Page 60 of Walk on the Wildsyde

“Something else?” the reverend said suspiciously, clearly imagining the worst.

“Aye. I was thinking of gifting it to the church, so ye could use it for… I don’t know. For charitable things,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand and then wincing as he remembered they were bandaged and sore. “Like a place for the women to go when the men are violent with drink, and a place where ye can talk to those men in private. Somewhere that feels more homely than the church or an office, aye? I dinnae ken, I’m sure the ladies will have better ideas, but I’ll do the work and set it up how ye think best, if ye reckon ye can do some good in the town with it.”

For once in his life, Reverend Halliday was speechless, gazing at Hamilton with an open mouth. Mrs Cameron filled in the blanks.

“Well, I think that is a splendid idea, and most generous one, is it nae, Robert? I dinnae see how ye can disapprove of a man so willing to put his hand in his pocket and do good in Wick, and as Mr Anderson employs a huge number of men, between his shipping and the distillery, he’s got a lot of influence in the town too. If such a man were to set a good example, I cannae see but it would do a deal of good,” she added guilelessly.

Hamilton made a sound of displeasure, low enough that only Clara could hear it, but he nodded. “Aye, right enough, Mrs Cameron. The truth is Reverend, yer words and the work ye have done in the town have made me think. Ye were right to call me a hypocrite. There is a problem in Wick that needs attention, mind I dinnae hold with telling a man what he can or cannae do, but something needs to change. I’d be happy to help with any sensible scheme. My family has been investing in the town for some years now, but perhaps we ought to do more. I’ll speak to my da. Between us all, I reckon we can make a difference.”

The reverend stared at him, apparently stunned into silence so Hamilton carried on.

“Though I warn ye, I’m nae intending to live in Wick all year once we are married. If ye dinnae mind it too much, Clara, that is? I meant to discuss it with ye, of course, for I ken ye like it here.”

“Where would we go?” she asked, not caring much where they lived, so long as he was there, but thinking it would be wise to know all the same.

“My elder brother’s estate at Wildsyde is a vast place and the middle one, Muir, has a sheep farm there too. I’d like to be close to the family. I’ve bought land from Lyall to build a house. I always figured I’d move back… when I had a family of my own,” he added with a smile. “It’s countryside, a bit wild and remote, but the family are all there. I think ye would like it,” he added, though she heard a thread of anxiety behind the words and knew it was important to him.

“I’m sure I will love it. What a wonderful place to raise a family.”

“Aye, it is that,” Hamilton said, grinning with relief. “Me and my brothers and my sister had a grand time as bairns. Plenty of scope for adventures, ye ken.”

Clara laughed and nodded.

“Could we visit? Me and Mrs M?” Jimmy piped up, clearly liking the sound of that.

“Aye, of course, and with pleasure,” Hamilton said. “That is, if I have yer blessing, Reverend Halliday, to marry Clara?”

Reverend Halliday scowled and looked around the room, every face he met fiercely determined that Hamilton should marry Clara, most especially Mrs Cameron’s. Having the good sense to know when he was defeated, the reverend rearranged his expression into something rather more beatific.

“Welcome to the family, Mr Anderson.”