Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
MORRIGAN
Morrigan realized that, almost in spite of herself, she was enjoying Mrs. Goddard’s company.
In Edinburgh, she’d had no bosom friend.
Invitations to dinner parties were nonexistent.
She and Maisie were never asked to attend a ball or concert or soirée.
Part of the reason for it stemmed from the fact that her father and Isabella led an existence that excluded them, for the most part, from social events.
Morrigan always had a sense that suspicions about Archibald’s support of radical reform kept them off invitation lists compiled by the more conservative members of the ton.
Though Morrigan was determined to learn what she could from Mrs. Goddard, she was surprised at the pleasure she was finding at this moment sitting and conversing with the old woman.
The mistress of Barn Hill was interesting and well-read.
Her opinions on matters were remarkably thoughtful.
She also had a great many stories about Aidan’s family.
“After the lads’ mother died, Mr. Grant—the elder, I mean—had enough on his hands. An aunt of theirs came to help raise the four sons. She was an old friend of mine, so I visited Carrie House many times when they were young.”
Morrigan thought back on her own life after her mother died.
Archibald Drummond’s life was consumed by his medical career and his covert politics.
He had no idea how to bring up a daughter, and he was not alone in thinking that a girl needed more than servants to raise her.
But he was wrong to think his daughter would be better off in Perth with his wife’s family than with him in Edinburgh.
She shook off her dark thoughts and focused on Mrs. Goddard’s words.
“I recall those days so well,” the older woman continued.
“The lads slashing away at one another mercilessly with their wooden swords. Arguing for no other reason than just being boys. Aidan was always the leader. It mattered naught that he was younger than Thomas and Noah and smaller in size than Sebastian; they always hearkened to him. He could settle any row, that Aidan. Where he is today is no surprise to anyone watching him through the years.”
People did trust him. Morrigan knew Searc was not one to place his trust in someone lightly.
Isabella said that Cinaed was eager to meet him.
He did have a sharp mind and a quick wit.
She thought of what he had done today. The devil had bested her.
She had absolutely no idea he had a relationship with Barn Hill.
“The Grants of Carrie House are a very honorable family. And now Aidan is master there, with a fine career in the law ahead of him. Quite the eligible bachelor too, I’d say.” Mrs. Goddard patted Morrigan on the knee and smiled. “So, do the two of you have an understanding?”
It took a moment for Morrigan to catch her breath.
She’d somehow missed the direction their conversation was heading.
But it was easy to see how a misunderstanding could come about.
In his introductions, there’d been no mention of Dalmigavie or the Mackintosh clan.
There was no word said about how the two of them knew each other.
She was lucky the older woman didn’t think worse of the nature of their connection.
“I apologize I didn’t clarify things sooner. But I’m a family relation of the Mackintoshes, which is how Mr. Grant and I came to visit you here today.”
“Kin to Searc Mackintosh? You, miss?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “I must say I’m surprised.”
Everyone in Inverness knew Searc, it seemed. Though he was an irascible sort, the man was also well liked.
“Well, I’m a family relation, of sorts, through marriage,” she replied, hoping she wouldn’t be pushed to further clarify the connection. “But it was on Searc’s recommendation that I was first encouraged to come to Barn Hill. You’re well known for your school’s excellent reputation, Mrs. Goddard.”
“Thank you, my dear. That’s lovely of you to say. In fact, I am quite proud of what we do here. Our teachers are the most dedicated of women.”
“Will you tell me a bit about them?”
“As you surely know, we have a number of nuns residing here, along with several widows and spinsters. So the lasses attending Barn Hill are fortunate in that they receive instruction from some very accomplished ladies.”
Morrigan recalled Aidan’s advice and smiled encouragingly at her host.
“We see the formation of character as our greatest goal. We teach each lass to develop a good and unselfish nature, and to remain cheerful in the face of adversity so that she can be a good wife and mother.”
Morrigan would have failed miserably. “And you teach them other topics, I assume.”
“Naturally! The domestic arts should be a basic part of every woman’s education.
And then there is the instruction in both reading and writing in English and French, arithmetic, and we also provide music lessons—voice, the harp, and the pianoforte.
Oh, I’ve left out drawing and painting, haven’t I? ”
Finally.
“I’m so happy to hear this. A friend of mine recently relocated to Inverness.
She has two daughters, aged five and seven.
” Morrigan didn’t think Fiona would mind that she was using Catriona and Briana to seek information.
“Both children are especially fond of sketching. So I am here to seek your advice about hiring a tutor for them. Do you know of anyone?”
She waited, hoping she’d said enough. She wasn’t disappointed. Mrs. Goddard’s gaze flitted to the tall windows.
“Does the tutor need to reside with the family?”
“That can be arranged, if need be, but it’s not essential.”
“And the compensation?”
“I’m certain if the right person could be found, a mutually satisfactory amount will be agreed upon.”
Morrigan watched as her hostess moved to the window. Putting on her spectacles, she peered out, looking for someone.
“I believe I have just the right person for your friend, Miss Drummond.”
Morrigan joined Mrs. Goddard at the window. “One of the ladies living here at Barn Hill?”
“Indeed. But she’s only here temporarily, until she can make other arrangements.”
“Can you tell me a bit more about this lady?”
“Madame Laborde. Scottish by birth, thankfully, but she married a Frenchman. She’s lived much of her life on the continent.”
“Widowed?”
Mrs. Goddard nodded. “Unfortunately, she was left in a precarious state financially due to the untimely death of her husband.”
“How long has she been with you?”
“She only arrived this past spring. Madame Laborde had been having quite a difficult time. She came to us after exhausting the hospitality of her husband’s family and all of their friends. She had no other place to go.”
“And she supports herself by teaching?”
“She does, but she’s also been receiving commissions for additional work.
” Mrs. Goddard’s expression turned serious.
“Perhaps I’m speaking out of turn, but I know she’s not happy here.
Our quiet way of life is not what Madame Laborde has been accustomed to.
She’s told me herself that she’s hoping for a chance or a means of earning enough money to return to France. ”
And what better way of earning money than to work for the British Home Office. Morrigan imagined they would pay very well.
“She must be quite good. What kind of commissions has she received?”
Mrs. Goddard hesitated before answering. “She is quite talented at creating caricatures of people.”
“Caricatures, you say? How curious.”
“Curious indeed. But I must tell you she’s very good at it. The ladies here at Barn Hill are continually entertained by the likenesses she draws of each of us. Very amusing.”
The headmistress was obviously not amused, however. The change in her tone made it clear she would be quite happy to see her guest moving on.
“Nonetheless, I believe Madame Laborde would be excellent with your friend’s children.”
“Would it be possible to have a word with her?”
“Of course.” She looked out the window again. “This time of the day, she generally walks in the garden. If the weather is mild, she likes to sketch or paint out there. I can introduce you, if you like.”
“That would be lovely. Do you mind?”
“Not at all.”
As they turned toward the door, a clock in the foyer chimed the hour.
“Oh my! The time. Would you give me a minute to speak to one of the sisters? I’ll come back and take you out to the garden.”
Morrigan had a name, and soon she’d have a face to the artist responsible for all the hateful images. She was certain this Madame Laborde was the person she was looking for.
“It’s so lovely today. Would you mind if I waited for you in the gardens?”
“Not at all, my dear. I’ll point out the way for you.”
Isabella’s warnings echoed in her mind as she followed Mrs. Goddard from the drawing room.
A moment later, Morrigan was ushered onto a sunny terrace looking out into the garden.
She needed to stay calm and keep her temper in check.
It was already obvious, however, that what this woman was doing had nothing to do with politics or misguided feelings of patriotism.
She was creating these caricatures solely for the money.
“Please feel free to stroll along the paths, Miss Drummond. I’ll come back to you directly.”
As the door to the house closed, Morrigan set off in search of the artist. She wanted to meet with the woman alone. She wanted to look into her face and decide if she had any understanding of the consequences of what she was doing.
She didn’t see her right away, but the gardens were quite large, extending out from the side of the house and falling away in large broad terraces all the way to the road that led back to the center of Inverness.
Walls of varying heights separated sections of the gardens.
Near the house, a gate opened out onto the lane leading from the road to Barn Hill’s stables.