Head still bowed, she made no move to look at him during her speech. Daniel debated his ability to cope with so many unfamiliar emotional expressions at once. He doubted he’d ever heard Lenore apologize for anything, and the assertion left him listing and rudderless. Rather than acknowledging her misstep, he took hold of her final statement.
“Why did you leave?” He asked, genuinely curious. “Was it to do with me?”
Wide eyes flew up to meet his and she blanched. “W-Why would ye think sae?” she stammered.
He shifted his weight. “I thought perhaps Gavin had related my behavior of late. When you didn’t accompany him and Ammy on their visits, I assumed you would rather not call during my residence at Heathermoore.”
The sight of her shoulders sagging in relief sent a new bout of confusion flooding through him.
“Och, nae!” she contested too fiercely. “It wasnae ‘at, Ah...” her brow furrowed as she searched for her next words. A thought occurred to her, and she fixed him with the steady gaze of curiosity. “Aam surprised ye noticed. Ye rarely joined in at tea even before ye went tae sea.”
Tables turned, it was Daniel’s turn to search for words. In the end, no suitably vague, eloquent arrangement came to mind, and he settled on the truth. “I did notice.”
“Oh.”
Something shifted in the room, the angle of a draft perhaps, slowing time and heightening the vibrancy of the colors around them. Lenore stood backed by the windows, the glow of light forming a soft halo around her. A perfume of summer blooms wafted in from where Lily left the window open, and a curious bee hovered in the vicinity of the fresh flowers on display.
Lenore denied his observation but gave no alternate rationale. Her reason for leaving took on vital importance in light of this strange haze overtaking him and endeavoring to push him in her direction. He’d wanted to see her. Most people made calls out of a sense of duty and propriety, but not Lenore. She adamantly refused to call on anyone who didn’t interest her and moved mountains to facilitate visits with those who did. He hadn’t realized it at the time, but her absence verified for him the depths of his predicament. If Lenore couldn’t stomach seeing him during a call to his mother, he could believe he no longer held any value for anyone else either.
Cowardice flared in him. Needing to know the reason for Lenore’s hesitation but fearing it as well, he cleared his throat and swiveled his attention back toward the door and his means of escape. “I suppose I’d best prepare for tomorrow then,” he mumbled. “We’ll examine the clerk’s records and hopefully be able to set all this fuss to rights. You won’t be any worse for wear with this brief engagement.” He attempted a smile, not managing to raise his eyes to Lenore’s before giving a nod and marching toward the door.
Incognizant of anything or anyone around him, he kept up a steady pace until reaching his room and securing himself inside. The headiness of moments before receded, allowing right of way to the more familiar chill of the place. He reached into a pocket and procured his handkerchief, dabbing at the clamminess of his brow before taking in a deep breath. He hoped his words were true, and they would find what they needed tomorrow. He assured Gavin he would give the Scottish countryside a proper chance, but worried he made a mistake in coming here.
“All right, lassie,” Lily interrupted Lenore’s wandering thoughts as her eyes followed the landscape passing by out the window of the carriage. “You’ve got some explainin’ tae dae if ye expect Daniel tae ken what we’re lookin’ fur.”
Lenore turned in her seat, swaying in time to the movement of the carriage. Her aunt sat beside her, while Daniel occupied a considerable portion of the opposite seat in the small conveyance. They’d set out for the clerk’s office as early as possible with the intent of gaining entry the moment the clerk unlocked the door.
Pressing her lips together, she nodded and lifted her gaze to take in her two companions. Sufficient time had passed since the meeting with Tyrsdale to allow Lenore to contemplate her rash statement about the engagement. Embarrassment and worry mounted until she found herself staring at the canopy above her bed for the majority of the night.
Little threat of harmful consequences existed, she reminded herself. Engagements made in haste and retreated from happened often enough. The more subtle damage to reputations, the rise of speculation and gossip, those could prove far more dangerous. For herself, Lenore worried little. She held no grand ambitions of marrying, and this falsehood might be as close as she ever came to achieving her heart’s secret dream, but Daniel shouldn’t have to endure gossip. He struggled with enough as it was. The one calming thought she eventually grasped in her midnight pondering was the certainty that news of this episode stood little chance of escaping the boundaries of this sleepy Scottish county.
“Ye ken most ay it already,” she began, raising her eyes to Daniel’s, momentarily losing her train of thought when she found his clear blue eyes staring back at her with the appearance of rapt attention. She swallowed. “Tyrsdale recently returned to Scotland, a surprise to everyone.”
“Yes, I remember he never had a kind word to say about his home, or Scotland in general for that matter,” Daniel nodded his agreement. “Why come back to a place he so adamantly insisted on leaving?” he mused.
“Ah assume th’ squandering ay his inheritance prompted it. He came back thinkin’ he had an opportunity tae gain funds,” Lenore shrugged.
“Your family’s estate?” Daniel questioned.
“Aye. He began makin’ inquiries into th’ legal process immediately on returning,” she confirmed.
“But what’s the connection?”
“He believes our family robbed his ay the property generations ago when our great-grandfathers made the sale.
Daniel’s eyebrows raised. “You’re right, he must be desperate to put such effort into that kind of claim. What were the grounds for dispute?”
Lenore flinched, focusing on the tassel of her reticule. “Witchcraft.”
Daniel’s features stretched as his jaw dropped in time with the raising of his brows. “You’re not serious?”
Lenore sighed and rolled her eyes. “Ah wish Ah werenae.”
“But that’s preposterous. The idea of witchcraft as a legal accusation is practically archaic.”
“You’d be surprised how many people would disagree wi’ ye. Just a few years ago a mob ay townspeople in a neighborin’ county drug a woman frae her home an’ beat her near senseless because someone accused her ay witchcraft. She had tae leave th’ county entirely when they threatened tae swim her.”
“Swim her?”
“Tie her hands an’ feet, then toss her in th’ river tae see if she floats. If she doesnae, she’s pronounced innocent. An’ dead.”
Daniel leaned back into his seat, blinking. “And I supposed superstition to be the sole providence of sailors in this modern world.” He shook his head. “How in the world does Tyrsdale attribute witchcraft to a land deed?” he continued after a moment’s contemplation.
“When th’ old Baron made th’ sale,” Lenore began, “he accused our great-grandmother ay bewitching him intae it.”
“But that accusation didn’t stand,” Daniel supposed, leaning forward in his seat and shaking his head. “The MacAllisters have owned the property for generations now and no additional claim has come against it, has it?”
“Nae, it hasnae.”
“Then why would it be entertained now?”
Lenore opened her mouth to respond, but the carriage came to a sudden halt, jarring her attention away as she reached her arms out to steady herself. “How is it th’ coachman can ne’er bring this contraption tae an easy stop?” She grumbled to herself. “It’s nae as though there was any threat ay passin’ th’ place by.”
The clerk’s office sat along the main road a short distance from the town proper, a lone sentinel of the coast propped up like a miniature fortress on a gray and rocky outcropping. Too far inland to be mistaken for a lighthouse or credibly threate
ned by the sea, yet far enough from the rest of the town seat to hint at a level of pretentiousness.
The scope of the greystone building rivaled the square footage of the local church. Every legal recording having to do with property or land for the written history of the area languished inside the bleak and uninviting building. Few windows allowed entry to the sun, and the stone construction paired with the often-chilly Scottish atmosphere provided a reasonable locale for the archives, if not ideal so close to the sea.
Daniel exited first, turning to aid both ladies. A mask of concentration indicated his continued curiosity as he took in the building in front of them, assessing it as he likely would an enemy ship.
Taking the arm he offered, Lenore allowed herself a brief moment of giddiness as a warmth crept up from where her hand rested on his sleeve. When he left the study yesterday, a chill overtook her. For a moment as he looked at her, she almost imagined he desired her company. An absurd idea, but she convinced herself there existed a longing for companionship in those eyes, and her heart ached to supply it.
She didn’t dare look up at him now for fear of flushing crimson, so she focused her attention instead on the building in front of them. The clerk’s office appeared relatively small from the front, the building masked its scope in a narrow design and additional storage areas dug out below ground level.
They ascended the steps and entered, Lenore steering them toward the clerk’s desk.
Seeing the habitually disheveled form of the clerk, gray and thinning hair poking out in every imaginable direction from his shiny head, served as an excellent distraction. The man had become the bane of Lenore’s existence, a full-fledged archenemy, for how steadfastly he refused entry to the archives to both her and her aunt.
She and her entourage paused in front of the desk, certain the clerk was aware of them even though he made no movement to indicate the fact. A second before she exploded into a reprimand for his rudeness, the man looked up, taking in the group with utter boredom.
“Back again are ye?” He asked, spearing Lenore with a narrowed gaze. “Nothin’s changed, this office is still nae open tae ladies.”
“An’ ye still hae th’ manners ay a blasted—” Lily shot back.
“Which is why,” Lenore broke in, fastening a bright smile on her face, “Ah brought Captain Langdon,” She nodded toward Daniel standing beside her.
“Hae ye now?” The clerk mumbled, dragging his glare away from Lily to address the couple in front of him. “An’ what business hae ye here Captain?” He raked a suspicious gaze over Daniel.
“I’d like to review records of the MacAllister estate,” Daniel announced in a commanding voice guaranteeing an unpleasant outcome should he be denied.
“’At’s all fine an’ well,” the clerk began with caution. “However, unless ye hae some legal necessity—”
“I am here to verify certain aspects of my betrothal contract to Miss. MacAllister,” here Daniel paused to send a glowing smile in her direction.
The look dripped with lovelorn idiocy. Had she not known the man for so many years, she might have believed him enamored. As it was, she struggled between the extremes of a heart which wanted to both believe that look and laugh out loud at it.
“Given her brother’s inability to travel at present,” he continued, “He’s provided me with this letter for your review and approval.” Daniel procured a note from his breast pocket and handed it over to the clerk while Lenore stifled her surprise.
The clerk snatched at the note and read it over, eyes sinking into slits before he turned toward a bookshelf. Dragging out a tome, he flipped through the crackling pages before slapping the note down on top of a page and leaning in to inspect it. Lenore’s heart pounded in her chest, but Daniel stood calm as a windless sea.
With a huff, the clerk returned the ledger to its place and all but threw the note back at Daniel before pointing them in the direction of the archives.
“Many thanks,” Daniel nodded as he turned in that direction and began to take a few steps, still with Lenore beside him and Lily trailing behind.
“Just a minute,” the clerk’s voice rang out behind them, causing them to halt and turn back. “Th’ archives still arenae a place fur women. Ye can search fur whatever ye like on yer ain.”
Daniel straightened and took in a breath, then smiled. “Of course. I do enjoy the company of my future family, and am sure to find what I’m looking for much faster with their aid, however, I understand your regulations, and I’m sure the ladies would be just as content to sit here with you while I bumble about the shelves. Ladies?” Daniel nodded at the two of them and indicated they should remain with the clerk. Lenore and her aunt both turned fiery glares on the stubborn clerk.
“On second thought,” the man amended, eyes rounding as Lenore and her aunt descended on him, “They can gae wi’ ye. Just hurry up about it.”
“Of course.” With another nod, Daniel again offered his arm, turning Lenore down the hall toward the archives.
Chapter 6
“What was ‘at note?” Lenore hissed once they walked a suitable distance from the clerk’s desk.
Now that they’d achieved their goal, Daniel could allow himself a bit of smugness. “I like to be prepared for any eventuality. You see it came in handy.”
“Ah referenced th’ fact Gavin couldnae hae provided ye documentation related tae a betrothal.”
“Of course he didn’t. He provided no letters at all in fact, given that he never received any details about what the trouble was with the estate,” he sent her an accusatory look, delighting in the bloom of pink across her cheeks. “I forged the note last night.”
Lenore halted in her tracks, eyebrows raised. “Ah thought ye were th’ responsible one among yer siblings.”
“Only when on display as such. When no one was looking I took on the vital task of teaching my brothers, and occasionally the sisters, every bad habit they can lay claim to.” He offered a brief grin before continuing their walk and turning down an alphabetically marked aisle.
“Doesn’t your family have a copy of the deed of sale?” He questioned after a few moments search for any volumes which might contain the name MacAllister.
“Aye,” Lenore asserted, but th’ Baron is insisting ‘at th’ documents were ne’er properly filed. Without th’ clerk record, th’ family copies are considered void.
“So, all we have to—”
“Where are ye going?” Lenore’s demand interrupted him, and he looked over to see she addressed Lily, who had veered off down another aisle. She’d been conspicuously quiet during the entire trek from the clerk’s desk.
“Who said we all came here wi’ th’ same task in mind?” Lily threw over her shoulder. “You two gae an’ fix this mess ye created, dear, an’ as Ah hae th’ opportunity, Aam going tae hunt fur an additional piece ay information ay personal interest. I’ll come back an’ find ye once Aam done.” Turning the corner, she disappeared behind a curtain of books.
“Fur goodness’ sake, Ah dinnae understand ‘at woman,” Lenore mumbled as she shook her head, hands resting on her hips.
“So...” Daniel returned to his previous statement, deciding it better not to question the motives of any MacAllister woman. “All we have to do is find the clerk record of the sale to prove the recording of it?”
“Aye.”
“But I should think that’s been done before. You said that Tyrsdale’s great-grandfather brought question against the sale, wouldn’t they have verified it at that time?”
“They ne’er got ‘at far,” Lenore responded, shaking her head. He accused our great-grandmother ay witchcraft. ‘At accusation in itself overshadowed th’ land sale, an’ nothin’ was done about looking at th’ land records since th’ other accusation took precedence.”
They found the row of shelving they sought, and Daniel began to scan the spines of the tomes, looking for an indication of land records by area and then by name. As he ran an index finger along th
e spines, Lenore did the same to the books on the opposite shelf.
“But in that case,” Daniel wondered out loud, “why did they not complete the process? What was the outcome of the witch trial?
A long silence caused him to turn, finding Lenore pensive, her head tilted to the side. “She didnae escape her second meetin’ wi’ th’ noose.”
“Second?” Astounded, Daniel forgot his task. The MacAllisters never mentioned such a dramatic tale in their history, though he supposed tales of witchcraft provided little by way of aiding a family’s advancement.
Nodding, she offered a small, sad smile as she pieced the tale together. “Great-grandmother was a midwife from Kinross. She barely escaped th’ noose there durin’ a craze ay witch trials, owing her life tae th’ fact ‘at a local nobleman took a fancy tae her an’ helped her escape.”
“Yet another bewitching beauty?” he teased. “I had no idea the trait preceded your aunts. You did mention they each had copious suitors in their youth.”
She made a sour expression. “Aye, well, her salvation became her ruin later. They made their way here an’ started a family, but before long one ay th’ local landowners, Tyrsdale, took notice ay her. He knew Great-grandfather was lookin’ fur land tae purchase fur his growin’ family an’ offered th’ tract which now belongs tae us fur an inflated price. Tae Great-grandmother, he offered a significantly better price if she were willin’ tae provide him certain services.”
“How neighborly of him,” Daniel shook his head in disgust.
Nodding, she gnawed on her lip, turning back to the shelving as she continued her tale. “Ay course, Great-grandfather wanted tae call him out on th’ spot, but Great-grandmother was enterprisin’ an’ th’ land was good. She arranged a meetin’ with Tyrsdale, getting him tae sign th’ sale at th’ lower price an’ ensurin’ her husband would arrive tae fetch her before the Baron made any attempt tae collect fur it.”
The Captain's Surrender (Currents of Love Book 6) Page 5
