Page 26 of A Torn Allegiance
Elsie sat forward in her seat. “But surely the man is no threat. Here in England? Father, really. What could he do? And what on earth could he hope to accomplish with Prince Hayes?”
“That is exactly what you must find out. I must know if they meet again.” His gaze bored into Elsie. She had no problem at all with a demand from her father to get to know Prince Hayes better. But the pang of guilt that rumbled through her at the idea of spying on him was nearly as powerful as her desire to know more of him. “Father, I am no spy.”
“You are the only one who can discover this information. He seems to prefer your company.”
She looked to her mother for assistance, but Mother seemed to have her own enjoyment at the idea, and that frustrated Elsie further. “Father, this isn’t right. What if he were to find out we are watching him?”
“How would he ever find out?”
“So I’m to lie to him, to pretend things?”
“Becoming close to the man doesn’t have to be a lie.” Her mother’s eyes widened. She nodded encouragingly.
“And if we find out he is involved with the French, that he is an enemy like you say?” It was highly unlikely but a valid question. “You wish me to have created a close relationship with such a man?”
Father shook his head. “He will be of no threat to you no matter what he turns out to be.”
She didn’t agree with her father. Was Prince Hayes a threat to her? Yes, he was. Not the kind her father thought but another type altogether. She felt her cheeks warm and could do nothing about the leap in her stomach just at the thought of growing closer to the prince. He was a threat indeed.
The next morning brought Elsie to her brother’s room. It was early yet, and as she suspected, he was still in bed. “Good morning, scallywag.”
“Good morning, cretin.”
She climbed up on the bed like she used to when they were children. Sitting beside him, with her head leaning back against the wall, she smiled at him. “Thanks for standing up for Prince Hayes with Father.”
He eyed her. “He’s a good man. If Father is blind to that, so be it. I don’t mind spending time with him, even if not for Father’s purposes. And you obviously don’t either.” His grin teased, but there were questions in his eyes.
“Oh, Duncan. I don’t mind, no. But I’m a mess about what I really want.” She closed her eyes. “Tell me about Scotland.”
“There’s no life for you there.”
“How can you say that?” She opened her eyes and turned to him, awaiting an explanation.
“Because I’m there. It’s not as bad for them as you might think. Let me tell you of a normal day. I awake to the sounds of the tenants working their land. Sometimes they sing the songs of their clan. Their children join in. The skies are blue, the clouds are white, and the good Lord is smiling down on them all, same as ever.” His grin grew. “So you don’t need to worry so overly much about things. We have a good steward who cares for everyone while I’m not there. When I become duke, everything will be well even then.”
“But what concerns you? I know you’re worried. Please tell me.”
He exhaled slowly, as if a great weight were challenging his peace. “All year I’m there, trying to figure out how to keep the Scottish lands in our hands, how to keep them producing, how to help the tenants.”
His pained eyes worried her further. “Could I not come assist in some way? When I think of the plight of our people there, everything here seems like wasted breath.” Her pout grew without thought. Why could she not attend things with the men? Why were women’s activities so much more dull? “My heart is in Scotland. When you become duke, I will live there—I will be baroness—so I may as well help run the estate now.”
“You... will be baroness?” He laughed. “Sister, Father will not name you baroness.”
“But you could.”
Duncan snorted. “I could not.”
“Even if they don’t call me a baroness, I will act as one.”
He sighed but said nothing. Perhaps he knew where their tired old conversation would lead and he was already fatigued from the end result, which usually involved her throwing a pillow at his head and storming out of the room, shouting about the injustices of the world.
Instead she said, “What do you think will happen?”
“Honestly?” He closed his eyes. “A great wind of change is blowing. The problem is I don’t know which direction it’s going. Another noble, a Lord Everly, wants to start buying sheep like the others. And he, of course, also has influence.”
“What if they all buy sheep? We don’t have to do the same.”
“There are few fences. They can leap over the walls and would eat the crops of anyone without a sturdy fence, but the neighboring estates don’t want a fence. The cost alone would prevent them. Sheep, fences, neighbors disagreeing with neighbors—it’s a blight on the area, a blight to the tenants. They’re getting skittish. The McKinleys are now planning to leave.”
