Emily nodded and began to read. She was pleased she had read several such legally binding papers before now so she knew how to dig her way through the massive collection of unneeded words. Then she hit the section that spoke of what Iain was to put up as collateral and frowned. Her frown deepened as she slowly read it again then finished reading the whole document.
“Did they know you cannot read?” she asked.
“I didnae say. I told them I needed the night to think on this. But, then, not many folk around here can read and I suspicion they guessed.”
“Quite probably, because if you looked at the whole document . . .”
“I did.”
“Then you would have immediately objected if you had been able to read it. You offered them your flock as collateral. Right?”
“Aye. I saw that word.”
“Oh, it is there. It says if you do not repay this loan in the time agreed upon they have the right to take your flock as payment, and your land, and your house and all belongings which they will be permitted to sell at auction to recoup the money owed.”
Iain sat stunned. “Jesu. I never mentioned our lands. We could recover if we lost the flock but would never recover if we lost the house, land, and all else. What were they thinking?”
“That you cannot read, would sign this, and thus give them the chance to make a gain. It very nicely says for repayment of loan, all interest accrued, and other expenses including a penalty for being so rude as to not repay as agreed. Even if they left it as you asked those last two should not be there as they are left vague as to how much and such things can be fiddled to their liking.”
“Ye mean raised to whatever they want.”
“Yes. A fee added for nonpayment or even late payment would be acceptable if stated clearly but not this. It was always stated clearly, the cost and how it could rise. Is there a lawyer in town? A man you trust?”
“There is a lawyer but I dinnae ken the mon weel. Cannae say if he is trustworthy or nay. Then again, I thought I could trust the bank.”
“I suppose I could meet him with you and give you another opinion to work with.”
He sighed and took back the paper. “Or I can try to get what I need without the loan.”
“No. These things tell me they have made some bad loans. This is being done to help recoup their losses off the back of an honest man. Sad to say, banks are not above such chicanery. Has there been a change of ownership at the bank since the last time you dealt with them?”
“Weel, the son took over from the father last year.”
“Ah, and obviously the son has the morals of a snake.”
“I dinnae ken how anyone can ken the morals or lack of ’em in a snake.”
“Hush.” Emily cupped her chin in her hand and stared at the wall as she thought, trying to recall her father’s various dealings with banks. “I think you need to judge the trustworthiness of this lawyer. It would be best if you returned to the bank with someone on your side, someone who has the power to cause trouble.”
“I trusted the bank,” he muttered. “How good are ye at kenning who ye can trust?”
“Good enough, I think, but I also understand lawyers and can tell you if he just talks a lot of idiocy.”
“Then we shall go to see him on the morrow. He doesnae have much to do so I’ve suspicion he will be glad to see us,” he said as he stood up and helped her out of her chair.
As they walked up the stairs, Iain sighed. “Thank ye. I would have signed this, I think. Now I find myself wondering if they already had plans to ensure that I couldnae pay them back.”
“It is possible. It is also possible it would have occurred to them at some time before you could pay them back. Hard to know. They were obviously underhanded enough to try to trick you with this paper so they may well have done more. Let us hope this lawyer is an honest man,” she said as she stopped by her door. “Do you wish to go in the morning?”
“Morning,” he replied as he placed his hand on the doorframe and gently pinned her against the door. “I have the feeling ye have dealt far more with lawyers than I have.”
“Possibly. Cities are much fonder of the use of them than the outlying towns.”
He kissed her forehead. “Gentry are fond of legal papers.”
“Which is wise of them considering they usually have more to protect or pass on and often are cursed with family that cannot always be trusted.” She hoped she sounded just like someone stating a simple fact rather than someone trying to deter him from the conversation as she was.
He kissed her forehead. “Andgentry are fond of legal papers.”
