The leader of the group, noticing Antonio’s approach, offered a respectful nod. “We’ve just unloaded the last of them.”
Antonio nodded approvingly and turned to Niall and Charlie. “This here is Luca,” he said. “One of my most trusted men.”
Luca gave them a curt nod and gestured to the wrapped items. “Would you like to check the merchandise?”
Niall crouched and unwrapped one of the objects. A piece of ribbed, flat wood lay beneath. It took a moment for Charlie to realize what she was looking at: a section of windmill sail, expertly crafted from oak. The wood was smooth and polished, the grain beautifully visible under the sheen of oil that had been applied to protect it from the elements.
As Niall pulled away more of the cloth, more sections were revealed, some with holes drilled into them, suggesting they were designed to slot together.
Luca crouched next to Niall. “Once assembled, it will be held together with iron rivets,” he said in his thick accent. “Plenty of which we’ve brought with us.”
Niall ran his fingertips over the wood. “How long will they take to assemble?”
Luca rubbed his chin and shrugged. “If the weather holds? Only a day or two. Providing the measurements were accurate and we don’t have to make adjustments.”
Niall nodded and climbed to his feet. Charlie couldn’t read his expression. He seemed caught between excitement and disappointment. Excited that the sails had arrived? Disappointed that it meant Charlie would soon be leaving? Or was she just kidding herself about that?
“Ye’ve traveled a long way and I know ye must be tired and hungry,” he said to Antonio. “My housekeeper, Mrs Ramsey, will ensure ye and yer men are rested and fed.”
“And then?” Antonio asked.
Niall smiled crookedly. “And then we finally get this thing finished!”
Chapter 12
Niall woke before firstlight two days later. In truth, he’d hardly slept at all the last few nights. His thoughts were a confusing whirl that would not let him rest. Charlotte. MacAllister. The mill. His mission. It all went around and around, refusing to settle.
Giving up on trying to sleep, he hauled himself out of bed and quickly dressed. He rubbed his eyes as he went downstairs and entered the hall, finding Joseph and Flora there before him, like always. He smiled wryly. No matter what time he got up—even in the middle of the night—he doubted he’d beat the pair of them.
Flora was bustling around serving breakfast, and Joseph had the latest pamphlets from the city spread out on the table, studying their contents.
Niall made his way over to the table and joined him. Joseph grunted a greeting, but barely looked up from the pamphlet he was reading.
“Anything new?” Niall asked. “Anything I need to worry about?”
Joseph sighed and leaned back in his chair. “Oh, the usual. Lady Murray held another of her balls in Edinburgh, and there was mention of a certain eligible bachelor who was conspicuous by his absence. Particularly as he disappeared after his meeting with a certain group of young lords.”
