“Her last name is Townsend and she hails from Rochester. I dinna believe that’s where she was born, but that’s where she was living when she left. And her father’s surname is Bixby.”
“Tis no’ much but hopefully ’twill be enough for me to find out something.”
“I appreciate that.”
Malcolm’s forehead creased as he thought of something.
“Did she find aught in your ledgers?”
Gunn sighed. He still wasn’t ready to accept the fact that his longtime employee, and someone he had considered a friend, may be stealing from him.
“Aye.”
“Care to share? It looks like it has ye conflicted.”
He took a puff from his pipe, held the smoke in his lungs before exhaling. “I think Theodore may be stealing from me.”
“What? He’s been with ye for years.”
“Aye. That’s what makes it so hard to swallow. ’Tis something I ne’er would have expected from him.”
“How are ye planning on handling him?”
Gunn shrugged. “I dinna ken yet. I want Jocelyn to complete her review, so I have all the details and times.”
“Ye’re just going to let him continue working? What if he steals more?”
Barking out a laugh, Gunn shook his head. “There isna anymore to take.”
“’Tis that bad?” Malcolm asked, concern furrowing his brow.
“Aye.”
They sat in silence for a few long moments, enjoying their pipes and whisky.
“We got your invitation to gather at your estate in the coming weeks.” Malcolm finally spoke. “First time to gather at your place. With all of us, anyhow. Was that spurned by a certain bonny lass?” he inquired teasingly.
Rolling his eyes, Gunn puffed on his pipe. “Nay.” But even as he spoke the word he kenned it was a lie. He found himself craving family. As his friends married one by one with bairns for some of them following shortly after, he longed for that. When Jocelyn walked through the door of his pub, he’d felt an instant attraction, quickly replaced with the need to offer her his protection.
He kenned the optics of it all. Especially now that she was under his employment. It could be misconstrued as him taking advantage of her. Something he would never do. His friends kenned that, but did everyone else?
“Have ye asked her to join us? Seeing how she and Lizzie got on at dinner, I think Lizzie would enjoy her being there. And only heaven kens what they are discussing now,” he said with mirth, holding up his hand to inspect his perfectly manicured nails.
“I havena, though I was happy to see them getting along so well. ’Twas my hope. Jocelyn is hiding something. Maybe she’lltalk about whate’er ’tis with Lizzie. But if no’, that’s what I expect ye to find out.”
Malcolm blew out smoke and nodded. “I will do what I can. But have ye thought of the ramifications?”
He kenned this question would be coming sooner or later. It still didn’t make him feel any better. “I am sure she will be upset if she finds out. ’Tis why I expect ye to keep mum on the matter.”
“Or,” Malcolm drawled, “Ye could gain her trust and wait for her to confide in ye.”
“I could,” Gunn admitted, “But I fear I’ve no patience to wait for the time.”
With a curt nod, Malcolm straightened. “If ye dinna mind Lizzie staying here at the inn, I’ll leave in the morn for Rochester.”
*
“Did ye breakyour fast already?” Gunn asked from the doorway.
