Ramsay said pleasantly, “If you don’t install two dinghies and lifesaving equipment, I’ll give an order requiring it. Being a good employer is good business.”
Mouth tight, Axel said, “I suppose you’re right.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Drummond said. Turning to Signy and Ramsay, he continued, “You must be chilled to the bone. Come into the rest shed and warm up.”
Signy realized that she was shivering in the chill wind. “Here’s hoping the tea kettle is already boiling.”
“And that there’s a bottle of good whisky to splash into the tea,” Ramsay agreed as they began walking the short distance to the shed with Thor between them.
“There usually aren’t spirits in the shed,” Drummond said, pulling a silver flask from an inside coat pocket. “But this time, yes.”
A young man Signy recognized as Drummond’s oldest son came toward them. He said, “I’m Harald Drummond, sir. I’ll take your horse to our barn and rub him down and make sure he’s fed.”
Ramsay offered his hand. “Thank you. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Could you also collect my horse, Loki?” Signy asked. “He hasn’t rescued anyone, but he and Thor both had long rides today.”
“With pleasure. They’re both grand horses.” Harald took the reins and led Thor away, heading down the beach to the office building where Loki was tethered.
They reached the rest shed, and the door swung open to admit them. It was crowded inside, and the air was damp from all the wet people drying off.
Two women came forward and handed Signy and Ramsay dry blankets. “God bless you both!” the older of the women said intensely. “Tilda is my cousin’s child and a lovely girl. I said she wasn’t strong enough for kelp cutting, but she insisted on working to help the household out.”
“Tilda is a brave girl,” Ramsay said. “And intelligent. She cooperated instead of drowning both of us in panic.”
As Signy wrapped the blanket tightly around her, Drummond ushered them through the crowd. “Come sit by the fire. Tea is coming up. With whisky.”
“Thank you,” Ramsay said. “But where is Tilda? Is she all right?”
“Yes, sir,” a girlish voice said with a hint of chattering teeth. It came from a bundled-up figure in another chair by the fire.
This time Signy recognized the girl’s elfin face and white-blond hair. “Tilda!” she exclaimed. “I didn’t realize that you’d joined the kelp cutters.”
“My grandda died,” the girl said tersely. “My cousin took me in, but I needed to help out.”
Signy took the chair next to Tilda and caught the girl’s cold hand. “I’m sorry you dropped out of teacher training. You were doing so well.”
Tilda shrugged her shoulders, her face pinched. “’Twasn’t meant to be, miss.”
Signy frowned. Tilda was young but had the instincts of a real teacher. Being a kelp cutter was heavy work for such a small, slight girl. A thought occurred to her. “A friend of mine who lives in Skillness told me that she’d like to find someone who would help with her children in the nursery and teach them the basics of reading and writing. Would you be interested?”
“I’d love that!” Tilda glanced in the direction of the sea and gave a shiver. “I wasn’t a very good kelp cutter, but I do love working with the little ones.”
Drummond appeared with their drinks, strong hot tea liberally dosed with whisky. Signy sipped cautiously, not wanting to burn her mouth, then gave a sigh of pleasure as warmth spread through her.
Drummond said, “Would the two of you wish to stay at my house tonight? We’ve plenty of room, and you can borrow dry clothes while yours are dried.”
Signy glanced at Ramsay, who nodded agreement. “We’d like that, Mr. Drummond. It’s been a long day.”
“I’ll send a message to my wife,” Drummond said, looking pleased.
As the manager moved off, Ramsay said in a low voice, “Do you actually have someone who is looking for a combination nursery maid and teacher?”
“One of the teachers I trained is married and lives in Skillness. She has three children now and helps her husband in his business. She said in her last letter that she could use help with the children. I’m sure she’ll be happy to have Tilda.”
“Your network of teachers really covers the whole of Thorsay,” he observed. “Very useful.”
“The network keeps growing because my teachers have a lamentable tendency to get married, so more are always needed,” she said with a smile.
