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Chapter Seven
Angus had eaten in his room after he woke up, not wanting to bump into Charlotte in the Hall. He knew they would eventually have to eat together, or at least the servants would prepare the Hall to do so, but he would try his best to avoid the meals if he could. He could come up with as many excuses as possible.
But, if he was going to admit it, it was not that he didn’t want to see Charlotte again. Charlotte was always a vision, with her reddish-blond hair and lovely pink cheeks and lips, but he didn’t know what to say, and whatever he said when he saw her next, he was sure to offend. The words would probably come out all mixed up.
So, he’d eaten and moved into Calum’s study. He slid into the chair behind the desk and took a long sigh. This was his time now. He had to do right by his brother, or all would be lost. He would travel around the island and speak to the farmers to see if the fields were ready. He would check to see how the rebuilding was going on the villager’s stables so that the animals housed in the Castle for the winter could return to their owners. He would have to discuss which farms crops were to be sold or traded and which were to be kept as food. He could discuss that with the housekeeper, Mrs. MacLean.
There was so much to be done. He could feel his fear and worry beginning to overwhelm him, but he decided instead to call for Mrs. MacLean and have her give him an accounting of what she knew. He glanced at the accounts which had been meticulously kept by Julia since she’d arrived, and he knew he would have to know them by heart if he was to prove anything to the Campbells when they came to potentially claim the land.
Mrs. MacLean knocked lightly and was allowed entry. “Och, Angus, my lad, what can I help ye with?”
He smiled. Mrs. MacLean was enough to soothe, and he was grateful that she was here. “Mrs. MacLean, I am so happy that ye are still here during my brother’s departure. There is much tae be done. I will need yer help tae decide what food and products we will need tae stock the castle. Could ye create a list for me organized by the season?”
“Of course, Angus. I would be happy tae assist. Ye must only call upon me, and I will be yer aid. But, I must ask, so that I can make a proper list. How long will Charlotte Andrews be staying?”
Angus fidgeted in his seat. He was unnerved that the subject of Charlotte had come up so quickly. “She is tae receive a letter from her father, possibly taeday if we take men tae hunt, about how long she will be staying. Once the letter is placed intae her hands, I will be able tae let ye know.”
“Thank ye, sir. That would be most helpful. But, I do hope she will remain for a long time. She is a rather lovely guest, and she’s helped so many of my girls when they were down with an illness. She is a whirlwind, though. I wouldnae want tae cross her if I could help it!”
Mrs. MacLean laughed good-naturedly and then thanked Angus and left the room to complete her tasks. He grimaced. He had crossed her many a time, and it was definitely just as unpleasant as Mrs. MacLean imagined it to be.
After some deliberation, he decided that the first thing to do would be to send men out to hunt and collect the letter, if it was ready, as well as ride around the island to see how the land fared for planting. It would get him out of the small confines of the study, and he could breathe a little. He might need to practice his sword skills later as well, for he was growing tense, and it was barely 8 in the morning.
He left, grabbing his plaid to wrap around him, as well as his sword, and dispatched his men to hunt what they could and retrieve the letter. Yesterday’s hunt had been a success, with Liam at the helm as the best hunter, but now that his new job was to follow Charlotte around, Angus was concerned about what forest fruits his men could gather.
Next, he went to the stables to collect his horse and could feel the wind beginning to pick up. He looked up at the graying clouds and could feel that a fresh storm was on its way.
Damn it. The farms may have to wait until later.
But he would try his best. He would be confined to the castle for hours once the storm began. He had to take the time before the storm to breathe fresh air. Inside the stable, he found Saorsa, his brown mare, who was like his soul’s redemption. That’s why he had named her Saorsa, the Gaelic word for freedom. She had been his way of escape for so many years.
And now, he would need her more than ever as he took the reins as temporary laird. The stable boy prepared the horse, and Angus mounted quickly and set off, the wind pushing through his hair and filling his lungs. He forced his horse to a gallop, and he felt as light as air as he traversed over the rocky hills and smooth pastures of the island, trying to let all that concerned him melt away. He had never expected such responsibility as a young child.
He was the younger son, and there was not as much pressure to be the perfect man, the most intelligent, or the bravest man. But, now, he felt as if he had neglected so many of his lessons, and he wished he had paid more attention. It was true; he was more academic than his brother Calum had been. He enjoyed reading if he could find the time to do so, but it had been a long time since he had felt relaxed enough to read. There was so much riding on him now.
He thought about what Charlotte was doing at that very moment. She was probably saving lives and healing patients and doing it effortlessly. That was what he imagined her to do when she was traveling around as a healer. He had only seen her at work with Julia’s wicked uncle, but then she had been calm, confident, and knowledgeable. He had respected her greatly once he saw her at her work. She was an intelligent woman, and yet she had attempted to appear frivolous and flighty as if she thought that’s what she was expected to be.
As he rode, he thought about her words last night. Here on Mull, she felt free, like she didn’t have to be anything else other than what she was, and that had made him happy, for whatever reason. He hated to think about what constraints were on Charlotte in her home, and even though he wanted her to be safe, he was happy that she would most likely be staying.
Damn it. Stop thinking about her, lad. Ye have so much more tae think of.
He growled under his breath about being a weak man, and then he headed up towards the open land of fields and pastures and slowed his horse’s pace so that he could look out over it. The land had once been fertile and good when Calum was still married to his first wife and was a happy laird, providing the help and tools to nurture it. But once she had left him for another man, an Englishman, he had broken down, and everything went to ruin.
Angus was certain that the ground could be cultivated easily once more, for it had been resting for a long time and would be happy to take seed. He dismounted his horse and placed his hand on the ground, searching for a section of dirt to rub between his fingers. It was soft and velvety, and he smiled, filled with relief. This land could be used for crops or even grazing, as Calum was interested in creating more sheep pastures.
Since the English began occupying more and more of the land, sheep farming was becoming more and more the way to create income to pay one’s taxes. This field would be an excellent choice. They would also need fields to plant the spring barley and maybe even grazing pastures for cattle too. But the cattle could be difficult to transport over the Sound.
He was sitting crouched on the ground when he felt a raindrop. He looked up at the sky with frustration, as if it could help itself from raining when the water needed to fall. The falling drops began to quicken their pace, and so he mounted his horse quickly with a sigh.
“Bloody rain. Keeping a man from his work.” But what he was really worried about was having to stuff himself into the study again and focus his mind on farming plans, account numbers, and the selling of the island’s wares. He was dreading it more than anything. He rode hard and fast, and the rain began to come down in heavy sheets, practically blinding him. But he knew the island so well that it was easy to find his way once more to the stables.
The stable boy took Saorsa from him, and he rushed into the Castle, calling to a servant to bring him a hot whiskey as he made his way upstairs. When the servant brought him the drink, he asked, “Has Mistress Andrews returned?” He didn’t like the idea of her being out in this heavy storm after dealing with a number of sick patients. She could very well fall ill herself.
“Nae, Sir. She and Liam have still nae returned.”
Angus nodded and drank nearly his whole glass of whiskey. The warm liquid slid down his throat, and he felt a little of his fear melt away with it. Liam was with her. He would keep her safe. He didn’t have to think about her anymore. He had a whole number of things he could plan while in the study. That was why he suggested that Liam take over this part of his job. Well, one of the reasons.
He tried to push it out of his mind for a while, writing notes down on a piece of paper. But the question kept coming into his mind.
