in the hot kitchens is all. Truly."
Joan eyed her solemnly, and then heaved a sigh. She had no idea what else she should ask her. The girl wanted to work for her, so her taking her on as lady's maid wouldn't be taking her from a job she preferred. That was really the only thing that mattered to her. Or it had been. Now that she knew she'd be helping the girl escape the Sinclair cook's lascivious attentions . . . well, that was good too. She never could stand bullies and people who abused the power they had.
"Very well," Joan said, getting to her feet. "You're my new lady's maid."
Jinny blinked and stood up. "I am?"
"Aye."
"Oh." Rather than look pleased, Jinny looked troubled at this news.
"Is there something wrong?" Joan asked with a frown.
"Nay, nay, I just . . ." She shrugged helplessly. "I expected more questions I guess."
"What kind of questions?" Joan asked curiously, wondering herself what she should have asked.
"I do no' ken," the girl admitted wryly. "Just more."
Joan nodded. "Well, if I think of any more questions, I'll ask them as we go along. All right?"
Jinny nodded quickly. "Aye, m'lady."
"Good." Joan headed for the door.
"Excuse me, m'lady."
Pausing, she turned back in question.
"Do I return to the kitchens to help with cleanup, or . . ." She glanced around uncertainly, obviously not sure what she would do here.
Joan frowned at the question and then asked, "Where is Lady Annabel's maid?"
"She was here when I arrived, but when I explained Lady Sinclair sent me, she said she would go take some air and give us the room to ourselves."
That didn't surprise her. Annabel's maid was very good at judging when she was needed and at making herself scarce when she wasn't.
"Well then, nay, you're not to return to the kitchens. Just wait here for her to return and take your lead from her on what you're supposed to do," Joan suggested.
Jinny nodded, obviously relieved not to be sent back to the kitchens, but stopped her again as she turned back to the door. "M'lady?"