Page 25 of Highland Renegade
“But that is not right.” Emily looked at Ian again. “What can we do?”
“First, we canna just put the blame on the Campbells, since we have nae proof.” Ian turned to Rory. “Ye are our best tracker. If anyone can find the trail, ’tis ye.”
Rory gave Juliana a smug look before he nodded. “I’ll leave right away.”
“And if he finds out you are right?” Emily asked as he left. “What will you do?”
“Since the duke’s duties keep him away most of the time, he will nae have had a hand in this, but his cousin Henry oversees things, so we can ask him to come speak to us,” Alasdair said. “I canna see him ordering something so petty as this, but he may well ken who wants to create mischief.”
Lorelei smiled at him. “How clever of you to suggest that.”
He grinned back. “I am the smart one of the bunch.”
“That is in dispute,” Carr said. “Do ye not remember me thrashing ye in chess?”
“Be that as it may.” Ian gestured to Alasdair. “Ye do have a good idea.”
“And it wouldna hurt to find out which way the wind blows with the Campbells,” Carr added. “Mayhap if the duke hears the Countess of Woodhaven—anEnglishwoman—has taken up residence with us, he might be inclined to support Bute and Mount Stuart…or at least, not oppose the petition to regain our name.”
Ian gave him a thoughtful look. “I had nae thought of that. Campbells do favor the English. Mayhap having the lady as our guest will benefit us after all.”
Emily looked down so her emotions wouldn’t show. She was a pawn in the MacGregors’ game of parodied chess. She’d also noticed the phrase “taken up residence” instead of “ownership.” And “guest.”Guest. Ian thought of her as such. That she was planning only to visit and not stay.
She understood that the concept of her having the deed to the holdings was difficult for them, but would they ever accept her?
…
“Can you imagine someone wanting to steal smelly old sheep?” Lorelei asked when they’d retreated to the solar after the furor in the Great Hall earlier.
Emily didn’t answer immediately, instead choosing a chair near the easterly window where the late morning sun poured in. It was her favorite room in the castle. She’d discovered it while exploring on the second day she’d been here. It had been empty, since it was in the old part of the castle and another solar had been built, but she’d had most of her personal belongings, as well as the few pieces of furniture from the wagons, brought in here, and she’d made a nest of sorts. The hearth was empty this morning, since it was late summer, but she envisioned a roaring fire come winter, with sunshine streaming in the window and herself curled in this very chair with a good book. But for now, she had to address stolen sheep.
“Those sheep are income,” Emily replied. “At least, their wool is. I am not sure how losing more than a score of them will affect our profits.”
“What did those boring financial reports you keep looking at say?”
“They did not show a large income, which is why I think we cannot afford such a loss.”
“There are a lot of sheep in other fields around here,” Juliana said. “Do those not belong to Strae Castle as well?”
“I think they do.”
“Maybe you should take a look at the ledgers and find out exactly what you own.”
“I intend to, but first I wanted to see the lands and fields for myself,” Emily answered. “Once I do that it will be easier to understand the amounts shown in the accounts.”
“The sooner the better, then,” Juliana said.
“I want to be able to have a thorough understanding of the situation here first, then I plan to take my time going over each separate entry.”
Lorelei sighed. “That sounds terribly dull and tedious to me.”
“It may be dull and tedious, but if you want to return to London and enjoy a Season, I have to know how our finances stand.”
Her sister cast her eyes down. “I had not thought of it like that.”
“It is a sorry state we are in.” Juliana stood. “The earl should have provided for us. Or, at least, for you—”
“If only we could have kept the house in Mayfair.” Lorelei sighed again. “I did like that house.”
