You can read the story so far from the beginning here
“I gathered these for you, Mistress Hilary,” Samgan said as he stepped into the warm kitchen. “If it was a different season, perhaps it would be greater, but I hope that you can accept my poor offering.” He held out a small bunch of wild flowers tied with twine.
Hilary felt a lump in her throat. “Thank you so much,” she said. She rushed over to a cupboard to get a vase. “Take a seat. Dinner will be on the table soon. We’re just waiting for Lord Peregrine.”
“Thank you for including me,” Samgan said. He looked nervously at the long table, set with six places. “Is there any particular seat allocated?”
Paul sat at the furthest point from the head of the table and on the side nearest the door. “Sit opposite me,” he said. “That is, if you like?”
“Thank you,” Samgan murmured.
Hilary frowned as she watched him slip into his chair. The extra small jeans that she had found in a charity shop were held up by string around his thin waist, and the flannel shirt that was barely big enough for the frame of his wide shoulders and deep chest still hung cruelly loose over his frame. “The flowers are perfect for the table,” she said. “It’s just a plain meal, and you can eat as much or as little as you like.”
Tom strode into the kitchen and sat next to Paul. “What’s for dinner tonight?” he asked.
“It’s just shepherd’s pie,” Hilary said. “But it should warm you up.”
“It’s never ‘just’ anything,” Tom said, turning to Bracken. “What did you make?”
“The mistress made it all tonight,” Bracken said. “I was cleaning, remember, at the stores.”
“Of course,” Tom said.
“I made a big dish of shepherd’s pie,” Hilary said. “What we don’t eat can get put away to be reheated later, perhaps for lunch tomorrow, if there’s any left. And I did extra gravy, broccoli, and roast carrots and parsnips on the side.” She glanced at Samgan. “It’s plain stuff, but it will keep us going.”
“Did you do dessert?” Tom asked.
“She did and I did not see her make it,” Bracken grumbled as she put the large teapot, milk jug and sugar bowl on the table. “It is a large steamed pudding, with apple.” She looked thoughtful. “I can make the custard.”
“There’s no need,” Hilary said. “I don’t mind making it, but you can if you like.” She placed the vase of wild flowers on the table at the end.
“I changed situation to learn cooking,” Bracken said quietly to Samgan as she sat next to him and opposite Tom. “I had been in place with Lord Peregrine, but it didn’t suit me.”
“I think you found a good situation,” Samgan said. He looked slowly around the room. “There is much kindness here.”
“I’m not sure about that,” Hilary said. “But we do our best.” She frowned. “I won’t have kind words for Lord Peregrine if he doesn’t get here soon.”
Tom looked up, his eyes bright. “I can hear him.”
It was a few moments before Lord Peregrine strolled in through the door with a blast of icy air, and already the plates were on the table, a cup of Earl Grey was placed at Lord Peregrine’s place and dishes of vegetables were already on the table. “This looks splendid!” Lord Peregrine said. “I’ll hang up my coat, wash my hands, and be straight back.”
Paul chuckled. “It sounds like you had to negotiate that,” he said.
“This is my place, not his,” Hilary said firmly. She pulled a huge dish from the oven. “Samgan, take as much as you need, but in small mouthfuls. And there is plenty of food in the cupboards for later, if you need it.”
“There is,” Tom said. “Hilary believes in keeping her cupboards stocked.”
“Well you remember how it was when the embankment collapsed and we couldn’t get to the shops the usual way,” Hilary said, carefully placing the shepherd’s pie on a mat on the table and placing a serving spoon next to it. “I was glad of my full cupboards then.”
“I’m sorry about that,” Samgan said. “I was in a time of madness.”
Lord Peregrine bustled in and sat down. “We understand.” He frowned. “But don’t do something like that again. No-one got hurt by your actions, but it was close, and it caused some trouble.”
“I acted in accordance with my nature,” Samgan said, his voice even and his eyes sad. “I had been trapped for many years, and only freed when some sort of magical battle caused the hill with my cell to collapse.”
Tom looked up suddenly. “You mean the landslide after my father and uncle fought? You’d been kept in the hill?”
Samgan nodded. “In a tight space, where I did not hunger or thirst but where I struggled to move and the darkness closed endlessly onto me.” He shivered and dropped his eyes to his plate. “I was relieved to leave it.”
Lord Peregrine helped himself to a large portion of shepherd’s pie and passed the dish over to Hilary who had sat next to Bracken. “I hope that you won’t be trapped like that again. You can tell me more about it after dinner.”
“It would be a sad thing to mar the cheer of the dinner table with dark tales,” Samgan said.
“Indeed, and I have better things to talk about,” Lord Peregrine said. “I want you to work for Hilary.”
“What?” Hilary stared at Lord Peregrine. “No!”
“I should very much like to serve you, mistress,” Samgan said quietly. “I am so deeply indebted to you.”
“I can’t afford to pay you!” Hilary said. “I’m not making that much money, and I’m not likely to get short term guests until summer.”
“What do you pay Bracken?” Samgan asked.
“I has big wages,” Bracken said, her eyes wide. “And I work hard to earn them. I have a place to sleep, which is a room all to myself; food to eat, which is in the kitchen with everyone; a glass of milk, which I get every morning; clothes for my back,” Bracken took a deep breath. “And I have a coin at Christmas.”
“And I insist that you take time off,” Hilary said. “And you work too hard as it is.”
“Hilary worries about mortal laws,” Lord Peregrine said. “And I think that those are fair terms. Bracken is expected to work around an hour every day, and she gets paid separately for any work that she does at the Village Stores.”
“Those seem fair terms, Mistress Hilary,” Samgan said. “And even generous. I wouldn’t work in the house.” A faint smile passed across his face. “I couldn’t reach Bracken’s expertise. But your garden needs some work, and I would find it congenial employment.”
“Mistress Hilary has already given clothes for you and food,” Bracken said. She put a tentative hand on Samgan’s arm. “It is not hard work, and there is not much shouting.”
“It’s not exactly safe, either,” Hilary said. “Don’t forget, we have a problem in the cellar.”
“I have no answer to the witch’s snares,” Samgan said. “But I would be very happy to work for you, on the same terms as Bracken enjoys.”
Hilary added some carrots to her plate. “I need to ask. What happens if I can’t get milk? If there’s a shortage and I can’t get to the shops and there’s none in the farm? Or I can’t find good clothes for you? Or I’m just not able to meet your terms.”
“If it is not of malice, I will merely leave,” Samgan said. “You are wise to ask. If you try and deceive me, I will take action.” He paused as Paul set the dish of shepherd’s pie in front of him and took a deep breath. “But if you should speak with me, and explain, and perhaps offer other compensation.” His hands were trembling as he took a small portion and put it carefully on the plate in front of him. “Then I would be agreeable to revisit our arrangement.”
Some of the tension in Hilary’s shoulders eased. “Thank you,” she said.
Samgan found himself relaxing gently as the meal went on. The food was good, warming him in more ways than basic nutrition. Again and again he went back for a small spoonful of the shepherd’s pie, a fragment of broccoli and the smallest chunk of carrot or parsnip, taking care with his system as it recovered. At the same time he watched as Tom ate enough for three of him, and Paul, and even Bracken, ate heartily. There was a peace in the kitchen that hadn’t been there any time in his memory, and he was basking in it. As the conversation turned to the opening of the Village Store, Sam let his mind wander to the garden. There were many rare herbs in the garden, some of them tricky to grow and it would need careful coaxing to bring it back to its former state. He could hardly wait to get started. He glanced at the vase with his thin bouquet sat proudly on the table. He had to repay Hilary’s kindness.
“This dinner is excellent,” Lord Peregrine said.
“We has already made individual shepherd’s pies for the Village Store,” Bracken said. “They will sell well.”
“And you have steamed apple pudding with custard for dessert?” Lord Peregrine looked over at the stove.
“That’s right,” Hilary said.
“We shall have my court’s Winter Solstice celebration here,” Lord Peregrine said.
“What?” Hilary said.
“Obviously I’ll make sure that you have supplies, and I’ll pay generously,” Lord Peregrine said. “And I’ll provide all the drink.”
“What?” Hilary shook her head. “No.”
“It will be splendid,” Lord Peregrine said.
“No!” Hilary said. “I can’t host a big function like that. I’m just a plain cook.”
“This was a feast,” Lord Peregrine said. “I can’t wait to see what you do with all the fine foods for Yule.”
“No!” Hilary snapped. “Besides, the solstice is only a couple of weeks away and it takes time to prepare for that sort of meal.”
“Of course you’ll manage,” Lord Peregrine said. “Most of my court is here anyway.”
“That is true,” Tom said thoughtfully. He grimaced. “Lord Peregrine’s court is small and perhaps doesn’t have so many creature comforts. And, apart from us, there is Cabus, who won’t eat much, Magnus and his family who will eat like wolves, and the Lesken sisters.”
“Auntie Olive and Auntie Ivy will be happy to help prepare,” Bracken added quickly. “Though perhaps they shouldn’t be allowed near the food. They can wash up.”
“They can help decorate,” Lord Peregrine said. “And I will, of course, provide greenery for wreaths and swags.”
“I don’t have time for wreaths and swags!” Hilary said. “I can’t possibly do this.”
“I’ll come up tomorrow to sort out the details,” Lord Peregrine said. “Now, what about that steamed apple pudding?”
