“I need to make sure I didn’t overlook any areas when I checked out the warehouse the other day,” he said.
“I’m sure ye missed nothing,” she replied and then realized that her skirts were still brushing his thigh. He glanced down at their closeness and she stepped quickly back, feeling her face warm. It heated even more when he grinned at her. “’Tis true I doona miss much, lass.”
“Miss Ferguson?” Kingsley sounded slightly annoyed at her delay.
He wasn’t more annoyed than Annie was. “Here,” she said and pointed to an area along the inside wall adjacent to the office. “It is the farthest from the outside doors and should keep the wind out as well as the rain.”
“Good choice,” Kingsley said.
“Thank ye.” At least someone thought her capable of making right decisions.
Kingsley folded the layout of the warehouse and tucked it under the counter, watching as Niall and Owen finally left. Then he gave Annie a curious look. “Do you really feel the need for bodyguards?”
“Nae!” The word came out a bit louder than she intended and Annie lowered her voice. “I have tried to tell them so, but they doona listen.”
“They should. You seem to be quite an intelligent woman.”
Aha! At least one man had sense. “Thank ye.”
“No need to thank me for what is obvious,” Kingsley replied. “But why do you think they hound you so? Especially MacDonald?”
Annie gave a frustrated sigh. “He just wants to make sure nothing goes wrong with my job.”
Kingsley gave her a sharp glance. “Like what?”
“My safety here, for one thing.”
“Well, he can put that fear to rest. As foreman, I will make sure the workers all know their place. You will not be accosted.”
Annie nodded. “I told him as much.” She remembered that Niall had muttered something in Gaelic.
“I know MacDonald is handling the books for Henderson Shipping temporarily.” Kingsley paused and then frowned. “Does he think you are not capable of keeping the ledgers here?”
“I doona ken about that.”
“Another fear to put to rest. I am here to help you, Miss Ferguson.”
“’Tis kind of ye,” Annie said.
“Just a part of my responsibilities. In fact…” Kingsley looked thoughtful. “…it might be a good idea if we went over the accounts together until you become more familiar with the accounting system.”
“I will have to check with Mr. Haines about that.”
“Absolutely, if you think you must,” Kingsley answered, “but he did hire you to be the manager.” He shrugged and lifted his palms upward. “He might consider it a weakness if you feel you have to ask his permission to do something that is simply a part of your job.”
Annie drew her brows together. “I hadn’t thought about it like that.”
“Do give it some thought. Two people checking the accounts cannot hurt.” Kingsley smiled at her. “After all, you do not want Mr. Haines to rethink his decision on hiring you because of simple arithmetic errors that could easily be avoided with a second set of eyes.”
She definitely did not want that to happen. “I realize Mr. Haines has taken a risk in hiring a woman, but I will nae let him down.”
“Forgive me. I did not mean to imply you would. Mr. Haines doesn’t even need to know that I did any checking.” Kingsley smiled again. “I am only here to assist you, Miss Ferguson, not to undermine your authority. Trust me, please.”
How she wished Niall—and even Owen—had been present to hear that statement. Maybe then they’d stop treating her like someone incapable of making decisions. Annie nodded slowly. “In that case, I will accept your help, Mr. Kingsley.”
Chapter Seven
Annie was so elated over the way the day had gone that she didn’t even get annoyed when both Niall and Owen showed up to escort her home. She noticed they’d both changed into regular street clothes and the swords were gone. Owen was even carrying one of those fancy walking sticks the English favored. Perhaps they had put their rivalry behind them. At least, they wouldn’t scare the other people off the sidewalks on the way back home.
