Kissing the Countess (33 page)

"Aye, sir," Finlay said. "There are some tenants who can act as my assistants in the counting and the census of residents. I'll ask them to get started. Is there anything else, sir?"

"Aye. Another matter has come to my attention. The old bridge at the foot of the Fairy Mountain, as you call it here, is in poor condition. I have barricaded it myself," he said, glancing at Catriona, "but apparently that does not deter some people from using it, despite the obvious danger."

"The old bridge has been broken a long while, but it seems sound enough," Finlay said. "I've used it often myself. I would not bring a cart across it, but otherwise I think it can be trusted."

"I disagree," Evan answered abruptly. "I intend to design another bridge myself and hire a crew to build it. But that will take time. For now, we'll have to find a few able men to do some tough labor. I'll show you how I want it repaired and shored up. Can you gather enough workers for that?"

"Aye, sir," Finlay said, with another quick glance toward his sister. "We'll meet you there whenever you like."

"Good. Next week will do." Evan frowned, glancing from his wife to her brother. The tension between them was taut as a wire—he could sense it from his seat behind the huge walnut desk his father had used.

He of all people should understand, he told himself. All along, he himself had kept a few secrets from Catriona, things he did not think would affect her.

But he had not imagined until now that she might keep secrets from him, too. If he had the right, she did as well. Still, the thought that she might need to keep something from him was troubling. Was she hiding a truth from her husband—or from the earl?

* * *

Arm in arm with Finlay, Catriona walked toward the entrance, glancing back over her shoulder. Evan remained in his study reviewing estate documents. Something told her that he stayed there to give her a chance to be with her brother.

Finlay bent down. "Does he know anything about the new tenants?" he asked. "Did you tell him?"

"No," she said. "I have not said a word, as I promised. Thank you, Baird," she told the butler, who stepped toward them. "I will see Mr. MacConn out." When the butler nodded and retreated into the dining room, she turned to Finlay in earnest, keeping her voice down. "Did you record the names of our new tenants in the estate books or write down the work they did and were paid for last spring?"

Finlay shook his head. "I have those records elsewhere. I was hoping he would not notice so soon. I swear, Catriona, I thought the man might never come up to Kildonan at all and leave the running of the estate to me and to his sister—who paid little attention to the details of who lived here and how many." He whispered urgently as they stood isolated by the front entrance. "But now your husband has seen the discrepancies between the amount of wool processed from Kildonan lands—and the number of men who did the work. He suspects something, indeed. Now the question is, what will he conclude, and what will he do about it?"

She glanced away, feeling her heart turn anxiously as she thought of Kenneth Grant, who also knew that Finlay had been quietly bringing evicted tenants back into the glen to act as sheep herders—and who could turn her brother into the authorities for it. "Evan is a good man, Finlay," she whispered. "He is not like his father and... and some other men. I think we can explain to him what we've been doing."

"I have one more family to move into the glen. When I went to Inverness, I found some of the MacLeod family—they were working on the shores bringing in the nets, and it is not the sort of work they are accustomed to. They lived in a hovel on the beach, nearly starving. I will bring them through the glen tomorrow."

"On Sunday?" She stared at him.

"It is the only day we could manage it—I brought them back here with me and left them temporarily at Mrs. MacAuley's inn. She can only keep them a day or two, as she expects travelers to arrive soon. After the MacLeods are settled, that will be the last of the new tenants for while."

She nodded. "It will have to be. Where will they live?"

"In the old shieling on Beinn Sitheach."

"What! The place where Evan and I—but it is a ruin," she whispered. "We nearly froze to death on a bitterly cold night. A family with children could not survive the winter there."

"A few of the other crofters have gone up there in the last few days to repair the roof and patch the walls and bring in furniture and stock it with food and dry peats," he said. "Now it is good enough to house a family. And it is the only place that was available—They will build another croft higher in the hills next spring, I think. For now, this will do."

She nodded. "Evan and some of the other guests plan to go to services at Papa's church tomorrow. Be careful, Finlay."

He nodded. "I will." He bent to kiss her cheek quickly.

"Finlay," Evan said.

Catriona turned, jumping a little in surprise, not realizing that Evan had come up so quietly behind them.

"Sir," Finlay answered calmly.

"Our friends are considering a climb up the slopes of Beinn Shee a few days from now," he said. "You were recommended as a guide. Would you be willing to take a group of us up the mountain in a few days?"

"Of course, sir," Finlay said. "Depending on the weather and what route is taken, it can be an easy climb or a very difficult one. Are they experienced hillwalkers and climbers, sir?"

"Some are," Evan said. "I confess that I did not make it to the top of that mountain myself, along the toughest route. But if I had, perhaps I would never have met your sister." He smiled.

"I'm sure you would have met her one way or another," Finlay answered. "But you would not have had your adventure together, and so you would not now be married." He grinned.

"True, and so I must be grateful to the mountain for defeating me that day," Evan said, and Catriona saw a quick dazzle in his hazel-green eyes as he glanced at her. "By the way, we've asked your sister to join us on our climb."

"Up there? I doubt she'll go to the top of that particular mountain." He looked at his sister.

"I will go," Catriona said, lifting her chin when Finlay looked surprised. She knew he thought of their brother Donald, who had died on Beinn Shee—but Finlay was unaware of Flora's request that Catriona bring back the fairy crystal from that daunting height.

"If you would come Monday morning for breakfast, that would be excellent," Evan said. "We'll discuss plans and perhaps go the next day or the day following."

"Tell your friends to get good rest tomorrow night and be ready for a climb on Monday," Finlay said. "If the weather is good, we should go up that morning. The weather is too unpredictable here. Why make plans for another day, if the one you have is good enough?"

"Aye," Evan said, glancing at Catriona. "Good advice for all of us to remember."

"I'll be here early," Finlay said, "though your census and sheep count will not be done by then." He smiled a little, though Catriona saw that it was forced.

"Take the time you need for that. Good day, then. Perhaps we'll see you at kirk services tomorrow." Evan turned and walked back down the hall toward his study.

Finlay turned. "So you're going up Beinn Shee, as well?"

She nodded. "I must.... I'll explain later."

"Well, if you go, I would rather it was with me than anyone else. It can be a beast of a mountain to climb. It would be better if these holiday climbers would go up one of the other peaks." He watched her for a moment. "Are you happy, Catriona?" he asked suddenly, softly.

She hesitated, then nodded. "I am. Happier than I ever thought I could be. This has all happened so fast—but I am hoping it was all for the best."

Frowning, he nodded. "May it last, then. If Kildonan does not make you happy all of your days, I will see to it myself that he pays for it. Will you be at services tomorrow?"

"I—I should, but Papa and Aunt Judith were so angry about—what happened with me and Kildonan. Neither of them have even sent word to me since I left."

"Father has fretted the whole while you've been gone, yet he has not felt at ease coming here himself to see how you have been getting along. He would like it if you came to services and brought your husband, though he would not admit it. Remember to come in time for the reading of The Book. You know how Aunt Judith would disapprove if you came late on a Sunday."

She nodded. "I'll—we—will be there."

Chapter 23

Steady rain pattered the window glass in the library, providing a layer of soothing sound while Catriona transcribed some songs. Seated in a leather wing chair, she gazed now and then through a set of tall windows. Beyond the fine sheets of rain and sweeping lawns and forestland, she saw the mountains swathed in mist and a vast sky filled with clouds.

The library, located in the same wing as her room and not far from the passage to the dining room, was not large, though it was cozy. The walls were lined with bookshelves and divided by tall windows at one end and pocket doors at the other. Walls and shelves were painted a quiet green, the chairs were covered in worn sherry-colored leather, the floors were scattered with beautiful old rugs, and the windows that framed the landscape were draped in dark green velvet. Of all the rooms at Kildonan, including her own serene but formal bedroom, Catriona liked the comfortable, shabby atmosphere of the library best.

Glancing out the window, Catriona noticed Kildonan's gig speeding away from the castle. She knew it carried Sir Aedan MacBride, along with Lady Jean and Sir Harry, to Kyle of Lochalsh and the small harbor there. Lady Jean and her husband had decided to accompany Sir Aedan, who had business to attend on Skye, and they 'intended to spend time in a resort hotel in Broadford before returning to Edinburgh.

When she had wished them all farewell that morning, Jean had embraced her and thanked her—to Catriona's amazement—for coming into their family. Still stunned, Catriona had turned to Aedan, who had kissed her hand and repeated his invitation for her and Evan to come to Dundrennan House for Christmas. Wanting very much to accept, she had only smiled in silence, while Evan promised that they would certainly consider it.

Out in the corridor, she heard footsteps and voices raised in chatter. Jemima's husky laughter floated down the hallway. Catriona knew they would not come to the library for her, for she had pleaded fatigue and said she had a good deal of work to do in order to excuse herself from the day's outing. Due to the cold rain and mists, Jemima and the others planned to go out in two covered carriages, which would take them along the scenic shores of Loch Torridon.

Mr. Grant had offered to act as their guide, and that was the chief reason Catriona had decided to avoid the outing.

Shortly after Finlay had left, Mr. Grant had arrived to see Lady Wetherstone, who had complained so of a nervous headache that her husband had summoned the local doctor. A dose of laudanum reassured the Wetherstones about Highland medicine but had confined the lady to her bed for the day. Afterward, Mr. Grant had joined the others in the drawing room, and he and Arthur Fitzgibbon had discussed sightseeing opportunities on a such a rainy day.

Greeting Kenneth Grant coolly, Catriona had taken her music pages into the library and had asked Mrs. Baird to ensure her privacy. Although she could not avoid Grant indefinitely, she did not want to see him so soon after spending the night in Evan's arms. Nothing could be allowed to spoil that.

A knock sounded on the door, and Evan stepped inside. As she looked up, her heart gave a quick, girlish flutter.

"Catriona, pardon me," he said quietly. "I know you wanted some time to yourself in here. I need but a moment."

"Come in." She sat forward, some of the papers spilling unnoticed to the floor. "What is it?" She wondered, with a quick and guilty nervousness, if he wanted to talk to her about Finlay.

He strode toward her and half knelt to retrieve the pages, handing them back to her. "Reverend Wilkie came to me not long ago to say that they are all looking forward to attending services at Glenachan in the morning. So we'll all be going, I suppose."

"Oh! And you will, too?" She realized with a quick tug in her heart, how much she had missed her father, despite the bad episode surrounding her hasty marriage. When he nodded, she continued. "My father conducts prayers and the reading of The Book early in the morning before service," she said. "I will be expected."