Page 10 of Glasgow Rogue
Kingsley contemplated the picture again and then he nodded. “I am sure that it was.”
Mr. Haines came through the front door just then and they both turned to greet him. He glanced at the painting.
“I see you have been admiring Dogwood Lane.”
“’Tis beautiful,” Annie said. “Have ye been there?”
“Once, as a child,” Mr. Haines answered. “My father was a tobacco lord.”
Kingsley nodded. “With the trade lanes open again, the tobacco trade will resume. Do you plan to purchase land over there?”
“Perhaps,” Mr. Haines said evasively. “I would have to do research on how economically feasible it is.”
“Ye could talk to Robert Henderson,” Annie said.
“Of Henderson shipping?” Kingsley asked.
“Aye.”
“And how do you know him?”
“Only in a roundabout way,” Annie answered. “Robert is a brother of sorts to Niall MacDonald.”
“MacDonald?” Kingsley riveted his gaze on her. “What do you mean, ‘of sorts’?”
“My friend Bridget told me the story when she married Alasdair MacDonald.” Annie shrugged. “Robert’s father sailed from America and married Alasdair and Niall’s mother, who was a widow with seven bairns. Then they had three more.”
“That is all very well,” Mr. Haines interjected, “but what does it have to do with the economy in the States? And tobacco?”
“Och, I dinnae mean to run on,” Annie replied, feeling her face warm. “I meant to say Robert lived in America until last year. He would be able to tell ye the state of things there.”
“Hmmm,” Archibald said contemplatively. “That is interesting.”
Kingsley gave him a speculative look. “Yes, it is.”
“Of course, ye will have to wait until Robert returns to Glasgow,” Annie said.
“When will that be?” Mr. Haines asked.
“As soon as he gets his house in Arisaig rebuilt,” Annie answered. “Maybe a few weeks.”
“And MacDonald is supervising Henderson Shipping until then?” Kingsley asked.
“Aye.” She grew quiet. Once Robert returned, Niall would be leaving. She would be rid of the thorn in her side. Only…it hadn’t felt quite so much like a thorn lately.
“Perhaps I should pay a visit to the office,” Mr. Haines said. “Just to check on the status of the barley and woolens I ship through the line and make sure everything goes smoothly.”
“I could accompany you to answer any questions MacDonald might have,” Kingsley added.
Mr. Haines frowned. “I doubt that will be necessary. All you have to do is make sure the correct numbers are sent to the docks.”
“As you wish.” A muscle ticked ever so slightly in Kingsley’s jaw.
Annie saw the small movement and a wave of appreciation swept over her. How kind both Mr. Haines and Mr. Kingsley were to be concerned for Niall. She was more convinced than ever that she had done the right thing in accepting this job.
****
The Sea Lady was just docking when Niall made it down to the pier. He was surprised to see his older brother Aidan standing on the deck.
“What brings ye down to Glasgow?” he asked as soon as Aidan had descended the gang plank.
“We’ve found a number of good, rich kelp beds on Skye,” Aidan replied.
“Robert thinks it would be wise to open a small office there to make sure the shipments get loaded properly. He sent me to learn how to set up the books so they correspond to the ones in Glasgow.” Aidan hoisted his duffel bag.
“Are ye staying at the Widow Ferguson’s boardinghouse? ”
“I am, but she has a full house,” Niall answered.
“Well, I will bunk with ye tonight. I can find another place tomorrow.”
“One night,” Niall replied, “and ye will have to sleep on the floor.”
His brother grinned. “I suspected that.”
Niall nodded. “Tomorrow I can show ye the books.”
Aidan lifted a brow. “Numbers were never your strong suit, brother. I had best take instruction from the bookkeeper.”
“And I would be more than glad to let ye do that,” Niall replied, taking no offense. “But Mr. Graham is recovering from consumption and his nephew who was in charge has taken off.”
“Robert dinnae mention that.”
“’Tis because he doesnae ken it.” Niall shrugged. “I saw nae reason to make him fash.” Aidan looked doubtful, but then he’d always been the most levelheaded of any of them. “Besides, the harbormaster is there as well.”
Aidan nodded. “We will make do.”
“Aye,” Niall replied. “So where is the office going to be? The small port at Armadale?”
Aidan shook his head. “Off Loch Bracadale.”
Niall felt his eyes widen. “That far north? ’Tis MacLeod country.”
“That may be, but the sea belongs to no one,” Aidan answered.
“True, but the MacLeod own the shore.” Niall frowned. “Robert is American. He doesnae understand how far back the clan wars go.”
“The one on Skye was finished over two hundred years ago,” Aidan said.
Niall lifted a brow. “Are they ever really over, brother? Land is important to Scots—”
“Doona forget that Robert married a MacLeod and so did Alasdair.”
“But nae the branch of Tormod.”
“But MacLeods, just the same,” Aidan answered. “Besides, when we were on expedition there a few months ago, I met with the laird at Dunvegan. He is nae opposed to the operations.”
Niall’s eyebrow went up again. “Nae?”
“Nae.” Aidan shrugged. “I offered him a percentage of the profits for using his land.”
Niall scowled at him. “Ye could have said so in the first place.”
“I was planning to,” Aidan replied, looking definitely pleased that he had managed to irk Niall. “Another reason the laird agreed was because Owen MacLean was prowling the waters around Indrigill Point—”
“Owen MacLean?” Just saying the name made Niall want to ball his fists.
The MacLeans had lands bordering the MacDonalds and were always hungry for more.
Reiving cattle and stealing brides might be things of the past, but the MacDonalds had been ambushed passing through MacLean land a year ago.
Owen’s father swore that it had been brigands, not MacLeans, but suspicions remained.
And Owen was cunning. He’d clerked for Nathan Rothschild’s bank in London before he’d returned to Scotland.
Worse, having learned city ways, he acted like a dandy.
Women flocked to him like bees to a hive.
Even Niall’s own sister, Margaret, had not been immune to his smooth talk.
Niall grimaced. “No wonder the laird agreed. MacLeans are nae to be trusted.”
“Och, well…” Aidan shrugged.
Niall stared at him. “Are ye forgetting all the times—”
“I am nae forgetting the on-going spats between us,” Aidan said, “but the decision on MacLeod’s part was strictly business. Uniting with us MacDonalds will keep MacLean—and anyone else intent on harvesting kelp on Skye—a safe distance away.”
“I suppose ye are right,” Niall said grudgingly.
“I always am,” Aidan replied.
“And ye are nae conceited about it either,” Niall returned, “but doona forget who is the stronger of us.”
Aidan grinned. “Are ye so sure of that? Do ye care to find out?”
“Any time.”
Aidan’s grin widened. “I will check my calendar, then.”
“I will look forward to besting ye, brother.”
“We will see,” Aidan said. “Meanwhile, shall we see to getting the kelp unloaded?”
“Aye,” Niall grumbled, knowing they probably would not even spar. With any of his other brothers, a conversation wouldn’t even have taken place. They’d just swing a fist. Not that Aidan was less strong than the rest of them. He just didn’t believe in unnecessary violence.
Several hours later, after they’d hauled close to a hundred bales of dried kelp into carts, Niall was beginning to rethink the sparring challenge.
Aidan had not even broken a sweat with the heavy lifting, but Niall had.
Actually, it was just a bit of dampness on his face.
But still. The idea didn’t sit well that Aidan might best him in a match after all.
Adding to his frustration, he found Annie had left the warehouse before he arrived. Aidan had looked amused at that and Niall had spent the entire walk home explaining how the lass took foolish chances and was making his hair grow gray.
At least, she was home. He heard her voice as they climbed the steps to the boardinghouse. The door had been left slightly ajar and he caught a glimpse of her standing by the counter. Pushing the door open, he stopped and groaned.
Owen MacLean was standing by the counter too. He and Annie were laughing.
Aidan cleared his throat. “I was going to tell you that Owen plans to open an office in Glasgow also.”