“The title? It’s not much of a gain.”
“My lord, I refer to your wife…areyou married?”
Niall spread his arms in a gesture of defeat. “It’s difficult to say at this point.”
“Well, in the spirit of courtesy, I will hope that Lady MacNair, Countess of Carregness, is doing well.”
“Very kind of you.” Niall would have offered the same wish for Ogilvy’s wife, except that he knew the man never married…a very intelligent move, he had to admit.
The guest cleared his throat. “My lord, it pains me to bring up so crass a subject while you are in your bereavement, but there is a piece of business we must discuss.”
“Go on.”
“Two years ago, you borrowed a considerable sum from me, sir. Some eight thousand pounds. And last year, you borrowed another five.”
“I used that money for improvement to Carregness and the surrounding properties.”
“I am sure that you spent the loan in the wisest and most sensible way, sir. A model I do wish some of my other clients would follow, rather than frittering it away on gambling and vice. However, the manner in which you spend the loan is not my concern. The fact that you pay it back is.”
Niall frowned. “When have I even given you cause to doubt my surety? I’ve paid the interest you so thoughtfully included at every quarter. And I’ll pay back the principal, in time.”
“‘In time’is rather vague. You will recall that you agreed that you would repay the loan upon your elevation to the title of Earl of Carregness.”
“My father is barely in the ground, and you come to wring money out of me?”
“Believe me, it gives me no pleasure to intrude upon you during your grief.”
“Then why did you? Just to remind me? A letter would suffice! I’ll pay back the loan. As you say, I am earl now. And I will keep my word. Wait until the harvest is in, and I know the profits made on all the Carregness lands. I will set aside as much as possible to repay what I can of the principal, if the interest is not enough for you!”
“The thing is, I need it a bit sooner than that, sir.”
“How soon?”
“Fortnight. All of it.”
Niall blinked. “You’ve got to be joking.”
“Alas no. And while I’ve been generous before in allowing my clients to pay debts back incrementally, I’m afraid that the terms of the debt are very simple. You can refer to the copy of the contract you hold. Should I choose, I can call the whole amount in at any time, as the only limiting term was that you be earl. And that’s what I’m doing now.”
Niall stood up, paced to the fire. His heart had begun thumping wildly, and his muscles clenched. “I don’t have that much on hand. You cannot imagine that I do.”
“It is said that the new countess is an heiress to a considerable fortune.”
Niall whirled around. “I will not touch my wife’s money to repay my own debt!”
Ogilvy raised an eyebrow. “Why ever not?”
“It’s complicated, and I do not choose to discuss it with you.”
“Fair enough. But I must warn you that if you do not give me the money I am owed, I will take my complaint to the authorities. And if you don’t pay me in money, I will take what’s mine in land.”
Niall set his jaw, appalled at the threat. Taking Carregness from him, when he’d only just assumed true stewardship over it?
Ogilvy bowed once more. “Good day, my lord. Please extend my greetings to Lady MacNair and your family.”
He strolled off, leaving Niall alone, poor, and desperate.
* * * *
