Page 5

James waited for the man to bring up the reason for his visit. The silence stretched, Ballantine seeming fascinated by a fresh drop of ink that beaded on the worn desk. James surreptitiously moved his blotter to soak up the stain. “How can I help you, Mr. Ballantine?”

The question seemed to jolt Ballantine back to the moment and he cleared his throat. “I came hoping to find my godson.” His eyes moved around the room. “Though I’m not surprised to find him absent.”

“Ah.” James subsided into silence. Better see what the man wanted before he said too much.

“Do you know where Andrew is?” Despite the casual posture, legs crossed and arms resting loosely at his sides, Ballantine’s eyes were sharp, pinning James in place.

Sweat trickled from beneath James’s wig. If he’d known he’d be up for interrogation, he’d have taken the time to remove his heavy court robes. “I... no. I don’t.”

Ballantine ran a hand over his chin as though he were deciding what to say. “His father was a great friend of mine.” He shot James a keen glance. “Promised him I’d look after the boy.”

James kept his face carefully blank. “Yes, I’m aware there is a connection.”

Ballantine braced his hands on the edge of James’s desk, as though he were getting to the point of the matter. “I haven’t seen him in weeks,” he said. “He hasn’t answered my letters, either.”

“We have been quite busy,” James said, still unwilling to expose his friend. “I’m afraid I’m not certain what could have kept him—”

Ballantine pushed aside James’s words with a swipe of his hand. “Nonsense. You and Andrew are thick as thieves.”

James avoided Ballantine’s gaze, picking up his penknife to sharpen his quill.

Andrew Ridley was the first man he’d met when he stepped foot in Upper Canada with nothing but a law degree and fifty pounds he’d inherited from an uncle in Edinburgh.

He’d never be where he was today if Andrew hadn’t taken him under his wing and introduced him to the law society.

Introduced him to Andrew’s beautiful sister, too.

“We were thick as thieves,” James said, meeting Ballantine’s eyes and dropping all pretense of ignorance.

The older man clearly knew as well as James that Andrew wasn’t traveling for business or pleasure.

The younger man had formed an unhealthy interest in the hothead William Lyon Mackenzie and his plans to liberate Upper Canada from British rule.

“If you think I can curb what he means to do, you overestimate my influence.”

“He must be made to see reason.” Ballantine’s hands slammed down on the desk, upsetting the stack of letters. “If his father were alive, he’d have something to say about it, I can tell you. The Ridley name was one of the most respected in Upper Canada. Always loyal to the crown.”

Under the bluster, James saw regret and loss in Ballantine’s eyes. “Are you certain he’s joined the rebels? He was investigating our case against the Canada Land Company. Perhaps...”

Ballantine shook his head. “Osgoode mentioned to me that he’s been seen at rebel meetings. Recognized.”

“Osgoode?” Just the name of the barrister raised James’s hackles. The man jealously guarded his position as the colony’s premier barrister and he’d take any opportunity to discredit James and Andrew. “How would he know?”

Ballantine’s gaze slid sideways. “Osgoode has connections all over the colony.”

James thought of his encounter with Osgoode at Cooper’s Inn the day before. Yes, the man did have some unusual connections. He still hadn’t figured out how a snob like Osgoode had found himself in the company of farmers and laborers.

Ballantine rose and took a restless turn about the small room.

“You know as well as I that a rebellion would come to nothing. A bunch of hotheads and disgruntled yokels. But the damage to Andrew’s reputation.

.. to his family’s reputation...” He planted his hands on the desk.

“The son of one of the foremost families in Toronto joining the rebellion. Imagine the scandal. It will ruin everything we stand for.”

Ruin their profits was more like it. James grimaced. Andrew was right about one thing. A few wealthy families stifled Upper Canada, lining their pockets while limiting growth and opportunities for newcomers. Change was needed, but not through a violent rebellion the rebels couldn’t hope to win.

James sighed, his forehead creasing in worry. There had to be a better way. “I don’t know if he’ll listen, but I’ll try to talk some sense into him.”

Ballantine nodded his approval. “You’re a good lad, James.

You’ve more influence than you realize.” He looked out the window at the lowering sun.

“Why don’t you leave early today and track Andrew down?

He’s awfully fond of that daughter of yours.

Don’t imagine he’d turn down an invitation to supper if it came from her. ”

James gave a reluctant nod. Ballantine wasn’t above using Andrew’s affection for his niece for his own ends. Neither was James, in this case. Andrew was more than a friend. He was Amelia’s brother and Evie’s beloved uncle. James would do everything he could to save the man from ruin.

Ballantine paused with one hand on the doorknob. He looked back at James, his rigid posture giving way to an uncharacteristic slump. “Thank you, James. The lad is the closest thing I have to family left. Don’t fancy seeing him dangle at the end of a hangman’s noose.”