Roald kept him waiting for only a few minutes and gave him an effusive welcome when he was ushered into the lavish office. Roald was rich and wanted the world to know it, but it was hard to impress a man who had spent years around the palaces of Constantinople.
“Kai, my lad, good to see you!” Roald offered his hand. “How are you settling into your new position?”
“It’s endlessly interesting,” Ramsay said as he shook his cousin’s hand, then took the seat indicated. “The visit to your kelp works was surprisingly exciting.”
Roald grimaced. “I heard how you rescued one of my girls. Drummond told me of the safety precautions you suggested, and the rescue dinghies and life preservers are already in place. I don’t want any tragic accidents in the future.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Ramsay said, suppressing the cynical thought that Signy had voiced at the time. The rescue equipment was cheap and burnished Roald’s reputation. The measure could easily have been put into effect years earlier if Roald really cared for his workers. It was being noticed by the new laird that had made him act now.
After a few more minutes of pleasantries, Ramsay said, “I’m here on business. I’ve been going through my grandfather’s papers to find out what obligations I’ve inherited. I thought I’d found everything significant until I discovered my grandfather’s daybook yesterday. One of the last items he wrote down was a reminder to talk to you about extended payment terms. You loaned money to him?”
“Yes, it was when the islands were suffering from the joint effects of the disease and the devil storm,” Roald said. “Many people were suffering, and the laird wanted to help them out but didn’t have much in the way of financial resources. No bank was willing to make a large loan when it was unclear whether the money could be repaid in a timely fashion.”
This information was much the same as what Fergus Maclean, his grandfather’s lawyer, had said. Needing the money, Duncan had borrowed from Roald and kept it secret even from his lawyer. “I’ve found no records of such a transaction, so I thought I should ask you directly if you have your copies of the loan documents. I need to learn how much was borrowed and when the loan is due.”
Roald tilted back in his desk chair and frowned. “You couldn’t find the documents? The old laird was always very careful with his records, but he was declining in his last years. He must have misplaced or accidentally destroyed the loan documents.”
“Whatever the reason, I found no papers describing the loan,” Ramsay said. “Are yours convenient?”
“Yes, give me a moment.” Roald opened a lower drawer in his desk and swiftly pulled out a file. “Here it is.”
Ramsay opened the file and found the loan document on top. One glance and his stomach sank. “I see it’s dated almost two years ago.”
“Yes, that’s when the suffering was at its worst.”
It was all there, including his grandfather’s signature, and the document explained why there had been almost five thousand pounds in the laird’s Bank of Scotland account. The original loan had been for twenty-five thousand pounds. Duncan had been using the money carefully because his people’s needs were ongoing. But over twenty thousand pounds had been spent, and Ramsay would need to draw on the remaining five thousand pounds for estate expenses.
Feeling ill, Ramsay closed the file. “I’m surprised that you made a loan that might not be repaid.”
Roald grimaced. “I’m a businessman, but I didn’t want to see people dying of starvation in the streets. Besides, the loan was secured by Skellig House and the estate, and property always has value.”
Ramsay looked into his cousin’s cold, amused eyes and realized that the older man would like to see him default on the loan so the estate would come into his hands. The house, the lands, the horses.
Most of all, the status. Roald might not care to be laird, but he wanted to be the most important man in Thorsay, not merely the richest.
“Twenty-five thousand pounds is a considerable sum. When does the loan come due?” Ramsay flipped the next page and felt chilled. “September twenty-first of this year. The same day as the Thorsayian fire festival.”
“It was an easy date to remember.” Roald was watching him with a predatory gleam in his eyes. “Will that be a problem for you?”
“It will be difficult. My grandfather thought there was a chance that you might extend the loan. Is that a possibility?”
Roald leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed. Ramsay had the sense that the older man was genuinely considering the question. To his surprise, Roald said, “With you so newly become the laird, it doesn’t seem fair for you to have to deal with this so soon. Very well, I’ll extend the loan for twelve months to September of next year.”
Ramsay felt a rush of relief. “Many thanks! Do new papers need to be drawn up?”
“No need.” Roald stood and offered his hand. “A gentleman’s agreement that the loan comes due next year.” He smiled. “Of course there will be more interest.”
“Of course.” Ramsay also stood and shook the other man’s hand. “This will give me time to find the money for you. Now I’ll be off. I’ve much to do.”
Before he could leave, Roald’s daughter, Annabel, entered the office. “Kai, I’m so glad to see you!” She extended a hand. Shimmering in silk and pouting prettily, she looked more like London than Thorsay. “I was hoping we’d be seeing more of you now that you’ve returned.”
He smiled and took her hand. “Being new to my job, I’ve been very busy. But as always, it’s a pleasure to see you. Good day.”
Ramsay left Roald’s office, hoping he’d received a genuine reprieve. The trouble was, he wasn’t sure how far he could trust Roald.
Chapter 22
Once Ramsay was out on the pavement, he stood still for a moment, wondering what the hell he should do next. It was hard to imagine losing the land and home that were his birthright, but the dispassionate part of his mind recognized that it was a real possibility.
