“Would you at least think about my request? I would really like to earn some money and feel useful.”
He considered for what seemed like a short eternity and then nodded. “I’ll think on it.”
“Thank you.” She walked to the door and glanced back, only to find him studying her with narrowed eyes, his sense of amusement gone.
She hurried away. Better not to question why.
****
“I told ye so.”
Niall caught himself from telling his father to go to hell. Which was probably where he was headed without any help from himself. He sighed.
“Just because the lass wants to earn coin doesna mean she is a spy.”
“I’m inclined to agree with Da,” Simon said. “It looks suspicious.”
Not surprising. Niall had hesitated to tell his father and brother about the conversation with Charlotte, but he doubted she was going to drop the issue, so he’d have to tell them anyway. Still, he’d slept on the matter before asking them to meet in the council room after breaking their fast this morning. Now, he wasn’t so sure it had been the right choice after all.
“Do the two of ye nae think her reasoning was sound? That she wants to contribute to the family?”
“We doona need the money,” his father said.
“And ’twould be an insult to us Frasers if anyone in Beauly thought we were making a guest—and a female one at that—go into the labor market,” Simon added.
“She probably kens that, since she said Beauly was too small,” Niall replied. “Nae one would ken her situation in Inverness, since it’s bigger.”
“And easier to meet up with her messenger,” his father said.
Sometimes Niall felt like he was sitting on a spinning top when he spoke to his father. The man talked in circles. Maybe it was time to throw some words back at him.
“Did ye nae say ye wanted Charlotte to stay here so ye could observe her when she goes into Inverness?”
His father snorted. “Hard to observe her if she’s there every day. We canna waste that kind of time following her when we have troops to ready.”
“I—”
“Wait.” Simon held up a hand. .”I think I have a solution.”
Niall eyed him warily. “What is it?”
“The lass says she wants—for whatever reason—to earn coin. Mayhap she could work for Fergus Gordon.”
“Our solicitor?” their father asked.
“Aye. Both his clerks joined Murray’s forces at Stirling, so he’ll be in need of someone to scribe and take care of paperwork..”
“Keir is working for him now,” Niall said. “He didna say he needed help.”
“Hmmm.” His father ignored him and tented his hands. “That might work. Fergus could keep an eye on her and report any odd comings and goings.”
Simon nodded. “And, if she leaves the office, Keir can follow her and let us know where she goes.”
Niall narrowed his eyes. “Ye would tell them ye think Charlotte is a spy?”
His father shrugged. “Do ye nae think they should ken?”
“I doona.” Niall shook his head. “Ye could verra well damage Charlotte’s reputation when she doesna deserve it.”
