Trade Winds (Choc Lit) (28 page)

‘Thank you, Adair, you did well, but let’s not do this sort of thing again in a hurry. I feel like someone’s wrung me out. The tension was unbearable.’

Adair grinned. ‘But it were worth it then? Ye found somethin’?’

‘Oh, yes. And I think Mr Holm is going to be very interested in this. Very interested indeed.’

Chapter Twenty-Three

Askeberga, Småland

Several weeks had passed since Killian had left and each day Jess found herself sinking further and further into depression. She missed the companionship, she missed his teasing ways and mischievous grin, but most of all she just missed him. And it was her own fault that he had gone away so abruptly.

She knew well enough that matters had to be sorted out in Gothenburg and her mother and stepfather informed of their marriage. However, she had expected Killian to stay with her for a bit longer, so they could get used to being married and have time to make plans. She had no idea where she would live while he was away, for instance, and what she should do now she was someone’s wife.

Wife. Even the word mocked her.

What kind of wife had she been, practically kicking her husband out of her bed on the first night?
A prudent one,
she tried to tell herself, but a little voice inside her told her she’d been a fool. Did she really want a marriage of convenience? He had shown her what it would be like as a real wife, not just a business arrangement. Although she still doubted his ability to remain faithful, with hindsight it seemed a much better prospect than the kind of marriage she had thought she wanted, whether she had to share him with others or not.

But now it was too late and she no longer had that option.

Would he even return for her, as he’d promised? Or would he stay in Gothenburg, taking his share of the dowry before sailing off to China. What if she never saw him again and all that was left to her was his name? Mrs Kinross. It still sounded strange to her.

She stared into the fire, the same one they had sat next to so often during his time at Askeberga, and tears welled up in her eyes. She dashed them away impatiently. What use were tears? No, she had to make the best of the situation and pray to God He would keep Killian safe. If He’d only bring him back from his journey, maybe Jess could somehow make amends. Once he returned they could start afresh. Or not …

Kerstin, the maid, came into the room, looking a little furtive and Jess frowned at her. ‘Yes, what is it?’

‘Britta needs you to look at something in the kitchen, Miss, er, Madam. If you please?’

‘What, now? But it’s late. She should have finished her duties by now.’

‘It’s just a small matter, won’t take a moment.’

‘Oh, very well.’

Jess wasn’t in the mood to discuss supplies or food of any kind. In fact, she wasn’t hungry at all at the moment, hadn’t been for days. With a sigh, she followed Kerstin to the kitchen and then stopped dead inside the threshold.

‘Good evening.’

As if conjured by her earlier thoughts, Killian was standing by the back door, wearing his bearskin coat and looking impossibly handsome. Even more so than she remembered, despite the fact that he was scowling. He bowed to her formally, but didn’t move forward to greet her in any other way. Jess’ heart sank.

‘Killian, I … why are you here? Have you come to fetch me back?’

He nodded. ‘Yes, but I’m afraid we’ll have to leave Mrs Forbes behind.’

‘Why? She’s still very weak, but I think if we go slowly, she’d be able to manage.’

‘No, I’m sorry, but we’re going back alone and no one must know.’

Confused, Jess stared at him. ‘I don’t understand. Did something happen when you told my mother and Robert?’

‘I haven’t told them yet. In fact, I haven’t seen them at all.’ He looked at the floor and cleared his throat. ‘I’m afraid I have some bad news. Your youngest brother passed away. He was too weak to survive the whooping cough. I’m sorry.’

Jess heard a cry as if from a distance and only vaguely realised it had come from her. Her hand flew to her mouth and there was a buzzing noise in her ears while she blinked to clear her vision. Black spots danced in front of her eyes and she felt as if the floor was moving. ‘Oh, no! Dear God, no! Little James …’ She began to sob, unable to take in the enormity of this disaster.

Killian moved forward and put his arms round her, patting her back. ‘I’m so sorry,’ he repeated, his voice low and compassionate. Jess leaned her forehead on his shoulder and allowed the tears to flow.

‘I … I knew he wasn’t strong, but the physician said … only tiny babies died from it. He said, he said …’ She couldn’t continue, the words sticking in her throat.

‘Usually, that’s true, but James was apparently weakened by other illnesses, or so Mr Holm said. Children are fragile things. There was nothing the physician could do. I really am very sorry, I know you loved him.’

Jess felt comforted by Killian’s presence and he held her patiently, murmuring soothing words until she had cried herself out. Despite this, she was aware of a constraint between them that had never been there before their wedding night. As soon as she had her crying under control, more or less, she disentangled herself and stepped away from him. ‘Poor mother, how will she cope?’ she asked sadly, thinking of Katrijna fretting over her chicks.

‘I don’t know. No doubt, time will lessen her grief, and she still has Ramsay to think of.’

‘Yes, of course. He must be bewildered, it’s difficult for someone so young to understand.’ She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand and drew in a steadying breath. ‘So you’ve not seen them at all?’

‘No, and I think it’s best if we keep our marriage a secret for now. Mr Holm knows and approves, but there are other matters we need to discuss. Not now though. We need to leave at first light. Can you pack tonight, please? Write Mrs Forbes a note saying you’ve left because you couldn’t stand to be banished any longer and you want to make a new life for yourself somewhere else. Don’t tell her where you’re going, that way she can’t inform anyone else. I’m sure Fergusson will send for her in due course.’

‘But why can’t she come?’

‘I’ll explain it all tomorrow. We don’t want anyone to know you’re in Gothenburg and don’t tell her I’m here now either. I’ll sleep in the stable with the grooms for tonight and I’ve bribed them to keep it to themselves. Agreed?’

‘Very well, if you think it’s necessary.’

‘I do. I’ll see you tomorrow then.’

With that he was gone, and Jess was left to stare after him, her thoughts in a jumble.

Britta came into the kitchen and Jess turned to her. ‘Did you hear any of that?’

‘Some, but I won’t tell. I trust Mr Kinross to know what he’s doing. Shall I help you pack?’

Jess sighed. ‘Yes, please. We have to be quiet although I think Mrs Forbes is already asleep.’

She wished she could have as much faith in her husband as Britta obviously did. Why all the secrecy?

‘So you see, the entire company belongs to you and me, apart from a ten percent share which your father gave Fergusson when he became a junior partner in the business. We can do whatever we like with it. It’s all ours.’

They were in a sleigh once again, although this time they were sitting with a good foot of space between them. Several times Jess thought longingly of their last journey together when he had kept her so warm. She banished such wistful thinking and concentrated on his momentous news.

‘I
knew
he was hiding something.’ She slammed her hand down onto the seat beside her, white-hot fury slicing through her. ‘And I was sure my father would never have left the company to my mother. But Robert made it sound so plausible when he told me about it, I began to doubt myself.’ Jess was reeling from Killian’s revelations. On the one hand she was thrilled, while on the other she wanted to tear Robert limb from limb for what he had done to her.

‘Well, your instinct was right. Albert – Mr Holm said I could call him that now – anyway, he’s been to see Mr Milner. Between them they’re going to sort out the legal side so there is no doubt who is the owner of the Van Sandt & Fergusson company. Fergusson had a hold on the man, but now we’ve found out what it is, Mr Milner has realised others might do so as well. He simply has to face up to it.’

‘I’m glad. Poor man, I wouldn’t like to be blackmailed by Robert, that’s for sure.’

‘No. What we have to do now, though, is work out what to do. Albert thinks we should take things slowly and not let Fergusson know we’ve found him out yet. Not until all the legal documents are ready. But because I’m off to China soon, he said we could perhaps gather together as much of the company’s capital as possible and invest it all in
 the venture. He doesn’t think we should sell any properties though. That way, if the venture should fail, there will still be something to fall back upon. What do you think?’

Jess was very pleased to be asked. Killian was still obviously angry with her and had so far not referred to the state of their marriage even once. Nevertheless, he treated her as an equal when discussing everything that had happened with regard to the business. It was wonderful to be spoken to as if her opinion mattered, and she considered her reply carefully before answering.

‘Yes, I think that’s a good idea. How much money does he think there is?’

‘He wasn’t sure, but he thought perhaps five thousand
daler
, since there were some payments coming in soon. If the legal papers aren’t ready by the time I leave, and Fergusson finds the money gone, Albert said we could pretend it had been stolen by you. That’s why I wanted you to write a note to Mrs Forbes to say you’d gone to make a new life for yourself somewhere. It should make him look for you in Småland instead of closer to home and by the time he realises what’s happened, it’ll be too late.’

‘But surely someone will see me?’

‘No, you’ll have to stay at my lodgings until everything is ready and you and Albert can confront Fergusson together with Milner if I’m gone. There’s no saying what he’d do if he found you in the meantime. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to go into hiding for a while.’

‘I suppose that makes sense. When do you leave? Have they set a date?’ The thought of Killian leaving soon made Jess’ heart sink.

‘I’m to be on board the ship in a week’s time. Mr Campbell is hoping to leave no later than the twentieth of February.’

‘But what if there’s ice?’

Killian shrugged. ‘I’m told it’s possible to saw through it until the ship is in open water, but it may not come to that. The weather has been milder lately.’ He turned to look at her. ‘Do you agree with what Albert has suggested then? It might be taking caution to extremes, but there are other reasons as well for keeping a low profile.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, a young servant of mine, Adair, arrived from Edinburgh recently. He came to tell me my cousin had sent a thug by the name of Allan to Gothenburg, presumably to do me harm. He might have left by now, because Albert told him I’d already sailed for China, but if he decides to investigate a bit more thoroughly, he’ll find out I haven’t gone yet.’

Killian had already told Jess of the enmity between himself and his cousin, so she wasn’t too surprised to hear Farquhar had sent a henchman. ‘But what has that to do with me?’ she asked, puzzled.

‘If Allan finds out I have a wife, he could decide to hurt you in some way too. Who knows? Farquhar won’t be very happy to hear that piece of news, I can tell you. He won’t know it’s a business arrangement only. Any child of mine would be another spoke in his wheel.’

‘As a matter of fact, I’ve been meaning to speak to you about that.’ Jess drew in a deep breath and tried to gather the courage to explain that she now thought she’d been wrong to insist they follow the contract to the letter, but Killian held up his hand to stop her.

‘Don’t worry, you made your views quite clear and I won’t be troubling you in Gothenburg, if that’s what you’re afraid of.’ He sounded curt again and Jess bit her lip.

‘No, that wasn’t …’

‘There are two rooms in my lodgings and I’ve arranged for myself and Adair to sleep in one of them, while you’re in the other. So you see, there’s no need for further discussion. Now about the investments …’

He continued to talk only of business matters, and although Jess was still pleased he took her views seriously, she would have preferred to discuss their marriage instead. It seemed, however, that he now regretted their wedding night as much as she’d thought she had and there was no turning back.

She swallowed down a lump of misery which had risen in her throat and tried to concentrate on money matters. Perhaps she would find a more opportune moment to try and mend the fences between them. For now, it was a lost cause.

‘My dear girl, it’s wonderful to see you again.’

Albert gave Jess a bear hug, which was very unusual for him and she had to blink back a few tears of emotion. She didn’t know what was the matter with her, she wasn’t normally such a watering pot.

‘It’s lovely to be here, although Killian tells me I have to hide for a while.’

‘We think that might be best, yes. It wouldn’t do to underestimate your stepfather and if he got wind of our plans, there’s no saying what he’d do to stop us. He would try to destroy the evidence for sure, and could even hurt Mr Milner or us. Who knows? His entire life is about to crumble.’