Chapter 17
SEVENTEEN
TAKING RISKS
Mathilda
Four male faces regarded me from around the vast wooden dining table.
“Are ye serious with the money?” Ally asked. “People pay that?” He squinted at the blue folder of information in front of him and rubbed his eyes in an exaggerated style.
Over lunch, Callum and I had briefed his brothers on the wedding plan, and I’d gone into detail, talking them through how the events typically worked, how they could copy the format at Castle McRae, and what the pros and cons were.
So far, the main pro—the potential income—had made the biggest splash.
“Aye, Mathilda knows her stuff. Of all the ways we could use the estate to make money, this idea comes top of the list.”
Callum echoed the words I’d said to him on our walk back down the mountain. As I’d explained my logic, he hadn’t held back on questioning me, and his thoroughness made me feel all the better. He supported me completely, and…I loved the feeling.
Under the table, I found his hand and held it. For some reason, it became of vital importance that his brothers liked my plan, too. Not because of my professional pride, but I wanted their backing.
Callum gave me a gentle smile, then continued to his brothers, “Though I’m head of the family, we all need to agree and commit to this if it will work.
It means sharing our space and becoming hosts for a number of weekends per year.
That’s a big change, and it affects us all.
I dinna want to force this on you, so give me your thoughts.
Ally?” He looked across the table to the livelier of the twins.
“I don’t mind the work, and the parties sound fun. Do I get a say in how we spend the money? It would be nice to have hot water in my bathroom again,” Ally replied. He tossed a ball into the air. It looped neatly over a candelabra made of antlers.
“Seconded,” his twin added, catching the ball on its descent. “I’d enjoy not freezing my backside off every time I wash.”
Callum explained to me, “One of our boilers packed up last month. Your room is one of the few with a shower that isn’t connected in to the heating system.
” He looked back to his brother. “We can write up a list of priorities, but the boiler will need fixing before we’d get any cash back on this venture.
I’ll get onto it this week myself. You can help. ”
To my right, Gordain blew out a breath. “The money is good, and I’m not here often enough to have an opinion on the disruption, but how are we going to afford to ready this place for it?
” He slid the folder toward him across the gnarled table surface and scanned the list. “We’ll need to redecorate rooms, buy in a coordinator ahead of any bookings—”
“A coordinator? That’d be Mattie’s job. You’d be doing that, wouldn’t you?” Ally looked to me, and a bloom of want rose in me. This plan was my baby, but I didn’t live here so I had to hand it over.
The way Callum’s hand tightened over mine contradicted that thought. Even thinking about working on this longer term with him had my heart racing.
“Whoever did it, we’d need to pay them,” Gordain continued, saving me from having to answer.
“On top of that, we’d need to pay deposits for contractors, get the right licences, have decent transport.
The money comes from the luxury element, aye?
We can’t expect our ramshackle way of living to impress big money.
Boat trips on the loch in our old tub? What if we sank with the bride and groom on board?
There’s charmingly rustic and then there’s reckless. ”
One of the twins spluttered a laugh, but the mood dipped.
I knew the family had tight finances—it was plain from how tirelessly Callum worked, but he’d never mentioned just how hard up they were.
They had the bare bones they needed for this plan, but Gordain was right.
At the bottom of the page was the amount they needed to get it going.
I wished I had the money myself. I’d lend it without question. Whether they wanted my involvement or not.
“That’s been on my mind, too.” Callum ran a hand through his hair, staring at the folder. “We’d need investment. A loan.”
Again, my mind went to Storm Force and the cash they should have had, but then Callum and Gordain exchanged a grim look that I didn’t understand, and I sensed something else was on their minds.
Callum brought his hands to the table and pushed himself to standing.
“Is investment the only concern anyone has?”
Collectively, his three brothers nodded or shrugged.
“Then leave that with me. Mathilda, I need to talk to you about something. We’ll go to your room.”
I took his offered hand and stood. Really, I needed to start getting ready for the party for Callum’s relative tonight, but I had no problem with doing that with him in the room. Let him try to resist me while I was slipping on stockings under a robe.
Sheesh, I was burning up for the guy if I planned to seduce him while getting dressed, rather than undressed. I grinned to myself as I stretched out my spine. The session with his brothers had gone well. I felt buoyant.
“Wait, I need your help with the rig.” Ally hopped up from his seat and made doe eyes at Callum. “It isn’t finished. It’ll take us half an hour. Swear to God. We can’t lose this thing because of a little bit of effort.”
“What’s a rig?” I looked between them. “What thing will you lose?”
Ally’s eyes lit up, compelling me to join in his excitement. Whatever this rig was, I instantly wanted to help him with it, too.
“It’s the last event of Lachlan’s Highland games. A raft race on his river. The river that runs all the way to our loch. The two estates have been having races forever, so we have to compete. The rivalry is epic.”
“That sounds dangerous,” I said.
“It’s not a race down to the loch.” Callum turned from me to his brother and palmed his shoulder, holding the boy still for a second and forcing him to pay attention.
“They’re only doing it across the river as part of Lachlan’s birthday celebrations.
It’s cold and dark, and you’ll stay in the limits of the floodlights or you’ll not take part. ”
Ally slid a glance to his twin and winked, then grinned at Callum. “Aye, whatever. But we still have to smash it. You gave us permission so now you have to help us win.”
Callum rolled his eyes to gaze on the rafters of the airy dining room. “I should’ve stuck to my guns and refused you. Why did I ever agree to this?”
“Because you’d been miserable without your lass and now you’re happy?” Ally beamed.
“Who are you competing against?” I asked, trying to take the heat off Callum who’d dipped his chin and glowered.
I loved it when he got flustered. I also loved the idea of him missing me and being grumpy for it.
It was nice to know the effect I’d had on him, particularly as he was holding out on me now.
“Anyone who’ll try me.” Ally’s smile held a wicked edge and, in his looks, further shades of Callum’s stubbornness and determination shone through. Then he ducked his blond head and added, “You can help, too. If you like? If you can hold a hammer, you’re in.”
It was a kind offer, involving me in the family, and the warmth of the gesture surged down to my boots. I gave him a smile of genuine affection. “I need to go check on Beth, but I’m ready to admire the raft when it’s finished.”
“Deal,” Ally said and bounded off.
The laird gazed at me for a moment. “Give me half an hour and I’ll be up,” he said to me, low and sweet, and then he marshalled his other brothers, and they took off through the great hall.
On my way through the bedroom wing, I passed my room and continued on to the next one.
Earlier, James had sent a text to Callum saying both he and Beth were sick.
James had a fever and Beth a sickness bug, and they were taking care of one another.
I’d never known Beth ill before—she went to work every day regardless, so I wanted to check in on her, even if just to poke my head into the room.
It sounded like they were doing fine without help, but I’d be a bad friend to not check.
I knocked lightly on Beth’s door. It swung silently open in front of me, and James’s face appeared on the other side. Dark shadows lined his eyes, and he blinked in the light of the hall. Behind him, the curtains were drawn, and Beth lay in the centre of a messy bed.
“Beth’s ill,” he said, worry clear on his face.
Automatically, I reached out and propped him back against the doorframe. His shoulder was hot. “I think you both are. Is she okay? Are you?”
“I’m perfectly well.” With ruffled hair and wide eyes, he looked perfectly miserable.
“Shall I check on her?” I offered, but if he was here, taking care of her… I felt like I was intruding.
The young man pressed his lips together in a thin line. An imitation of a smile. “Please do. I’ll go to the kitchens and get her something to eat.”
“Get yourself something, too,” I said to his retreating back then stepped into my friend’s sick bay.
“Nng,” Beth moaned as I sat on the edge of her bed. “Stay back. Quarantine zone. I feel fricking awful. Sick, sick, sick.”
“I won’t touch you. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
She edged away, but even in the low light she was pale.
“Are things going well with Adam of the mountain?” she quipped, referencing the Seven Brides movie character. “This place rocks. You should totally marry him so you can get to be a Lady.”
I chuckled, though after working through the plan for the future of this family, I felt invested. More than that, and far beyond righting the wrong of Storm Force’s underpayment.
“So far, he hasn’t asked,” I replied lightly then changed the subject. “Bang goes your hookup plans for the weekend. Have you been sharing a bed all night?”
Beth huffed, a weak sound. “Yep. We’ve been friend zoned by illness. But he did kiss me before everything went to crap, so score one for me.”
Ah. I’d wondered. “Better luck next time.”
To my utter surprise, Beth gave a sob of frustration. “There won’t be a next time. James only kissed me because he had a fever. He wouldn’t have otherwise,” she cried. “Have you seen him? Do you know what he is? He’s so far out of my league I can’t even see the start line.”
“Beth, no!” Then I dragged in a breath, finally admitting a fact to myself. “If I could marry someone like Callum, why couldn’t you find someone you wanted?”
“You and I are not the same. He’s beautiful inside and out and no way is he meant for me.” Her voice became tiny.
My heart panged. “This isn’t just a hookup. You already liked him and now you’re sharing a bed. Feelings are bound to happen. And that’s good.” Being in Callum’s embrace like that would send me over the edge.
“I’m just ill,” she countered.
“Listen, I can stay here tonight. If you need me.” Callum intended for us to stay elsewhere, but I’d talk to him if she needed me.
“Don’t. I’ll be fine.” Beth threw her arms over her head, her abundance of dark curls tangled over her pillow. “Go enjoy the party. I’ll go home in the morning, and he’ll forget I ever existed.”
Her breathing slowed and, after a moment, it looked like she’d gone to sleep.
Tenderness filled me as I watched over my friend.
In the same way I’d joked that Callum collected lame ducks, I had a strong instinct for helping people.
Scarlet, Beth, and a substantial beginning of one for the McRae clan.
Practicality might be my middle name, but I couldn’t bear to think of people suffering.
Boys missing a mother, a family unsupported, a man striving to be a good role model having never had one himself.
Beth hurting had me wanting to weep. Sheesh, I was swimming with feelings.
And I knew exactly why.
He was nearly seven feet tall and sent my pulse skyward with every touch.
A noise came from behind me. A creak of the floorboards. James stood in the doorway. His silhouette waited, perfectly still.
Now, how long had he been there?
I stood quietly and retreated to the door. “I’m going to have to wake her. I forgot to mention work,” I said. “She might need to cancel shifts. I’m not sure about her schedule.”
“It’s already in hand. We sorted it earlier.
And you really don’t have to worry. I won’t leave her,” he said and offered a polite smile on his worn, handsome face, but his gaze was on Beth.
He moved to where I’d been sitting and placed his supplies on the bedside table. Crackers, water, a box of tablets.
“I really think I should stay.” If Beth got worse I should be taking care of her. No matter how much James had it under control. What if he became sicker?
With a small groan, Beth turned and open her eyes. “Don’t be daft. We’re good. Go have fun. I insist.”
“If you’re sure,” I answered, but neither of them looked at me.
With tender reverence, James took a curl of Beth’s hair, moving it away from her face. As I closed the door, I thought I saw Beth reach out and drag him down to lay on the bed beside her.
I wandered back to my room, musing on risk. Beth and James were taking risks, whether they knew it or not. From what I could tell, their worlds were poles apart.
The McRae brothers were gambling on the future of their home, willing to trust me with all they held dear.
That left me.
If only I could work out how to take this step forward, I’d take a risk, too. One I badly needed.