Page 8 of Deception and Desire
“Ye’re looking pleased with yerself. I take it things went well?” asked Lachlan. His brother had been sent to Edinburgh in the hopes of purchasing a site for another weaving mill.
“Aye. I managed to sign a lease on that building along the Water of Leith.” Brodie leaned back and put a hand on his chin and the other on the opposite side of his head. Lachlan winced at thecrackhe made as Brodie jerked his head one way then the other. “A thirty-year lease with first option to buy or a possible lease for another thirty when the contract ends.”
Lachlan whistled. “Well done. Grandda will be pleased.”
Brodie nodded and winked at the barmaid as she set down the whisky. “And what, may I ask, are ye doing here? Heading home or away?”
“Away to Glasgow. I’ve got a special order to deliver, and Ian needs some help. With the unrest in England and the Lowlands, he can’t find an overseer for the mill. The workers want higher wages, the merchants want more say in Parliament, and the rich noblemen want to wear blindfolds and pretend nothing is wrong. A storm is brewing, if ye ask me.”
“Poor Ian. And he canna return until someone replaces him.”
“Ye ken he’s been away for over two months, and his Lissie is missing him.”
“The MacNaughtons can’t add a new bairn to the family lineage if the couple are miles apart.” Brodie measured out a dram of the amber liquid, inviting Lachlan to do the same. “To the next generation of MacNaughtons!”
“To the firstborn of Ian and Lissie,” agreed Lachlan. An idea began forming in the back of his brain. Perhaps…
“Och, ye’ve got that look in yer eye like a good bargain is about to come yer way.” Brodie leaned forward, his elbows on the rough wood of the table, boots scuffing the plank floor. “Or does it have to do with the female persuasion?”
“No. Grandda sent me to Glasgow to cool my temper. That fousome Craigg tried to cheat Rory MacDunn. Wanted his prize ewe when the poor mon came up short one lambie.” Lachlan’s jaw ticked, remembering the confrontation. “Brodie, we have to find a way to make this right.”
“Craigg? Perhaps he could have an accident while out hunting.” The glint in Brodie’s eyes told Lachlan it was said in jest. But it was tempting.
“I’ll be the worst chief the clan has ever kent. Ye’re the one who should be taking over, no’ me.”
Brodie’s smile faded. “Aye, Brother, I ken ye dinna want to do it. Ye’ll settle disputes with a fist when the argument turns petty, which would work for some but no’ all. We’ll have to put our heads together and come up with a plan. See if Ian has any ideas.”
“I ken a way I could put you with Grandda. Take my place, so to speak, for a short time.”
Brodie’s bright blue eyes narrowed, but his grin returned. “I’m listening.”
“Suppose I shared the responsibility of the mill with Ian until an overseer was found? He could spend a month at the castle while I was in Glasgow. And then we’d switch places.” A weight lifted from Lachlan’s chest as he said the words. A reprieve of sorts, he told himself. “We could convince Grandda to let ye take my place while I’m gone, and then he’ll see how much better ye are with people than I am.”
“God’s bones, mon, ye make yerself sound like a social pariah or one of those mad hermits. Ye arena that bad, at least no’ with the ladies.” Grinning, Brodie leaned back to allow the maid to set down plates of fresh bread, mashed potatoes, and turnips. “However, ye may have come up with a temporary solution. I dinna think Ian will be averse to coming home for a spell. Ye could weed out any applicants, and Ian could speak with them when he returned.”
Lachlan gave the lass a wink as she brought fresh mugs of ale. “Do me a favor and mention it to Grandda when ye get back. I’ll talk to Ian.”
“Sure, and send me to do yer dirty work, will ye?” Brodie shook his head. “He’ll see through the ploy, but I’ll tell him just the same. If we really want anything to change, we need to make our plea to the women. Our grandmother is the only one I ken that might alter his opinion once set.”
“Aye, she’s always had a way with him. Ye should have seen the two of them, flirting yesterday. Time hasn’t changed how the two of them feel for each other.”
Brodie sopped up some gravy with his bread, stabbed a fork into the meat, and waved it at Lachlan. “We all need to find a woman like that. One to keep us happy and robust in our later years.”
“I’d settle for happy and robust in my present years.”
But it would take more than a woman to satisfy fate and his future. In the meantime, there was still half a bottle of whisky to be drank and a willing female to be satisfied.
Chapter Two
A Deceiving Demeanor
Late March 1819
London, England
Fenella licked herlips and jerked one shoulder. “Is that better?”
“Oh, Lord Almighty,” groaned the lady’s maid. “That’s more of a tick than a temptation. Stop thinking of each step and make it one smooth motion. Like this.”
