by Diane Gaston
‘Edinburgh would be best,’ Mairi broke in. ‘More people in that city would find our things desirable.’
Dunburn gave her a sharp look. ‘I will make those decisions, Mairi. It is not your place to do so.’
Lucas felt her recoil from the unfair rebuke. Especially because she had better judgement than all the other family members.
‘Will you go to Edinburgh, Papa?’ Niven asked. ‘I would so like to go with you.’
‘If Niven goes, I want to go, too,’ Davina said.
‘I will not go,’ their father said. ‘Oh, dear me, no. I simply cannot go.’
‘You must, Papa,’ Mairi insisted. ‘Who else can do it?’
‘Why, Lucas, of course,’ he said.
‘Lucas?’ Mairi exclaimed.
Her father turned towards Lucas. ‘You will do this for me, will you not, Lucas?’
‘Yes, Lucas,’ her mother added. ‘You must. You will get us the best price, I know you will.’
‘Then you must go with him,’ Mairi told her father.
He lowered his brows and glared at her. ‘And you must mind your tongue, my girl. You have become most high-handed in this matter. Lucas does not need me. He can handle the affair very well.’
‘You do not know that, Papa,’ Mairi cried. ‘We don’t really know Lucas at all!’
Dunburn half-rose in his seat. ‘I’ll have you know I am an excellent judge of character, young lady, and I say that Lucas is the man for the job.’
Mairi was correct. They did not know him at all. He’d not wanted them to know him.
‘Perhaps you should do this, my lord,’ Lucas said.
Dunburn’s face contorted in stress. ‘Oh, no. It would not be proper for me to carry out such business. I will provide you with a letter under my seal authorising you to act on my behalf.’
Mairi spoke up again. ‘If you will not go with Lucas, I will accompany him.’
‘You will do no such thing!’ her mother broke in. ‘A young lady doing business like that? It simply is not done.’
What was simply not done was a single man escorting a marriageable young lady over a two days’ drive without a chaperon.
‘I insist, Papa,’ Mairi said. ‘You cannot merely hand over all our property to Lucas.’
Dunburn’s face turned red. ‘You have said quite enough, young lady. I will not be contradicted in this matter.’
‘I will go with Lucas,’ Niven offered eagerly.
‘If Niven goes, I want to go, too,’ Davina added.
‘No!’ her parents and sister said in unison.
Davina leaned back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest.
‘This is madness, Papa,’ Mairi said again.
Her father leaned forward in his seat, pointing a finger at her. ‘Have you lost all sense of propriety and sensibility? You are excused from this table and may spend the rest of the evening in your room.’
She stood and Lucas could tell she was trembling with rage.
‘Sir—’ he said.
‘This is a family matter, Lucas. Say no more.’ Dunburn waved away the soup and signalled for the fish to be served.
* * *
Mairi did not heed her father’s orders. Instead she grabbed her cloak and walked outside into the fresh air. She was so angry and upset she could not bear to be confined to her room like a naughty child. She needed fresh air and exercise and the freedom to move around as she wished.
The night was clear and the moon full enough to light her path to the garden. She walked the paths, the same ones she’d been forced to show Mr Hargreave. Her mind raced.
How could her father be so imprudent? Lucas had been wonderful to her family in so many ways, but they really knew very little about him. One did not trust an unknown person with one’s jewels and other treasures or with the money they might earn when sold. Could her father not see that? And how could her mother go along with such a scheme as if it was the most natural thing in the world?
Why did they trust him, a virtual stranger, but not their own daughter? Had she not proved she’d been right about everything? Why did they constantly brush aside anything she had to say, as if she were nothing but a nuisance?
Mairi paced the garden paths, trying to figure out a way to keep her father from behaving so foolishly. True, Lucas seemed trustworthy. He’d done nothing but help them—he had saved their reputation with the Crawfurds; he had planted the kitchen garden; he’d even polished boots and brushed out clothes—but that did not alter the fact that they did not know him. Men who seemed safe and harmless could still be disguising a dangerous nature.
Mairi had learned that lesson well.
She had no idea how long she remained outside, but long enough for her slippered feet to become tired and achy. She sat on the bench, wishing she would be allowed to observe the sale of the jewellery and other items. She’d make certain they were sold at a high enough price and that all the money came back to her father.
If she accompanied her father to Edinburgh, he would not listen to her. If she accompanied Lucas, though, perhaps he would allow her to manage the sales. Although a man—especially one as tall and strong as Lucas—could overpower her and she’d be helpless—
No. Lucas would not do such a thing. She knew he would never hurt her. She did not know why she knew that, but she did.
On the other hand, he still could steal their money.
‘Miss Wallace?’
She jumped at the voice and instinctively recoiled.
Lucas stepped into her view. ‘How long have you been out here?’
‘Since I was sent from the dinner table,’ she replied sharply. She was not angry at him, though. He’d been the only one to attempt to support her.
‘Your parents were wrong to chastise you,’ he said. ‘You were entirely correct. Your father should handle the sale of the items. He should have charge of the money.’
‘You told him that?’ She looked up.
He glanced away. ‘Not in so many words.’
He hadn’t supported her in the end.
He turned back and met her gaze. ‘I think your father is much better at purchasing things than selling them.’
‘So you agreed to do this for him?’ Her spirits sank.
‘Niven is to come with me.’ He did not sound very excited about this prospect.
Neither was she. ‘Niven?’
Of what use would Niven be? He’d not had enough experience of the world to know the value of things.
She stood. ‘I am returning to the house.’
He walked next to her, but did not say another word until they reached the door. He opened it, and as she stepped over the threshold, he grasped her arm. ‘Miss Wallace—’
Mairi jerked away in panic. She again felt a man’s grip on her arm. She could smell whisky and sweat.
An instant later the sensation dissolved. Her heart still raced.
Lucas stepped back and gaped at her in confusion. ‘Miss Wallace?’
‘I—I—You startled me by seizing my arm.’ She could barely make herself talk.
He looked concerned. ‘I did not hurt you, did I?’
‘No. Just startled me.’ She shrank away. ‘I must go to my room. They might look for me.’
She hurried to the servants’ stairs, the better to make it to her bedchamber without anyone seeing. She stopped before reaching the floor. What had happened? For that brief moment she’d not known it was Lucas touching her. It had been that other Englishman, the one from whom she could not escape. She’d momentarily returned to that horrible afternoon.
At least Lucas did not press her as to why she had reacted so strangely. He’d accepted her excuse, which was good, because she would never, ever, tell him what had happened to her.
* * *
Very early the next morn
ing Lucas, Erwin and Robert loaded a wagon with the furniture and boxes. They all re-entered the house to eat breakfast.
Lucas had changed into his own clothes, but he’d packed his butler’s garb as well. Best to look somewhat respectable if he was to sell items of value. He made certain he had Dunburn’s letters, signed and sealed, authorising him to act on the Baron’s behalf. He hoped merchants in Edinburgh would accept an Englishman as a Scottish baron’s man of business.
First a labourer, then a butler, now a man of business. He’d played so many parts for these Wallaces, so caught up in their problems that he’d nearly forgotten his despair. He’d hardly thought at all of war, even without whisky to wash it all away.
Who was he fooling? It was not the family who preoccupied him; it was Mairi. He’d been in her company the greater part of yesterday and everything about her increased his admiration. Everything but that look on her face when he’d grasped her arm. What had that meant? It had seemed more like fear than anger, but he’d done nothing to frighten her. He had certainly angered her, though.
Niven stepped into the servants’ hall. ‘I’ve finished breakfast.’ He’d eaten in the kitchen. ‘I am ready now, Lucas. Shall we be off?’
It felt wrong to leave without Dunburn to see them off, but he had insisted it would be too difficult and he would rather sleep late. It felt even worse to be sneaking off without even telling Mairi they were leaving. He’d intended to tell her the night before that he and Niven would be leaving early, but, after she reacted so strongly to his touch, she’d run from him.
‘Yes,’ Lucas said. ‘Let us leave now.’
‘Not before taking a basket with you.’ Mrs MacNeal appeared with a large wicker basket, fragrant with freshly baked bread.
‘Thank you, Mrs MacNeal.’ Lucas passed the basket on to Niven. ‘I need to take the portmanteau.’
Lucas fetched the portmanteau containing the jewellery from the butler’s room and he and Niven left via the servants’ entrance to the waiting wagon. Niven climbed up first. Lucas handed the portmanteau to him and started to climb up next.
‘Wait!’
He turned to see Mairi running towards him. She was dressed in her nightclothes and a dressing gown. Her hair was loose and flowing as she rushed towards them. She looked like an angel in flight.
‘You are leaving?’ she cried. ‘Without a word?’
He had to hold his hands out to stop her from running into him. ‘I tried to tell you.’
‘I saw the wagon from my window, but it is so early. You are sneaking away.’ She was breathing hard. ‘Does my father know?’
He held her shoulders. ‘He knows, Mairi. This is as he wanted it.’ He’d slipped into using her given name.
‘You were all hiding it from me?’ she cried.
‘No.’ She must not think that. ‘I came to tell you last night—’
She blinked rapidly. ‘You came. But Mama and Papa made no effort to tell me.’
Her pain affected him more than he wanted to admit. ‘I am sorry, Mairi.’
Her eyes filled with angry tears. ‘You had better do as Papa wished, Lucas!’
‘Don’t be bottle-headed, Mairi,’ Niven called down. ‘Of course we will do as Papa wished. What else would we do?’
Lucas knew better than Niven what pained her. Her parents had not even done her the courtesy of telling her.
He leaned closer to her, speaking low. ‘You can trust me, Mairi. I will return with the funds. I promise.’
‘You say that.’ She looked into his eyes. Hers glistened with tears.
‘Zooks, Mairi,’ Niven said. ‘Lucas is a fine fellow, but I will make certain he does as he should.’
Niven could not stop Lucas if he wanted to steal the money and he knew that Mairi knew it. Lucas could tell her he had no need of her family’s money. He had plenty of his own. His brother’s fortune and his father’s some day.
‘I will return with the money,’ he said softly.
‘You had better!’ she rasped.
Lucas wished he could hold her and comfort her fears, assure her that everything would work out as she hoped, but he certainly had not earned that right. He took her hand in his and clasped it firmly, wishing his were not gloved so he would be able to feel the warmth and smoothness of her skin against his.
‘You have my word, Mairi.’ He released her reluctantly and climbed up next to Niven, who handed him the reins of the horses. ‘We will be back.’
Lucas drove away, feeling her gaze upon his back. Without looking, he knew she stood watching them and would do so until they disappeared from view.
* * *
Lucas and Niven had travelled about an hour before a rustle sounded from behind them in the wagon. Lucas halted the horses and both he and Niven turned around in alarm. The oilcloth they’d used to cover the boxes and furniture was lifted up.
Davina sat up, grinning. Lucas swore to himself.
‘Davina!’ Niven cried. ‘What the devil?’
‘You didn’t think I would let you have this adventure without me, did you?’ She climbed over the boxes and took a seat beside Niven.
‘Miss Davina! This is not well done of you. Not well done at all.’ Lucas could not keep his extreme irritation out of his voice. ‘We will have to turn around now.’
‘No!’ she and Niven both cried at once.
‘Do not turn around,’ she pleaded. ‘I want to go with you. I have never been to Edinburgh. But do not concern yourselves. I will be no trouble at all and nothing could be objectionable about me accompanying my brother and our servant. I left a letter for Mama and Papa so they won’t worry.’
‘If we turn around, we might be delayed by a day at least,’ Niven complained. ‘And that might make us late for the house party and that will inconvenience our hosts. Lady Oxmont will be counting on us to arrive when we said we would.’
Lucas did not credit either of these excuses, but he knew time was of the essence or it would not matter how much money they raised.
It looked like he was saddled with both of them.
* * *
Mairi watched Lucas drive away, then spun on her heel and re-entered the house. There was nothing she could do. She was powerless and she hated that feeling. Her heart accelerated and a wave of anxiety accosted her.
This was intolerable. Intolerable.
Had Davina known of these plans to sneak away shortly after dawn? Was Mairi the only one who hadn’t known? She had no doubt that her parents had wished to hide this from her. They knew she’d make a fuss.
Not that any of it did any good.
Her dressing gown came open as she climbed the stairs. She stopped and retied its sash. She did not even care that she’d run out of the house barefoot and in her nightclothes. She’d seen the wagon from her window and known instantly what was afoot.
She knew better than to wake her parents and confront them, but Davina might be persuaded to tell her the details of this plan, not that it would reassure her much.
At least she’d not flinched from Lucas’s touch as she had the night before. Perhaps her anger had protected her from reliving that...event again. When Lucas took her hand in his she’d almost felt comforted. Reassured.
When he was looking into her eyes and speaking so softly and earnestly, she’d believed him. But as soon as he’d disappeared from sight, she’d begun to worry again. Would he truly return with the money?
She tapped on Davina’s door and, hearing nothing, opened it quietly. Her sister might still be asleep. She peered into the room to see.
The bed was empty and looked as if it had just been made up. Mairi stepped into the room. ‘Davina?’
There was no answer.
Davina was not in the room. Had she risen early?
Mairi was about to leave when she noticed a piece of folded paper on the bed.
She picked it up and opened it.
Dear Mama and Papa,
Do not worry about me. I have gone with Niven and Lucas to Edinburgh. It was not fair that Niven could go and not me.
Yours, etc.
Davina
‘Davina!’ Mairi cried aloud. ‘You silly fool!’
She hurried into her room and pulled her riding habit out of the wardrobe. If she rode one of the very fast horses, she might catch up to them. She struggled with her laces, but could not reach them. No matter. She’d ride dressed as she was. She grabbed her cloak and gloves and ran out of the room and halfway to the stables.
She stopped. She had no idea what roads to take to Edinburgh. What if there was more than one way to go? How would she know which route they’d taken? She had very little money of her own to take with her, perhaps not enough to stay in an inn.
And she would be alone on strange roads where nobody knew her. She would be at more risk alone than Davina could ever be with Lucas and Niven to look after her. As long as Davina stayed with them. That was the worry, though, was it not?
Would Davina stay with them?
Chapter Thirteen
It took them two days to reach Edinburgh. The first night on the road they stayed at an inn in Linlithgow and Niven and Davina insisted upon visiting the ruins of the palace where Mary, Queen of Scots, had been born and where Bonnie Prince Charlie had briefly visited a few months before the Duke of Cumberland had burned most of the building. There were several delays like that one, the two young people treating the trip more as a lark than as a means to save their family from losing everything.
He was lucky enough to sell the jewellery and many of the decorative items to John Howden and Son, a watchmaker and jeweller. With recommendations from Mr Howden for other places that might take the furniture, he managed to sell everything over the following three days.
Rather than watch over Lucas’s efforts, Niven and Davina explored the sights of the city, managing to visit both Holyrood Palace and Edinburgh Castle. Lucas gave them orders as stern as he’d done with his soldiers that they were not to engage in any mischief. They’d listened to him when he’d explained about the family’s debts, as well, and promised to be more responsible in helping their sister. Niven immediately rose to the occasion to watch over Davina. With their promises to behave properly, they happily went off on their own and Lucas was able to conduct the serious business as he desired.