Page 64 of Highland Champion
“Aye,” Alasdair said again. “We recently expanded our distillery business and can use that land for barley.”
“Even so.” Oakley looked thoughtful. “If you were to cede this land—”
“Nae! Why would we?”
The duke held up a hand. “Hear me out. The location is obviously important to Argyll, too. Perhaps as a part of a compromise—after lengthy arguments, of course, since you do want to give the impression of giving in—he might more willingly give back some of your other ancestral lands that are not so close to his. Some of those land titles are going to be much harder to refute.” He studied Alasdair for a moment. “I guess it depends on how many of your clan you expect to settle.”
Alasdair stared at him for a moment while he let the information sink in. Damnation. The man had a point. The five hundred hectares were important tohisfamily, but he also had to think of the rest of the MacGregor clan. Some would be returning from Ireland. Others would be coming back from northern lands and even the Hebrides. They would all be expecting a place to live. He sighed. The negotiations were going to be a gamble, and he didn’t like the odds.
“Let me think on it.”
“As you wish.” The duke rose, effectively dismissing him.
And, as he left, he realized he needed to be doing some other thinking, too. Mount Stuart had warned him that Oakley brooked no nonsense and had a sharp sense of justice—which is why the MacGregors needed him…to counter Argyll—but it made Alasdair wary. With her father now home, his dalliance with Melissa was becoming more dangerous.
…
“After Mrs. Fitzroy’s crowded tea yesterday, ’twill be good to go where ’tis more quiet,” Fiona told Lorelei on Monday afternoon as they parted from Louisa at Hill Street. “I doona think I can listen to any more giggling and blathering on about gowns and balls.”
Lorelei smiled. “Well, they will not be talking about such in St. Giles.”
“Nae.” Fiona jiggled her reticule. “I hope we have enough coin to give out.”
“We should,” she answered. “After all, Louisa gave us some of her pin money, too.”
They’d worn their plainest gowns today because, as Louisa pointed out when they’d told her what they planned to do, dressing in finery was likely to make them a target to some of the more unsavory types. Fiona had immediately suggested they wear trews and maybe stuff their hair under caps, but none of them knew quite exactly how they could make an exit from the town home dressed like boys.
“At least it’s warm today and we do not have to bother with pelisses or shawls.”
“Aye,” Fiona answered as they climbed into a hansom that Lorelei had flagged down. “Although I wouldna mind bringing some clothing to give out.”
“Lady Bute would think it strange that we did not simply donate to a charity,” Lorelei said, “although I do have an embroidered handkerchief or two I could give away.”
“I wish I had thought of that.”
“Next time.”
Their driver let them off again where the Seven Dials had once stood and they made their way past the pubs that fronted the circle and into the back streets where they’d gone last time.
The children were not as wary of them this time. A few faces appeared in windows, but it didn’t take long for a stream of urchins to begin appearing. In another minute they were surrounded, small grimy hands reaching for them.
“Have non’ of ya no manners?” The girl to whom Lorelei had given her pelisse to came striding down the street. She wiggled her way through the group and turned to glare at them. “Iffin’ these fine ladies have coin for us, ya do no paw at them.”
The little girls fell back at once, looking stricken. A few of the boys scowled at her, but she scowled back and they dropped their hands.
“It is all right.” Lorelei smiled at her. “We have enough coins for all.”
That brought smiles to all their faces as she and Fiona opened their reticules and began distributing. The girl, Lorelei noticed, held back until all the little ones had a coin and only then did she hold out her hand.
“What is your name?” Fiona asked.
“Emma.”
“’Tis a fine name.”
“My sister’s name is Emily,” Lorelei said. “It is almost the same as yours.”
The girl blushed slightly. “Me mum thought it a special name.”
