Chapter 9
“Burn my britches!”Knox bellowed loud enough to make Niall wince. “Are ye deaf as well as stupid? Haul them up one at a time or ye’ll break the bloody scaffolding. And if that happens I’ll break yer bloody heads!”
The lads he was bellowing at scowled at this latest admonishment, but moved to obey the foreman’s orders. A large block of river stone that had already been shaped by Niall’s stonemasons was being tied into the rope net, ready to be hauled up the scaffolding where the builders were waiting to receive it.
The next layer of the windmill’s wall was going up steadily and as he craned his neck back to watch, Niall couldn’t help the apprehension and excitement that twirled in his gut.
“Things might go a lot quicker if Knox put as much effort into hauling those stones as he does into yowling,” Joseph said quietly at his side. Quietly enough that Knox didn’t hear, Niall noticed.
The two of them were watching the progress of the building work. It was still early, barely an hour past dawn, but his workers had been at it from first light, making the most of the fine weather, and battling to get the mill ready in time for when the sails arrived.
Niall grinned. Aye, Joseph was right, but he wasn’t about to suggest such a thing to the giant foreman. Knox might be loud and brash, but he certainly knew how to get a job done.
It couldn’t come soon enough for Niall. This windmill, like the draining of the marshes on his northern border, like his introduction of the English plow and crop rotation system, was all designed to ensure that never again would his people have to endure what they just had. The seven ill years people were calling it. Poor weather. Failed harvests. Famine and disease. He had lost many of his people. Too many.
Never again, Niall thought, clenching his fists.We will not go back to that. He thought about the letter he’d received last night and then Lady Murray’s ball in Edinburgh.No matter what I have to do.
“Lady Charlotte seems to be settling in well.”
The comment startled Niall out of his thoughts. “What?”
Joseph glanced at him. “She seems to be settling in. And the two of ye seem to be spending a lot of time together.”
Niall crossed his arms over his broad chest and turned to face his old friend. “All right. Out with it. What have people been saying?”
Joseph spread his hands. “Only that the two of ye were seen going into the old workshop together. And that ye didnae come out again for some time.”
“Is that so?” Niall’s voice was calm, though he felt a slight sliver of annoyance. He had thought his people knew him better than to gossip about him behind his back.
“Aye,” Joseph confirmed. “And some are wondering what two such fine folk might be doing alone in a dusty old workshop all afternoon.”
Niall grunted. “They can wonder all they want. I’ve nothing to hide.”
Joseph merely raised an eyebrow, saying nothing.
Niall sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I was showing her my mother’s old pottery, that’s all.”
“And was it wise to do so alone?”
The annoyance flared into anger. “I can do what I want on my own bloody land, Joseph!”
“Aye, ye can. After all, it willnae beyerreputation that will be ruined, will it?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
