From what Duncan had explained, the investments Sir Iain made always seemed to reap wealth and so he became sought-after by anyone looking to increase their own coffers. Hence, her father’s and brother-by-marriage’s interest in him.
Now, as his business empire thrived, he wanted to capitalize on the advantageous harbor in Leith. With its location on the North Sea, it was accessible from Nordic and continental countries and even farther afield. Hence his desire for her properties.
Hence... hence... hence. So many logical reasons for his attempts to buy it. Clare understood those, but understanding did not necessitate acceptance or acquiescence. Just because he had reasons for wanting her property did not mean he should get it.
But something else bothered her when she considered the last several months since Sir Iain’s first offer.
“Duncan, when did you begin the process of approvals for converting the warehouses?” she asked, looking up from a document that had long since blurred from staring at it too long. Her man of business sorted through a pile of documents searching for the correct information and handed some paper to Mr. Chalmers as well.
“Early in October of last year, my lady.” He shuffled around a few more pages. “The sixth of October.”
“And when did we receive the first offer?” she asked. A suspicion, based on nothing more or less than a strong feeling about the man involved, tickled at her thoughts.
“The seventh of October, my lady.”
Clare slid her hand along the edge of the desk, feeling the smooth, polished wood under her fingertips. Moving them back and forth, she considered her next questions.
“How long did it take to get initial approval?”
“Well, my lady, as you ken, there was some issue with the original forms—”
“And how long did it take to sort that out?” she interrupted as she remembered the details of the problem.
“Almost four months, my lady. In the end, there was no actual deficiency in our application.” Just as she remembered. She began to ask her next question when Chalmers spoke first.
“The approval came in on the twenty-eighth of February, my lady, and the second offer on the first of March.”
His gaze narrowed as he met hers. He was a canny one, born on the streets but through a turn of luck raised and educated well. But James Chalmers had a streak of his origins that ran strong within him, allowing him to consider means and methods outside the customary ones. He had contacts that none of her other business advisors or employees had and those had benefitted her in the past. Sometimes, one had to look outside the usual to find the answers... or the child.
“I apologize for missing that, my lady,” Chalmers said.
Duncan glanced from her to Chalmers and back again, just realizing the connections she was making.
“’Tis not your fault,” she said. “I have asked you to focus on other matters.”
“Do you think he could have been the architect of our delays?” Duncan asked.
“Do you, Mr. Chalmers?” she asked. He did not have to say a word for his expression said it all.
So, the charming, wildly attractive knight had a darker side? He was playing his own game while trying to manipulate her.
He was not the first man who’d tried such maneuverings since she took over control of the Logan estate. But he was the most devious to date. Most did not expect her to understand what they were doing in the pursuit of their goals. Clare had discovered they were bested by simply playing the role they’d assigned her.
But not this one.
Though he most likely underestimated her, he was attacking using all possible elements—business, family, society and even governmental approval processes. Nothing too public. Nothing too gauche that would be noticeable.
“Since he’s made a third offer, we can assume our application has suffered some kind of setback that we have not learned about yet?”
Duncan jolted from his seat and left the chamber in a rush. From that sudden exit, Clare knew the answer already. Her secretary returned holding out a thick envelope in his hand.
“It was marked two weeks ago but delivered to your home, Lady Clare. Timothy only discovered it and brought it over earlier today.”
Her fingers returned to sliding over the surface of the desk as Duncan took some time to examine the documents. Circles felt more soothing than zigzag lines, so she continued until Duncan was ready. The intensity in his eyes did not bode well for their efforts.
“He must ken someone influential enough to be interfering with our applications,” Duncan said. “I cannot believe we did not see it.”
“Or paid them off,” Mr. Chalmers said.
