Page 66 of Taming the Heiress
Matheson sipped the stew and curled his lip slightly. "The meat is of good quality, but the vegetables are somewhat plebeian."
Dougal ate in silence for a moment, having no quarrel with the quality of the food. "Might I say, we appreciated your permission to work on Guga, and The Commission is grateful for your offer of a donation to the lighthouse fund."
"And so we come to the reason for this meeting."
"I wondered what you wanted of me, sir," Dougal said cautiously.
"I understand that you have come upon hard times with your project, sir, and more particularly with your charming enemy."
"If you mean Lady Strathlin, I cannot attest to her charm, though I have experienced her hard nature."
"I can assure you she is quite winsome."
Dougal frowned, doubtful. "Be that as it may, I know that the lady's advocates are a conniving bunch, whether or not she is part of it."
"Are you aware that she ordered her lawyers to stop you from setting foot on her island or putting up the light at any cost?"
"Ah. Now, that I had not heard in particular."
"What is the current state of your project, sir?"
"As of yesterday," Dougal said, "we've lost more than half our willing contributors. They were informed by Matheson Bank that the Caran lighthouse was a poor investment, destined to cost twice its estimate and destined to fail due to impossible conditions and faulty engineering."
"Ah, yes. I believe they were informed that if the Stevensons had supervised it, rather than entrusting the project to Dougal Stewart, this would not have been handled so incompetently."
Dougal fisted a hand and knocked the table in angry but controlled frustration. "I have personally visited as many contributors as I could. Previously they had no quarrel with me, but they are unaccountably distrustful of me now. I am baffled."
"The bank said their funds would not be dispersed to you on suspicion of fraudulence. The lawyers claim that you plan to abscond with the funds and make off for the Continent."
"What!" Dougal leaned forward. "That is preposterous. How do you know, sir? Were you approached, as well? Are we meeting now," he asked suspiciously, "so that you can withdraw your offer?"
"I am a member of the bank board, which is how I know their dastardly scheme," Matheson said. "And you and I are meeting so that I may double my offer to you."
"Double it? That's exceedingly generous. But why do this?"
Sir Frederick leaned forward. "Because, sir, I am one of the few who wants you to build that lighthouse there."
"Lady Strathlin wants the island kept private. That is the crux of the problem. Are you willing to join that dispute?"
"Given time, I can end this dispute," Matheson answered bluntly. "The baroness will not prevail, nor will that island be private for long. Someday I will be making the decisions about Caransay, I assure you. Such a spectacularly lovely place could be an excellent resort to suit the very wealthy. Besides, Lady Strathlin has no need for a private island. She has too much freedom there," he added darkly.
Dougal sat back. "You own the Isle of Guga, adjacent to Caransay. Have you discussed your thoughts with Lady Strathlin?"
Matheson waved a hand. "Guga! That damned rock is useful only for birds and seals and for quarrying. I bought the lease because of its single virtue." Matheson sipped, then wiped his mouth again fastidiously. "It is nearest to Caransay."
"Why is that significant?"
"Lady Strathlin and I have property in common," Matheson said. "And affection in common, as well. We have become... very close. When she holidays on her island, she pines for the company of friends. Her island is a pretty place, but it is essentially a fishing village now, and she is accustomed to a sophisticated existence. It will take time to convince her, but I will."
The sleek confidence in the man's voice made Dougal wary. "Lady Strathlin apparently values the simple lifestyle of Caransay. She acts the recluse when she is there, and allows no one to interrupt her peace... not even to allow a lighthouse that would save hundreds of lives," he muttered.
Matheson chuckled. "I suppose she seems the hermit to those who do not know her well. The lady prefers my company, though." He lifted a hand in a modesty that smacked of falseness. "She could not bear for us to be separated while she was on Caransay, so I indulged her for the day. What fools these mortals be, eh?"
"Indeed," Dougal murmured, convinced that Matheson was ten times a fool. There was something cunning about the man. He could not imagine that Matheson cared so very much about setting up a resort for the wealthy on Caransay. He suspected something else but could not discern what it might be.
"Did you say you have not yet met the lady?" Matheson asked.
"Never formally. I saw her on Caransay, but only at a distance. It was not a moment to introduce myself, and she proved an elusive creature otherwise."
