Page 28 of A Rogue in Moonlight
“I hope she proves a fine teacher for the bairns,” Fergus said. “She is not like the old dominie they sent from Edinburgh last year. She looks a bonny wee thing.”
“She’s a dangerous wee thing,” Dougal remarked. “Remember the brother.”
“True.” Fergus nodded. “I saw Rob MacIan last evening at the tavern. He said Lord Eldin is interested in purchasing the best Highland whisky for his new hotel. He is willing to pay well, and he does not care if it is illicit stuff.”
“Excellent. I hope Rob told him Glen Kinloch whisky is the best in the Highlands.”
“In the whole of Scotland! But every distiller says that, aye?”
Dougal laughed. “Sometimes it is true. Glenbrae whisky, which my cousins in Perthshire make, is as good as ours too, I would say.”
“But the fairy whisky is exceptional.”
“Extraordinary. But we will not tell anyone that. Tell Rob MacIan he can go to Auchnashee and let the earl know we have kegs available.” He named a sum.
“Eldin would pay more, I suspect. He would pay a very high price for the fairy brew. He asked if it existed. He’s heard about the tradition.”
“You know my answer to that. We do not offer the fairy brew and we do not talk of the legend, though it is known about here. We can get a good price for Glen Kinloch brew. We have to deliver kegs and casks to the buyers we already have, but there will be some left for Lord Eldin. We may be able to move all of our store. A good thing.”
“And then we brew more. Very good.”
Lucy and Jamie walked across the yard now, and she reached out for the boy’s hand. But when she saw Dougal, her little face became determined.
Understanding her reluctance, he pointed, firmly and silently, toward the school. She frowned but relented, walking with Jamie.
Fergus chuckled. “Lucy thinks smugglers need not learn letters and math, but devote their time to distilling whisky and moving kegs through the hills. Reminds me of a lad I knew once,” he added.
“That lad was just thirteen when his Da died. Lucy is only seven. Her time should be devoted to playing with her friends, doing chores, and studying. I told her that even free traders need an education.”
“She would make a fine smuggler, that lass. No harm in it when she’s older.”
“No,” Dougal said firmly. “She will get an education and marry well, and stay safe. I promised my sister, and I will see to it. She will have naught to do with the free trade.”
“You sound like your father.”
“I never fulfilled what my father wanted me to do, and I regret it. I will see to it for my sister’s child.”
“But you had a fine education here at the glen school, and a couple of years at university before you left to come home. We could not convince you to go back. We did try.”
“We could not afford it.”
“We would have found a way.”
Dougal huffed. “Funded by smuggling?”
His uncle shrugged. “Someday I hope you will return to your studies. Such an intelligent lad. That was your father’s wish for you, not distilling and running the brew over the hills.”
“I am needed here. Fergus, I am thinking—the school session could wait a bit while we find another dominie, one who is not kin to a customs officer.” As he spoke, Dougal watched the teacher approach the school with the reverend.
“And one who will not distract the laird?” Fergus asked.
“Huh.” Dougal saw Reverend MacIan sweep a wide gesture as he spoke to Fiona MacCarran, showing her the hills surrounding the glen. She turned and her gaze caught Dougal’s. Even at a distance, he felt the tug between them.
“Hamish says we should scare her off with tales of bogles,” Fergus said.
“We will not,” Dougal said sternly.
“The last Edinburgh society teacher who came here thought we were all Highland savages. That one left quick enough. This one looks tougher. We may not frighten her off so easily.”
