Highlander Unleashed

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

“Ye want to do what?”

Charlotte was tempted to laugh—or at least smile—at Niall’s befuddled expression. However decorum was probably the better path to take at the moment. She’d asked to have a word with him in the study after dinner that evening.

“I said I would like to seek employment.”

“Why?”

He sounded curious, which probably wasn’t so odd since most women in the 18th century didn’t go looking for work if they didn’t have to. But that was her point. Earlier this afternoon, his father had found her with Greer in the solar and said it was good for his daughter to have female company and that he’d like to extend the invitation to Charlotte to stay for as long as she needed to. The invitation was a relief and also coincided with her plans to try to divert—somehow—the battle at Culloden. She did not intend to be a freeloader though.

“Since your father offered me lodgings, I want to earn my keep.”

“Ye are a guest.”

“I don’t want to take advantage of that. You know the old adage about a three-day limit on fish and guests.”

‘What?”

This time he looked completely bewildered and she realized that old adage probably wasn’t that old. “Never mind. I just meant that guests can become burdens if they aren’t pulling their own weight.”

He widened his eyes. “Ye want to drag something around that weighs what ye do? ’Tis a strange request.”

“No.” She really needed to stop with the idioms. “I meant, I want to contribute something. To be of some use.”

“Ye can accompany Greer with her charity work, then.”

“I can. I will. But I also need to earn some coin. I never did find my purse, and I can’t stay here forever.”

“Where would ye want to go?”

She hadn’t given it much thought since she was still trying to figure out how she’d arrived here in the first place, but Niall was waiting for an answer.

“I’m not sure. Maybe the Colonies?” She’d come from the States, after all.

Several expressions crossed his face at once, each too fleeting for her to grasp. Was he realizing the practicality of what she was asking? Or was he reacting to her statement about not staying forever? Was he hoping she would? She almost laughed again. That was her romance writer self wishfully hoping. Niall had been nothing but kind and a perfect gentleman. Drat it. If she wanted proof of that, she only needed to remind herself that he didn’t even remember the kiss on Hogmanay, although she could recall it in stark detail. She shook her head to clear it.

“’Tis a long way. Ye’d need much coin.”

His tone was neutral and his expression passive. She couldn’t tell what he was really thinking. Better not to pursue it, since she really didn’t want to end up in colonial America.

“I was hoping I could perhaps work in a shop in Inverness.”

His expression changed again, but this time he looked…suspicious? “In Inverness?”

“Well…yes. I doubt there is much opportunity for a woman to get a job in Beauly, since it’s so small.”

“Hmmm.” He leaned back in his chair. “And how do ye plan to get there?”

“I can ride.” Remembering what century she was in, she quickly added, “Sidesaddle, of course.” She’d never ridden sidesaddle, but it couldn’t be too hard.

One brow lifted. “We’ve a war going on. The roads are nae safe for a single lass.”

“I could wrap one of your great plaids around me and put my hair up under a cap. No one would recognize I was a woman.”

Both brows lifted at that and a corner of his mouth quirked up. “I doona think ’tis enough wool in Scotland to hide that fact.”

She blinked. Was Niall flirting? Before she could think of a witty—maybe flirty—comeback, he added, “Besides, ye’d be riding sidesaddle.”

So much for flirting, then. “I could ride astride if I had enough material covering me. No one would see my skirts.”

His lips quivered as though he were trying hard not to laugh, and an assortment of changes crossed his face. For a brief moment, she wondered if she’d said lift my skirts rather than see my skirts. No. No, she hadn’t.

“Do ye ken what ye’d look like? Some enterprising soul might think a wool merchant’s horse wandered away and he’d take advantage of that, only to find ye in the midst of the load.”

So he’d been trying not to laugh, picturing her as big bag of wool wandering down the road. Skirt-lifting hadn’t even been on his mind. She sighed and rose from her seat. The conversation was not going in the right direction. Either direction—she wasn’t winning her case about getting a job and she certainly wasn’t making any headway in the flirtation department.

“Would you at least think about my request? I would really like to earn some money and feel useful.”

He considered for what seemed like a short eternity and then nodded. “I’ll think on it.”

“Thank you.” She walked to the door and glanced back, only to find him studying her with narrowed eyes, his sense of amusement gone.

She hurried away. Better not to question why.

****

“I told ye so.”

Niall caught himself from telling his father to go to hell. Which was probably where he was headed without any help from himself. He sighed.

“Just because the lass wants to earn coin doesna mean she is a spy.”

“I’m inclined to agree with Da,” Simon said. “It looks suspicious.”

Not surprising. Niall had hesitated to tell his father and brother about the conversation with Charlotte, but he doubted she was going to drop the issue, so he’d have to tell them anyway. Still, he’d slept on the matter before asking them to meet in the council room after breaking their fast this morning. Now, he wasn’t so sure it had been the right choice after all.

“Do the two of ye nae think her reasoning was sound? That she wants to contribute to the family?”

“We doona need the money,” his father said.

“And ’twould be an insult to us Frasers if anyone in Beauly thought we were making a guest—and a female one at that—go into the labor market,” Simon added.

“She probably kens that, since she said Beauly was too small,” Niall replied. “Nae one would ken her situation in Inverness, since it’s bigger.”

“And easier to meet up with her messenger,” his father said.

Sometimes Niall felt like he was sitting on a spinning top when he spoke to his father. The man talked in circles. Maybe it was time to throw some words back at him.

“Did ye nae say ye wanted Charlotte to stay here so ye could observe her when she goes into Inverness?”

His father snorted. “Hard to observe her if she’s there every day. We canna waste that kind of time following her when we have troops to ready.”

“I—”

“Wait.” Simon held up a hand. .”I think I have a solution.”

Niall eyed him warily. “What is it?”

“The lass says she wants—for whatever reason—to earn coin. Mayhap she could work for Fergus Gordon.”

“Our solicitor?” their father asked.

“Aye. Both his clerks joined Murray’s forces at Stirling, so he’ll be in need of someone to scribe and take care of paperwork..”

“Keir is working for him now,” Niall said. “He didna say he needed help.”

“Hmmm.” His father ignored him and tented his hands. “That might work. Fergus could keep an eye on her and report any odd comings and goings.”

Simon nodded. “And, if she leaves the office, Keir can follow her and let us know where she goes.”

Niall narrowed his eyes. “Ye would tell them ye think Charlotte is a spy?”

His father shrugged. “Do ye nae think they should ken?”

“I doona.” Niall shook his head. “Ye could verra well damage Charlotte’s reputation when she doesna deserve it.”

“And if she does?” his father countered. “Spies doona deserve mercy.”

“Ye have nae proof she is!”

His father chuckled. “Which is why we set the trap.”

“I willna agree to it.” Niall frowned. “We can find another place for her to earn some coin.”

Simon looked at him. “Where else in Inverness would she be as safe? At least, Fergus would nae mistreat her.”

His brother did have a point. If Charlotte insisted on earning coin, their solictor’s office would be a good place to do it. Women were vulnerable, even in respected shops sometimes. Still. Something niggled at him, but he wasn’t sure what it was.

His father declared, “I still think we should tell Fergus everything.”

“Nae!” Niall managed to keep his voice down. “I willna agree.”

“Ye—”

“Wait,” Simon interrupted again. “Niall may have a point, Da. If we let on we think the lass is a spy, she’ll be watched too closely. And ye ken what a stickler Keir’s father is for details. Ye’ll nae hear the end of it from Fergus for taking such a risk by having her here.”

“Now there is a truth,” Niall said.

His father’s expression darkened. “Then what do ye propose we tell him?”

“I think we can tell both Keir and his father another truth.” Simon looked at Niall and grinned suddenly. “My brother is besotted with the lass. Since Keir is a good friend, we can tell him Niall wants the lass followed to make sure she’s nae meeting another swain.”

Niall felt his face grow hot. “I am nae besotted!”

“Your face tells another story.” Simon’s grin faded. “Or we could go with Da’s idea and let them know what we suspect.”

Niall scowled. “’Twould nae be fair to the lass.”

“Then tell Keir to keep a watchful eye on her, brother.” Simon’s mouth quirked up. “If ye doona want to admit to being besotted, ye can at least say ye are interested, nae?”

Niall opened his mouth, then clamped it shut. This was not an argument he was gong to win. He sighed. “If Fergus accepts her, I will talk to Keir.”

“Good.” Simon glanced at their father and then turned back to Niall. “I’ll write the letter of inquiry this morning.”

Better Simon than their father. Niall nodded and then stood to leave. He was halfway down the hall when he realized what had been niggling at him.

Fergus Gordon was Fiona’s father too.