Page 22 of A Heart Worth Loving

“Soldiers purchased the abbey? Why?”

She shrugged. “They wanted a place to live. It cannot be a coincidence that the constable is there.”

He squeezed her hand, but his expression was distant. “They have no reason to suspect us.”

“Papa, it is time you leave the smuggling business. Margaret is to wed a future earl. You can become a shipping baron.”

“A shipping baron?” That too-familiar gleam appeared in his eye. “Why, so someone like me can steal my cargo? I must leave for France. I can easily coordinate our attacks from there.”

“But, Papa—”

He shook his head. “You do not understand, Kyla. There is a bounty on my head.”

A bounty? Her worse fears had come to life. “Why are you here if the Crown has a bounty on your head?”

He snorted. “Not King George. That fool couldn’t find his arse if he looked in a mirror. It is the French, of course. Not Napoleon himself. But who knows? Old Boney might yet take notice. Still, the French are motivated to find me, as it is them I am stealing from.”

She shook her head. “Nae, Papa. If it is the French who are looking for you, then you are safer if you stay here. It is time to give up smuggling.”

“Shh, love. I understand your fears, but I will not bring notice to you, your sister and mother. You three will live a very good life here until I return.”

“Return? Why go? It is far more dangerous for you to be in France if they are looking for you.”

“They are looking for me here. France is a large country. It is better they follow me there.”

Follow him there? “Nae,” she whispered. “Never say— They did not follow you here?”

He patted her hand. “You worry too much. They do no’ know me by sight. But Laurent is a particularly determined man. He knows I am Scottish and am somewhere in the area.”

“A Frenchman in Scotland?” she breathed. “Is he mad? He could be hanged with the first words he utters.”

“Lauren speaks with a perfect British accent. That is why he was chosen to find me.”

He actually sounded proud. She should be surprised, but wasn’t.

“If Laurent spoke with Hamilton, that explains why he is sniffing around,” her father said, as if speaking to himself. “We have nothing to worry about, though. Mallatratt removed the goods.”

“That is my point, Papa. I met Mister Mallatratt as you told me to, but I did not remain to see that he removed everything. As I said, he has been acting strangely of late.”

Her father frowned. “You said he was forward with you. I will have his head.”

“Nevermind that.” She waved a hand. “Nothing came of his advances. It is his attitude that concerns me. He is acting more like your partner than your employee. You told him to remove the goods, but what if he didn’t take everything?”

“He would have no reason to leave anything. The goods were sold.”

She wanted very much to believe her father, but doubt roiled in her stomach.

“If he has been acting above his place in our business, then he cannot be trusted to handle business properly,” her father said. “I will have to check the cellar. Fetch me the keys. I will go tonight after dark.”

“There is no need for the keys. We left the door unlocked.” Lord, she had to get the key back from Ewan. Was that even possible? Her father frowned, and she added, “I knew we could not continue to use the abbey, so I did not stay to ensure the goods were removed and lock the door. I am sorry, Papa.”

“No matter. It will be easier for me to enter through the trapdoor than through the refectory. Since Hamilton is searching Blackstone Abbey today, he will not look there again. We can stash our next shipment there.”

“What?” Kyla shook her head. “You cannot. It is too dangerous. Constable Hamilton is already suspicious.”

“Of what?” her father said. “He can have no idea we have been using the abbey. The men there can have no idea. After this next shipment, I will find another hiding place.”

“Mister Mallatratt will not return for a fortnight. That is plenty of time to find another hiding place.”