And yet, there was Clarissa, consuming his every thought.
The image of her seared his eyelids at night when he went to bed, falling asleep to the memory of her soft laughter.
The timing could not be worse for their visit, though. He would have to divide his time between playing host and trying to recover his lost flock of sheep. “Och, bloody hell,” he cursed to himself and walked from the study. He had things far more important to do. Things that his livelihood, not just his, but everyone he was responsible for, were dependent on. The last thing he needed was the distraction of a beautiful lass keeping his mind occupied on anything but the business at hand.
*
“Good morn, brother,”Christopher stated as he entered the sunroom where Alexander had decided to break his fast, the serene surroundings having a calming effect on his overactivenerves. He studied his brother over the rim of the paper he was reading.
“Ye seem verra cheerful for someone who has lost the family fortune.”
Christopher scowled but looked ashamed as he poured himself a cup of tea and added two cubes of sugar and a splash of milk. Stirring the concoction, he tapped the spoon on the side before dropping it to the table and addressing his brother. “I dinna need your constant reminder of what I’ve done.”
“Nay? Ye think no’?” He folded the paper closed and tossed it onto the table. “I’ve been through the books. Did ye forget about everything I’d taught ye before I left? Ye’re lucky I came home when I did. Otherwise, I would have come home to Millwool in someone else’s hands and ye and the staff living on the streets.”
“Ye over-exaggerate, brother.” He sipped his tea with a roll of his eyes.
“I dinna.” He studied Christopher. He looked better rested than he did last night. “Who has my sheep?”
Christopher blanched. Any color that he had drained away as he pushed out a breath, not meeting his eyes. “Ross.”
“What?” He felt the urge to beat his brother, return. “Dougal Ross?”
“Aye.”
Dougal Ross was one of the most feared debtors on this side of Edinburgh. There was no way in hell he would accept the same price for the sheep that Christopher had lost to him. Nay, Dougal knew how much those sheep were worth to Millwool, and he would expect to be compensated justly.
“Do ye ken what ye have done?”
“Och, aye. I do.” Christopher said, glaring at Alexander. “I ken quite well. Ye willna let me forget, thank ye. If ye’d only let me—”
“Absolutely no’,” Alexander cut him off before he could finish the sentence. “Ye’ve done more than enough damage.” He pushed away from the table. “Looks like I’m going to have to pay a visit to Ross. Ye better hope he is willing to strike a deal.”
“I am sorry, ye ken. I didna mean for any of this to happen.”
Alexander held up a hand. “I dinna want to hear anything more. Ye can now run around without the worry of the household on your shoulders. But take heed, brother, stay out of the damn gambling houses. If I hear word of ye even stepping foot in one, I’ll have ye locked in your room.”
“Ye canna do that. I am a grown man.”
Alexander spun and bent down so he was eye to eye with his brother. “Are ye now? Grown men ken their responsibilities. They dinna squander their livelihood on cards. ’Tis no’ just ye that ye need to worry about. So many people depend on us. Are ye truly that selfish?” He gave Christopher a shove and left the room, paying no attention to the tea that sloshed from his cup onto the floor.
Dougal Ross was known to hang around the gambling houses, stepping in whenever someone lost big. Striking a deal that would leave the house paid and the gambler indebted to him. Meeting with Ross was going to be most unpleasant. He’d be lucky to leave there with a clue as to where his sheep were. Ross was good at making deals. But he was no farmer. He wouldn’t have the slightest idea what to do with a flock of sheep. More than likely, they’d already been sold.
“Shite!” Alexander cursed as he walked away, fists clenched at his sides.
*
“How long willwe be staying at Millwool?” Clarissa Gordon asked Gwen, her now sister-in-law. She tried to feign interestand appear nonchalant about their upcoming visit, but though she was sure she could hide her feelings from Nicholas, Gwen was much too observant.
“Your brother says at least two weeks. So, pack accordingly.” Gwen picked up the blue gown Clarissa had removed from her wardrobe and laid it out on her bed. “This one is gorgeous.”
It was one of her favorites. A beautiful periwinkle blue that paired well with her dark hair. She hadn’t worn it yet and was saving it for a special occasion, whatever that may be.
“Is it too much? Should I leave that one?”
Gwen raised a brow in question. “Too much for what? Is there a particular someone ye may be trying to impress while at Millwool? Someone who happens to be the said Duke of Argyll?”
Clarissa straightened. “Dinna speak of such things. My brother will have your tongue,” she snapped.
