On the third day, he felt well enough to get up and try to have a normal day. The first thing he did was draft an advertisement forThe Caledonian Mercuryfor a tutor for Callum. The newspaper was printed in Edinburgh and had a wide circulation. He was hopeful of finding a suitable applicant through that means.
Wanting the exercise, he took the letter into the village with the dogs. Aihan had been walking them morning and night for him. In between his worries over the boys, his thoughts about her had consumed him.
If the embassy wasn’t an option, was there another ship going to China? Presumably ships working for the East India Company would include China in some of their itineraries. How did he find out if there was one willing to take her home? The London newspapers might have such information, but to find a copy of those he would need to go to Edinburgh, and they would likely be old papers, out of date.
He didn’t want her to go, of course; the notion of her leaving made his chest ache. But it was the right thing to do, to offer her the option, at least.
Then it occurred to him that Alex McTavish might know something about trading ships. Running a goods store, he had contracts with traders that brought goods to Dysart from Edinburgh, and presumably he did business directly with Edinburgh merchants also.
After dropping off his letter at the post office, he stopped by the store to find him and ask. Telling the dogs to stay, and hoping to hell they would, he entered the shop and found Fiona behind the counter.
She smiled at him. “Col, what can I do fer ye?”
“Is Alex about? I’ve a question for him.”
“Aye, he’s out the back,” she indicated with her head. “Filling orders.” She held the counter flap up for him and waved him through.
The rear part of the shop was like a warehouse, with a large door at the rear with the cart backed in so that Alex could fill it with goods for delivery.
He was carrying a large sack towards the cart as Col entered and walked towards him.
“Alex.”
The other man turned his head and smiled. Dumping the sack on the cart, he turned and offered his hand in greeting.
“Col, good to see ye, what can I do fer ye?”
Relieved that the events of three nights ago didn’t seem to be common knowledge, Col gripped Alex’s hand. “This is probably a long shot, but do ye have any dealings with traders who might know of any ships sailing to China?”
Alex raised an eyebrow. “Is this about the lass?”
“Aye, having caused her to be trapped here, I feel honour bound to seek a way fer her to go home if she wishes.”
“I don’t rightly know, but I can make some enquires fer ye. I’m going to Edinburgh tomorrow for a two-day buying spree.”
“Would ye? Thank ye, Alex. We were still meaning to have ye over fer dinner. Can ye come tonight?”
Alex agreed to this, and Col returned to the street after issuing the dinner invitation to Fiona, who greeted it with enthusiasm. To find neither dog where he left them. Hector was getting patted on the other side of the street by two lasses, and there was no sign of Gussie at all. Sighing, he waved at the lasses and called Hector, who reluctantly left his pats to return to his side.
Col regarded Hector with a jaundiced eye as the terrier sat on his haunches obediently and wagged his tail. “I don’t suppose ye have any idea where Gussie might be?”
Hector barked and panted, his tongue lolling and his tail wagging.
“Ye’re nae help at all, are ye?” said Col with disgusted affection. “Come on, she’ll come home when she’s ready.”
In fact, Gussie beat them home and was found asleep on the carpet before the fire in his study.
He went to the kitchen to tell Aihan he had invited Alex and Fiona for dinner tonight, which was greeted with indignation.
“Ye haven’t given me much time to prepare!” she said, arms akimbo.
“Sorry lass, d’ye?—”
“Never mind, I’ll manage. Go—” she hooshed him out of the kitchen and he went to have a nap. He was still tiring easily.
When he woke and came back downstairs, it was to delicious smells.
An extra leaf had been added to the dining room table, along with a cloth, flowers in a vase, and extra candles. The boys had been pressed into service laying out the best china and the silver cutlery, which he hadn’t seen since before Cat passed away.
