Iain looked at Emily and she nodded, her brief qualms about the man having faded. In the large mirror on the wall behind him she had been watching the door slowly open and a curly-headed child peeping in. The child dropped to his knees and had just started to crawl toward the desk when adult arms reached in and grabbed him. Then he was gone. Emily suspected that child was behind the thump and yell they had heard.
“When would you like to deal with this?”
“Soon as we can. I am supposed to get back to them sometime today.”
“Then we shall go. I can go along to the bank with you, now. We will let them see that you have legal representation. But, perhaps I should first tell you what my fees are.” He blushed and glanced at Emily.
Realizing he was one to fret over speaking business before a woman she smiled and stood up. “I will just step outside.”
“Nay too far and keep a close eye out,” said Iain.
Emily nodded and stepped out of the office. She turned to go out the door and found herself facing a plump brunette holding a very young boy. “Hello. I am Emily Stanton.”
“Sorry that William was disturbing you. I am Charlotte Bannister.” She moved to a settee. “Come and sit down. I suspect they are talking money. George still finds it hard to discuss such things in front of a woman.”
“Yes, a strange habit some men have. Probably think it will give us a brain fever.” She grinned when Charlotte laughed.
“I am trying to break him of it. So you and the man are hiring him?”
“Iain is. He needs a bank loan and the paper they wanted him to sign is not, well, right. Mr. Bannister said he can help.”
“That is his strength. The paperwork.” She frowned. “Our bank tried to cheat him?”
“I suppose you could say that. They did not write down what he verbally agreed to.”
“Oh, dear. We were thinking of going to them to try and set up a proper law office in the town. Now I do not know what George will do.”
“I doubt they would try a trick with him as he can read and understands all that wordage.”
Charlotte relaxed and then smiled. “I have not seen you in town. Are you new to the place?”
“No. I am staying out at the MacEnroys.” Emily could see by the slight frown Charlotte could not hide what the woman was thinking and she smiled faintly. “I fear I was living with my sister and her husband and their cabin was attacked. They did not survive. The MacEnroys saved me and my nephew.”
“Oh, I am so sorry. How terrible for you. There are so many dangers out here. My family was not happy when George said we were headed here so that he could set up an office. He did not wish to just become another man in some other lawyer’s office, a simple worker who did most of the paperwork but got none of the thanks. It is all he has ever wished to do.”
The little boy wriggled out of her arms and hopped off her lap. “You do not go into Daddy’s office, William. He has a client.”
William had a look on his face that told Emily he intended to go anyway as soon as he could when Iain and Mr. Bannister walked out. She stood up as the boy ran to his father. The way that man took the time to hug his child before handing the boy back to his wife made Emily feel even more sure of him.
Mr. Bannister got his horse and rode beside them as they went to town. He and Iain carried on a varied conversation with complete amenity. When the man spoke of some incident he had in the university and the name Harvard came out, Emily relaxed even more. Even she had heard of that place. It also explained why he wanted to be head of his own office. The way Mr. Bannister appeared to soak up the conversation as if he was starved for some began to make her understand the way the wife talked so freely. This young couple was still new, and had probably not yet made friends. She had to think hard on how she might ease that. The boy was close to Neddy’s age, she mused, and smiled to herself.
When they got to the bank, Emily was not sure what she was to do. Iain had someone to stand for him so she was no longer needed. By the time they got admitted to the office she found out she would not have been allowed to aid him even if she had wanted to. Mr. Colton allowed no women in his offices while business was discussed. It infuriated Emily but she held back her anger and silently nudged at Iain when it looked as if he was about to protest. Instead she sat in a chair outside the office as the men discussed things. She hoped Mr. Bannister had the spine to put the fear of God into Mr. Colton. A young woman stepped up to her holding out a cup of tea.
“Mr. Colton says we should offer some to any of the ladies waiting for their menfolk to do business,” the young woman said, her voice shaking with nerves.
Accepting the cup, Emily smiled and said, “Thank you kindly. Have to offer a lot of these, do you?”
“Enough. He made the rule the moment he stepped into the office so one cannot claim it was some bad experience that caused it.” She shrugged. “We had not expected him,” she added softly.
“No? Who did you expect to be the new boss?”
“Oh, I should not say.”
“Oh, please do. I do not live in town anyway and I am no gossip.”
“We expected the younger son as he really liked working in the bank and helping folk and all.” She sighed. “If we were not the only bank in town I think we would be losing our customers by now.” She blushed and clapped a hand over her mouth. “Was that Mr. Bannister?” she asked after calming herself down.
“Yes. He has come along to help Iain MacEnroy sort out the terms of a loan.”
