As if on cue, Owen came through the door to the breakfast room. He gave Niall an appraising look before he gave a half-bow to Annie. “The carriage is waiting whenever ye are ready.”
“Ye need nae bother with this,” Niall said. “I will attend Annie.”
Owen’s eyes narrowed. “Ye have nae been doing that lately, have ye?”
Niall narrowed his eyes too. “I swore to protect the lass.”
“So have I…in your absence.”
“Ye can both escort me.” Annie placed her napkin down and stood before the two of them engaged in fisticuffs. She swept out the door to the foyer, both of them following her, each muttering something in Gaelic she didn’t understand.
They both leaped in front of her, shouldering each other to get to the carriage door first. Annie sighed. Truly, she would never understand the competitive streak in either of them. At least, they weren’t wearing their tartans with the accompanying swords and assortments of knives, so they should all arrive at the magistrate’s looking relatively normal. She hoped.
****
MacQuarrie’s office was fairly large, but it seemed small since so many people occupied it. Aidan was seated in the far corner and nodded. Niall looked around. Apart from the magistrate, his assistant Charles Curtis was there along with Tevis Shaw, the excise man, and two men Niall had never seen before.
“Please be seated.” The magistrate gestured to chairs that had just been brought into the crowded room by his clerk. “And, thank you, Miss Ferguson, for attending.”
Niall caught a fleeting glimpse of confusion on Annie’s face, although she maintained her composure. “Thank ye for…having me,” she responded as though she’d just been invited to high tea instead of an inquisition. Niall almost smiled.Never show fear.He admired her for that.
MacQuarrie shuffled some papers on his desk and then smoothed one out before he cleared his throat. “I have only a few questions for you, Miss Ferguson.”
Only a few questions? This time, Niall was confused. They’d all thought Annie was going to be in for a grueling session of accusations. It was why he and Aidan were here, to provide support. Hell, it was probably the reason MacLean was here too. No one wanted Annie to face this battle alone.
Annie looked serene, but Niall could see how tightly her hands were clasped in her lap. He moved his chair slightly forward.
“Please go ahead and ask,” Annie said, sounding once more like she was nobility granting a favor.
Her voice shook slightly, but Niall didn’t think anyone else would notice. He felt proud of her. Stubborn she might be, but she also had the self-determination never to back down.
“Let me remind you,” MacQuarrie said to her, “that your answers are witnessed by all the men in this room.”
Annie’s chin came up. “I will nae lie, if that is what ye are meaning.”
Niall inched his chair a bit closer. The magistrate looked at him and Niall met his gaze with a blunt stare. The man looked away.
“I am not implying that you would lie, Miss Ferguson, only that what you say will become part of the record for this proceeding.”
Annie nodded. “I understand.”
“Very well. When did you first become aware that Archibald Haines was smuggling opium to the States?”
“I did nae ken about that until ye and Mr. Tavis showed up at the office,” Annie replied.
“Explain precisely what your duties were.”
“I was to manage the office and keep records of inventory. Shipments received and shipments going out. Mr. Kingsley double-checked all my figures. Ye can ask him to verify that.”
“We have already taken a statement from Mr. Kingsley,” the magistrate replied and then looked at his notes again. “At any time, did you see or were you aware of a second set of books being kept?”
Annie frowned. “A second set? Nae. Never. There was only one set of ledgers.”
The magistrate studied her. Annie held his gaze but Niall could see her fingers were nearly white from being held so tight. He moved his chair again and MacQuarrie turned to him and a corner of his mouth lifted.
“Your intention to defend the lady is obvious, Mr. MacDonald, but is not necessary.”
“Nae?”
