Rogue of the High Seas (16 page)

Chapter Seventeen

By the following Monday, Albert felt well enough to return to the office. Luckily, the fever and chills from his spill into icy waters had not affected his lungs. The household had breathed a sigh of relief when Janet shooed everyone out of the kitchen and resumed cooking all the meals over the weekend. Shauna wasn't sure whether that had to do with Albert feeling better or Janet not wanting to be usurped. Robert had come back to cook the evening meals on Thursday and Friday, and the compliments that followed had likely caused Janet to lay siege to her kitchen. Shauna knew her sister Bridget felt that particular room was her specific domain at Glenfinnan and guarded it like a she-wolf with one pup.

As Shauna walked into the office, she reflected on how Albert's recovery was a mixed blessing. A blessing, to be sure, that he was well, but it meant Robert would not be returning each evening to prepare the meal. Although she was not particularly helpful in the kitchen—and Kyla had hovered like a fly around honey—Shauna had enjoyed the conversations with Robert. She'd told him how much she'd like to see the Continent, especially the sunny shores of the Mediterranean, and he'd shared stories of the ports of call he'd made in the West Indies.

“It looks like ye did a good job while I was ill,” Albert said as he scanned a ledger sheet with the entries for the
Silver Drake
.

“The captain was kind enough to wait to unload until we could get back to the docks the next morning.” She didn't add that when she'd talked to the captain that morning he'd told her the crew had been so shaken at nearly smashing Albert to his death that he'd given them liberty.

“Robert did a good job with the inventory,” Albert said.

“Aye. Shane told him about the smuggling accusation.” Another consequence of Albert being back was that Robert would not be needed to help in the office. The upside was that Colette would not be fluttering around, but then maybe that was a downside too, since she would probably just arrange to sketch Robert wherever he was. For all Shauna knew, Colette might be following him around this very minute—wherever he was.

That thought stopped when the door to the office opened and Colette walked in and looked around.

“Robert is not here yet?”

At least he hadn't told Colette he wasn't coming in. Maybe… Shauna sighed. She'd drive herself insane if she kept this up. Colette had every right to paint Robert and he had agreed.

“I have nae seen him this morning.” Actually, she hadn't seen him since Friday night, but Colette didn't need to know that.

“Perhaps I will come back later then,” Colette said and held up a small poster advertising an open house at the Edinburgh Home for the Aged and Infirm the coming Friday. “
Papa
said this was left at his office and he wondered if it was the place you volunteer.”

Shauna nodded. “The matron thought donations might increase if the public could see the benefits to the patients in such a setting.”

“We have such a place in Paris too.
Papa
has made contributions there, so I am sure he will do so here as well. Do you know if Robert will attend?”

“I doona ken,” Shauna replied. She'd meant to tell him about it last week, but his stories about all the exciting places he'd been made her forget.

“I am sure he will once I tell him about it,” Colette said.

The door opened again, and from the way the French girl snapped her head around, Shauna knew she was hoping it would be Robert. Of course, she'd done the same thing only to find Owen coming in.

“I doona ken who will attend,” Shauna said, careful to keep her tone even. “'Tis the first time the event has been held.”

“What event?” Owen asked, approaching the counter.

Colette held up the poster. “This one…where Shauna works.”

A look of distaste crossed his face. Shauna wasn't sure if was because he didn't approve of such a facility or because Colette had said Shauna worked there.

“Is that the place where Neal Austin's father is?” he asked.

“Aye,” Shauna replied. “Mr. Adler is the perfect example of a patient that has benefited from being there. He looked much better last Thursday. But doona fash, ye doona have to attend.” That hope was dashed with his next sentence.

“Of course I will escort you.”

“An excellent idea,” Colette exclaimed. “I will ask Robert to escort me.”

“I thought ye said your father would go,” Shauna said.

“
Non
. I said
Papa
would make a donation—and he will.
Papa
likes to see me with friends my own age.” She turned to Owen. “You would not mind if we join you as foursome, would you?”

He gave her a big smile. “I would be absolutely delighted. Captain Henderson should be honored to be your escort.”

“
Merci
,” Colette answered, dimples appearing in her cheeks.

Shauna managed to stifle a groan. Now not only was she going to have to endure an afternoon with Owen, but she would be subject to watching Colette fawn all over Robert as well? How could the week get any worse?

Apparently, the week could get worse.

Not only was Owen going to escort Shauna to the open house, but he was sitting beside her at dinner on Wednesday evening with a smug smile as he faced Robert seated opposite them. He'd managed to work in soon my bride-to-be at least once in the conversation so far and then moved on to another topic before Shauna could protest. And the overly possessive way in which Owen filled her plate—not asking what she wanted on it—made her want to scream, even though she was not the screaming type.

Shane had returned from Calais, none too happy to find out Shauna had not taken a chaperone with her when she went to the office. If the dark looks he sent her way were any indication, he'd be talking to her in the library shortly. She wanted to laugh. Colette had been the best and worst chaperone Shauna could have had.

“I picked up several orders for kelp ash while I was in France,” Shane said. “It looks to be a profitable spring.”

Owen nodded. “I have been thinking more about investing in kelp. Perhaps we should take a trip to Glasgow to determine the feasibility of profits from the sea beds there?”

“A good idea.” Shane glanced at Shauna and then turned to Robert. “Ye might want to accompany us since I suspect the States might be a good market for the ash as well.”

Robert nodded. “I've not been to Glasgow. I would like to establish trade along the west coast.”

Shauna kept her face impassive. Given her cousin's disproval of the handling of the office last week, Shane was probably asking Robert to accompany them so he would not be left here with her. She bristled. Sometimes Shane could be as bad as Ian or Jamie. She didn't need any more possessive males in her life.

“Are ye going to leave Abigail and me by ourselves?”

Shane gave her the scrutinizing expression he used when he was trying to delve behind what was said to what was meant. “Ye will nae be alone with Albert well and the three footmen to protect ye. That is,” he added, lifting one brow slightly, “if ye doona leave the house without waiting for one of them.”

“I will personally speak to each of the footmen to make sure they understand that I wish my soon-to-be wife protected,” Owen said.

He'd done it again. Shauna stabbed a piece of meat with her fork, thinking how satisfying it would be to prick one of Owen's fingers instead. “I dinna—”

“I will speak to the footmen,” Shane said, eyeing Shauna's fork and frowning, “since I want both Abigail and Shauna protected.”

Robert was watching her too, but she thought she saw his mouth twitch.

“Perhaps while you are in Glasgow, Henderson, you might want to ride on,” Owen said. “The Isles are riddled with MacDonalds.”

Shane gave him a sharp glance. “Why would that matter?”

“Well…Henderson is a MacDonald.” Owen managed to look contrite. “I thought you knew.”

“A MacDonald.” Shane leaned back and looked at Robert. “Do ye seek your kin then?”

Robert glanced at Owen and then back to Shane. “I had not thought about it. My father left when I was young. I don't remember him speaking much of family, but my grandmother was a MacDonald.”

“Do ye ken where she lives?”

“Arisaig, I think.”

Shauna nearly dropped her fork. Arisaig was but a hard day's ride from Glenfinnan. MacDonalds or not, could Robert have family that were practically neighbors of Ian's?

“The place where the Young Pretender fled Scotland to hide in France.” Owen practically smirked. “That figures.”

“I don't understand,” Robert said.

“It is well known that Donald Mor of Arisaig supported the Usurper at Culloden,” Owen said, “and caused a lot of lives to be lost.”

“A lot of Highlanders supported Bonnie Prince Charlie,” Shane replied, “but what happened seventy years ago at Culloden has little bearing on Captain Henderson.”

Owen stuck out his chin. “He is still a MacDonald.”

Shauna turned her fork over in her hands, tempted once more to jab Owen. She caught Robert watching her hands and put down the fork before she did something foolish. She smiled at Owen. “And is it nae grand that Captain Henderson is practically a neighbor? Ye should be welcoming him as such.”

Her smile widened when Owen choked on his wine.

Robert noted the exact second when Shauna's smile turned genuine. He wasn't sure if it was because his MacDonald kin lived near hers or because MacLean choked. Robert suspected the latter. He'd watched her slender, soft hands toying with the hard steel of the fork, practically stroking the tines at one point as if she'd like to use the utensil for something other than eating. He'd managed not to grin at the thought of her jabbing MacLean in the ribs.

The pompous ass needed a poke. Twice at dinner, MacLean had alluded to Shauna marrying him. If the indignant look on her face were any indication, she had not agreed to any such thing. Women, regardless of which side of the pond they were on, should have a say in who they married. He didn't think Shane—or Shauna's brothers—would actually force her to marry MacLean, but it filled Robert with a strange sense of relief that she apparently had no interest in the idea either.

But MacLean had given Robert an idea. “Perhaps once we're finished with business in Glasgow, I will ride on to Arisaig. It would not hurt to establish ties to my kin here in Scotland.”

“MacDonalds.” Owen sneered.

“If I remember my history lessons correctly, weren't the lairds of Clan MacDonald known as Lords of the Isles?” Robert asked and saw the corner of Shauna's mouth curve before she reached for her wine.

“Aye, and they lost the title in 1495 when they rebelled against King James,” Owen retorted. “Fools thought they were more powerful than the king. That is what happens when arrogance takes over.”

Robert gave him a thoughtful look. “Arrogance can certainly turn men into fools.”

Shauna made a sound that quickly turned into a cough, but Robert would have sworn it began as a laugh. He smiled at her. “What do you think of arrogant fools?”

She smiled back. “I think arrogant fools abound.”

“And I think it is wonderful that you want to find your relatives,” Abigail intervened. “Perhaps your grandmother still lives.”

Recognizing Abigail's unspoken request to stop the line of questioning before it became too heated, Robert nodded. “I am looking forward to finding out.”

Shauna looked around the large room where everyone had gathered at the charitable home. Quite a large number of people had turned out for the open house. Mr. James sat in his favorite chair, but for once he wasn't dozing. Perhaps because his seat was located near the door where people had to pass by, he looked more alert than Shauna had seen him in weeks. Mrs. Ramsey was talking to real people instead of the ghost of her dead husband.

“I am glad to see those two interacting,” Shauna said to Abigail as they stood near the punch bowl. “They usually just stay to themselves. Maybe I should suggest to Mrs. Tate to have these open houses on a monthly basis.”

“That might be a good idea.” Abigail helped herself to buttery biscuit from the dessert table and then closed her eyes as she savored the flavor. “If they serve food like this regularly, I am glad I do not volunteer. I would be huge as a horse.”

Shauna smiled. “Ye are eating for two.”

“That is what Shane says,” Abigail admitted, “but I will soon be large enough without being a glutton.”

“I doona think he will mind.” Shauna looked around. “Where is he?”

“Robert needed help setting the rudder in place on his ship and asked Shane to help him.”

So Robert wasn't going to be attending? A giddy sense of release swept over her. That meant he would not be escorting Colette. Shauna stifled an urge to giggle. “I am sorry to hear that.”

“You are not.” Abigail's eyes twinkled behind her glasses. “Since now we know Robert will not be here either.”

A laugh escaped her. “Ye are right.”

“And where is your escort?” Abigail asked, trying to look serious.

“Over there.” Shauna gestured across the room to where Owen was engaged in conversation with Neal Austin. She had made a point yesterday when she'd gone on the carriage ride with Mr. Adler, to tell Neal that Owen would be in attendance. She had no idea what kind of business they might be discussing since Owen refused to share such details with her, but she was thankful he wasn't hovering at her elbow.

“I guess you have not changed your mind about him?”

Shauna shook her head. “I willna marry the mon.”

“You are going to have to tell him then.”

“Aye. Mayhap when they return from Glenfinnan. I can tell him I have had time to think on it and—”