The branches of the old tree protruded far out and thus forming a roof of foliage.
During the day children liked to play under it, but tonight it would be the only witness to the meeting he had asked for.
"What is so important that you have summoned me here? I think I had made myself clear when I said that there was to be no contact with me."
He was terribly startled when he felt a hand on his shoulder and was almost ready to defend himself when he heard the voice and relaxed.
"I'm sorry, but I think it might be of interest to you that we have a problem."
He could not see the man across from him clearly, but he sensed that he was not edified by what he was saying.
"What kind of problem? Is there something wrong with the delivery or is the Captain giving trouble?"
"No, none of that. The new lord is snooping around the bay. The last time I made a delivery I had a strange feeling right away. As if we were being watched and because I couldn't get rid of this feeling, I went a few days later back to the beach and that's when I saw him there. He poked around but he didn't find anything, of course, but it's not good that he was there."
"Well, that's a new state of affairs. It was good of you to inform me. You go on as before. I will take care of the problem myself and I already know how.“
Chapter 3
On this beautiful afternoon the children were playing outside in the garden and Moira envied them for still being carefree throughout the day. As best she could, she tried not to let them see how badly things were going. More than a protective roof over their heads, food and clothing, which urgently needed to be replaced, she could not offer them more from a material point of view.
But how long could she continue to satisfy these simple basic needs?
The small vegetable garden yielded just enough for herself, and the payment she received for sewing from the tailor in the village paid for the flour she needed to bake bread. Twelve mouths needed to be fed, and even if she ate only the minimum, it was just enough for all of them not to go hungry. Moira sighed to herself as she rose from her desk chair and walked with heavy steps to the window. Her gaze fell outside, but instead of enjoying the the beauty of the already coloring trees, her gaze went into the void. As if through a fog, the bright and cheerful voices of the children reached her ears. She would not be able to pay this month's installment to Sir Dumfrey.
After all it was impossible ever to repay this large sum, and she knew that he knew it too. This frightened her. What would happen if she could not pay? Would he put her in jail? Slowly, she turned her gaze to the sky, as if the solution to her problems was there.
"Oh father, what happened? Why did you need so much money and what happened to our fortune? What am I to do?"
Moira paused, for she sensed that Eileen had entered the room.
"Does it look that bad?"
Without taking her eyes off the outside, she said," Yes. I can go through my father's books many times, but his money is still gone, and our cash register is empty."
Moira turned around, crossed her arms in front of her chest, and looked at her best friend.
"It's over, Eileen. I have to dismiss you. I can't pay you anymore and to be honest, I don't know
how much longer I can keep a roof over the children's heads."
Eileen rushed to her friend's side, took her in her arms and and held her tightly.
"I'm not going to leave and you don't have to pay me. Together we'll make it work."
"No, we won't."
With a jerk, Moira defiantly freed herself from Eileen's embrace, took a step to the side and struggled with her rising tears.
"We won't. You don't know everything."
"What don't I know?"
"My father, just before he died, borrowed ten thousand pounds from Sir Dumfrey, and he demands repayment from me. I am to pay him a hundred pounds every month. So far I have been able to raise it, but now all the money is gone and I will not be able to pay this month. Perhaps it would be best if I agree to marry him and give him all the land."
Eileen shook her friend by both her arms and tried to get through to her.
"You will not do that, you hear me! You will not sacrifice your life to that creep. There will be another solution and we will find it together. Where did all the money go that your father borrowed? If we find it, you could give it back to Dumfrey."
Moira didn't know whether she should be angry with her friend for seeming to misjudge the situation or be happy that she was simply there for her.
"That's what I don't understand. My father was wealthy, he didn't need Sir Dumfrey's money. He always had it in his safe in the house, but after the fire I looked and the safe was empty. I didn't find anything in the books about large expenditures. His money and the ten thousand pounds of Dumfrey's just disappeared without a trace."
"Could it have been stolen?"
"The combination of the safe was known only by me and my parents. Eileen, I just don't know what to do anymore. The garden doesn't produce enough for us to sell anything at the market and my sewing only covers the most necessary expenses. So what else do you think I can do other than to grovel at the feet of Dumfrey?"
There was a long moment of silence, and both women seemed to be feverishly searching for the saving solution, when suddenly Eileen cried, "I've got it! Why don't you go to see the new lord and talk to him? His uncle was going to help you and maybe he will too?"
"His uncle was my father's best friend. Lord Macintyre, however, did not know my father nor does he know our family. What cause, then, should there be for him to help me?"
"Perhaps because he is true to the word his uncle gave you? It would be worth a try.“
Moira was silent for a while, thinking about what Eileen had said. Maybe she was right. He couldn't say more than no.
"What do the people from the village say about him? Did you hear anything?"
"Well, all I know is that he's been here since the summer, but he hasn't been to the village yet, apparently. In any case, the gossip there about him is only that which leaks out of the castle. I hear he's young and handsome."
Smiling and with a twinkle in her eye Eileen nudged Moira. The latter had regained her composure and had to smile. Was Eileen trying to set her up?
"Aha. Young and handsome? And how do you know that, if he hasn't been seen much around yet?
Are you still seeing that Samuel?"
"You know about that?"
Eileen looked at her friend in amazement. Moira just nodded. A little embarrassed Eileen continued.
"Well, we love each other, and if everything goes well and Samuel keeps his well-paid position, I'm sure he'll ask me to be his wife."
"Oh, Eileen, I'm so happy for you."
"Well, it's not time yet, which brings us back to our problem. Anyway, Samuel says that Lord MacIntyre is so very different. Nice and approachable he's supposed to be and that's why I think you should talk to him."
"Maybe you're right. I'll think it over."
"You should do that and now come on, we'll make ourselves a nice cup of tea and sit down in the sun, too. Who knows how many times we'll get to see it this year. The Winter is already around the corner."
In the meantime, it had become mid-November and the dreary weather had Scotland firmly in its grip. Autumn storms were chasing the last sunny days and had not made it easy for farmers to harvest their crops in the dry weather. The trees had turned golden and were often the only glow of color on one of the gloomy November days. Robert hardly had time to get away from his home in recent months. The management of this immensely large property had occupied his full attention and now that the year was drawing to a close, it was time to get everything ready for the coming winter. Despite all the work, he had been watching the full moon nights on the cliff and waited, but nothing more had happened.
The men had not shown themselves any more and so the whole thing had gradually been pus
hed into the background. Now he leaned back in his armchair, behind his heavy oak desk in the large office. He folded his arms behind his head and and allowed himself a little break.
He closed his eyes, pushed through his spine and ran his hands through his thick black hair. He hadn't been out of that room for days. The paperwork he hated had to be done and he had avoided it until the last minute. But he could not put it off any longer.
The bookkeeping had to be done and the new leases for the coming year had to be prepared and sent to the farmers for signature. With Samuel, he still wanted to discuss the new horses he had in mind for the coming year in order to push the breeding further. It seemed to him that the work was not getting less.
Also in the village there were some things that had to be done, and he would soon have to spend time with the priest and the community representatives. Robert took a deep breath and was just about to return to his documents again, when there was a knock on the door and Albert appeared.
"I beg your pardon for interrupting, Mylord but Miss Fergusson requests a word with you."
"Fergusson?" asked Robert, not knowing at the moment where he had heard the name before.
"Yes, your neighbor. She maintains the little Orphanage in town."
That was all he needed, to have such an old governess like that show up at his house to pay her respects. He had planned to visit his neighbors, the Fergussons, but work had kept him busy, so he had not yet been able to put this plan into action.
Now that his neighbor was obviously already standing in his house, his politeness required him to grant her the visit; but today really did not suit him at all and he tried to stall for time before he gave Albert a refusal.
"Albert, do you know what the lady wants?“
"With respect, I think she has come to collect the annual donation."
"Annual donation?"
Robert thought he had misheard. What was that about? But Albert explained to him.
"Your uncle has been donating to the orphanage every year at this time with a kind and generous amount of money."
"I see. Albert, would you please tell the lady that I'm very sorry, but I'm really not in the position to see her without an appointment. However, this year we are keeping tradition of my uncle and that she will receive the donation in kind and money. Please tell her that I will have more time after the Holidays and will visit her then."
"Very well, sir."
Albert was about to turn away when Robert addressed him once again.
"Oh Albert?"
"Yes, sir?"
"How much did my uncle donate?"
"The in-kind donations were related to flour, salt, wool, and some beef, and the monetary donation
amounted to two hundred pounds."
Robert whistled through his teeth.
"Oops, that's worth it for the lady. We'll definitely have to discuss that next year."
"Your uncle always cared a lot about the orphanage."
"Well, I have that impression, too."
With these words he dismissed Albert, shook his head thoughtfully and went back to his work.
Chapter 4
During the holidays, Robert had to struggle for the first time with gloom. He had always loved Christmas in Wyoming very much. At this time of year snow had a firm grip on the land there. Despite the freezing temperatures and the snowstorms that made life there so difficult, he had enjoyed it every time, when the white splendor laid a stillness over the land.
When the wildlife had retreated into their shelters and the people were drawn to the warmth of the fire.
Those were the days when, at his parents home, his father had made the plans for the spring and his mother had lovingly supplied everyone with baked goods of all kinds.
Here in Scotland it had also become frosty, but there was no snow anywhere to be seen, instead there was only rain and wind. The days were gray and the sun let in only a few glimpses. In the house itself, the days before Christmas were hectic. Albert and his wife Harried had put up a Christmas tree in the large reception hall and decorated it, which had looked really beautiful. Gwyneth, with her kitchen staff, had prepared one delicious meal after another. Actually, Robert did not quite understand why he was so melancholy. He had a whole court around him and yet he felt alone.
To distract himself, he had thrown himself even more into work and in the meantime had finished all the documents of his deceased uncle that had been left lying around. In the process, he had made a discovery that astonished and also a little worried him. In two title deeds of his horses, not only was his uncle listed as the owner, but also a Richard Fergusson.
It concerned two noble Arabian breeding stallions, which, when he saw the purchase sum, he whistled incredulously through his lips.
Each individual animal was worth a fortune. Good breeding stallions were expensive, he knew that, but this horrendous sum made him think. Why had his uncle, who seemed to have little idea about horses, bought such expensive animals or had he simply been ripped off?
And who was this Fergusson, did he know about horses? Was this the reason his uncle had taken him on board? Why had he not approached him, if he himself had invested so much money in these animals?
Samuel apparently knew about this second owner, which made Robert become even more suspicious.
It was time to make inquiries about his neighbor. He did not want to continue to build up the breeding if it might end up in a legal dispute, so he wanted to make it his top priority to visit his neighbor after the holidays.
Sir Dumfrey was in good spirits when his carriage turned into the Fergussons' driveway. He had waited until the New Year to present Moira with a fait accompli. His plan was set and the young lady would help him, and what was best about it, she had no choice. He had seen to that with the collection of the debt. Satisfied with himself, he leaned back relaxed, drumming with his fingers on the cardboard box that lay beside him and waited until the carriage stopped in front of the small house.
A little later he was standing again in the small living room that he now knew so well. Eileen had led him inside and asked him to wait here for Moira, while she went to fetch her. Now he had taken a seat in one of the small armchairs facing the door, the box lying beside him on the table. Like the spider in the web, waiting for its prey, he waited for Moira. But if he had assumed that she would come to the door like a frightened deer, it was not at all the case. Upright and proud, she now stood before him, as she began to speak.
"Sir Dumfrey, I had expected you earlier."
"So, then you know what I'm here for?"
"Well, you want to collect the installment, but I can‘t pay it to you, just as I did last month, All the money I have possessed, you have already received."
Since he expected that, he began to put his plan into action. Slowly he rose and walked around Moira without a word. Thereby he looked at her unabashedly from top to bottom and his looks were unmistakable.
Moira, who was not used to such lustful looks and was no longer sure what he was trying to do, felt very uncomfortable. She cursed herself that she had gotten into this situation alone without Eileen.
She should have at least left the door open, but it was too late for that now.
"You are pretty, but quite chaste. You'll have to get rid of that if you work for me."
Astonished, Moira looked at him.
"Work for you? Why would I do that?"
"Why?"
Dumfrey came so close to her, that she could smell his bad breath. But before she could take a step back he grabbed her chin and held her tight. In a sugary voice, he continued.
"Child, you owe me a chunk of money and you're going to work it off."
"Never!"
Dumfrey's grip tightened even more and her jaw began to ache.
"Let go of me right now, you're hurting me."
Slowly he released his hands. Furious, she reared up in front of him.
"I will not
work for you!“
"You will or would you rather go to prison because of the debt? I think that the choice of work is
the better one. You will occupy yourself a bit with Lord Macintyre."
"Lord MacIntyre? I don't know that man."
"You will get to know him, and you will keep him so busy that he will not find time to meddle in my affairs."
"How will I do that? I have never met this man and why should he be interested in me?"
"Well, my dear. That is your problem. You would do well to do your job. I am not a patient man, and so far I have shown more patience with you than I ever have. You should appreciate that. I require of you to sweet-talk Lord Macintyre, turn his head and keep him from spying on the cliffs. You shall keep him busy, if it must be day and night."
Moira thought she had misheard. What Sir Dumfrey was asking of her was inconceivable.
"You ask me to offer myself to him like a whore?"
"Well, I wouldn't call it that, but it's to the point.“
"What if I refuse to do this?"
"That, my child, would be very unwise, for then I would take this house and the land around it as my own, put the dear little children into the street and send you to one of the gentlemen's establishments in Edinburgh. I would get a nice little sum for you there. I assume you are still a virgin. That sort of thing is very much in demand there."
Moira was horrified and slapped Charles Dumfrey's face with her hand.
"How dare you!"
But Sir Dumfrey only laughed wickedly. Quick as a flash, which one would not have thought his figure
capable of, he grasped Moira's wrists and pulled her close to him. Her breasts pressed against his chest, which he visibly enjoyed. She, on the other hand, tried to resist and keep her distance, but she did not succeed.
"That, my dear, was a mistake. If you can't get Lord MacIntyre to stay away from the cliffs and from me, you'll be in Edinburgh before you know it. But if you do as told, your debts will be repaid. So you see, you have your fate in your own hands and perhaps, if you are good and he doesn't find out about your game, he might even marry you. Wouldn't that be a nice happy ending?“
When Love grows doubt Page 3
