“Thank you!” Broc rose and offered his hand. “You’ve been very helpful. I’ll come in two days to meet Miss Macleod.” He began gathering Signy’s pictures so he could safely pack them in the portfolio.
“You could leave those here to show Miss Macleod what her potential student is capable of,” Maxwell suggested.
“These pictures are entrusted to me, so I’ll take them with me and bring them back that morning.”
“You’re a cautious man,” Maxwell said. “A good trait when dealing with art and artists.”
As he left the gallery, Broc reflected that most of the paintings he’d seen there didn’t interest him, but Miss Macleod’s work did. There was power and mystery in her work. He hoped she would accept Ramsay’s offer to travel to Thorsay with Broc. She’d make an interesting travel companion, even if she was eccentric. He smiled. Perhaps especially if she was eccentric.
Chapter 25
In the fortnight since Ramsay had left to tour the outer islands, Signy had fallen into a comfortable routine. After breakfast, she and Fiona headed to Sea Cottage to see how the repairs were going. Ramsay had been right about the efficiency of Peter Swenson and his sons. Once the fallen roof beam was raised and the back wall was repaired, she finally believed that her home could be reborn.
The inside work went more slowly. The floor needed replacement, and the Swensons were building cabinets for the kitchen and for her studio. She’d protested the cost, but Swenson said firmly that the laird had told them to make the cottage better than ever. The multiple panes of the large window would take time to replace, but in a few more weeks she’d be able to return to her home.
She had to admit that she was enjoying living in Skellig House, particularly since Ramsay wasn’t there to tempt her. Though she might end up living in the hall with him, for now she yearned for the privacy of her own home.
After visiting Sea Cottage, Signy and Fiona continued up the coast path to Fiona Brae. Her ankle was mostly healed, but because it was still weak and subject to occasional twinges, she used the cane. Like the cottage, she’d soon be as good as new.
The Swensons had built a long sturdy ladder that reached from the bluff down to the level of the ancient stone homes. It felt safe and solid as Signy climbed down to the site. Fiona preferred skittering down the slope.
This morning was sunny, a good day for working outdoors. Andor, the older Swenson son, who was in charge of the Fiona Brae excavations, had set up a table and chairs under a wide awning to protect Signy from passing rain while she worked.
When she reached the bottom of the ladder, she called, “Andor, any interesting finds this morning?”
“Several tools stored in a side room, Miss Signy. Over here.” He escorted her to the third house, which had the most soil to be cleared away. The tools seemed to be a shovel, an adze, a couple of awls, and a pair of crude stone knives.
“The owner was a carpenter, perhaps?” Signy pulled out her drawing pad and did a quick sketch of the tools and where they’d been found. Ramsay had left strict orders that all artifacts of any size should be drawn in location before they were moved.
When she was done, Andor would remove the items and they would be given numbers. Signy had done master drawings of the site, and she marked where each object was found. She wasn’t sure what Ramsay would do with the information, but she presumed he had his reasons for proceeding in this manner.
She was also doing detailed drawings of each structure, and she’d done a site plan looking down on the connected buildings from the bluff. It was interesting to be part of the exploration of this ancient village, though she took occasional breaks to do watercolors of the sea and sky and gulls.
News of the find had become public once the excavation work started and sometimes curious islanders came by. Most looked from above, though a few climbed down the ladder. There wasn’t anything valuable to steal, but visitors were watched by Andor and his crew. There had been no problems, other than gulls trying to fly off with food when the workers broke for lunch.
It was midday and Signy was feeling hungry, so she set her drawing pad aside and stood to stretch. Too much sitting knotted up her muscles. A voice from her left said, “Found any treasure yet, Miss Signy?”
“Ramsay! I didn’t expect you back so soon.” She whirled in delight, and there he was, tall and lean and strong, with that bone-deep confidence despite all the challenges he faced. She almost threw herself into his arms, remembering barely in time that they had an audience. Instead she caught his hands and beamed up at him.
He beamed back, and the sight they presented probably revealed almost as much as if they were kissing. Kissing would be a lovely idea if she could get him alone. Decorum won. She asked only, “How was your tour of the outer isles?”
“It went well. I called on the people you suggested, asked questions, and listened to the answers. Mostly people were glad to be heard, especially on the smallest islands.” Reluctantly he released her hands. “How is the excavation work going?”
“Very well. Andor and his men have been careful, and I’ve been sketching the locations and details.” She opened her portfolio and gave him the sketch pad.
He flipped through, nodding as he turned the pages. “Good work. When all these pieces are put together, we’ll have some idea of how these people lived. Time to talk to Andor.”
“First, I have a question. Since Sea Cottage was owned by the Thorsay estate when your grandfather borrowed the money from Roald, does that mean it goes to him if you have to default?” A fate almost too horrible to contemplate.
“No, you’re safe,” he said reassuringly. “On the way home this morning I stopped to see Fergus Maclean in Clanwick. He was able to get a copy of the loan documents from Roald’s secretary. He tells me that if the loan had been a standard mortgage, your cottage probably would have been included, but since it was a personal loan, the listings weren’t as detailed. Neither Sea Cottage nor Thorsay House in London were included.” Ramsay paused thoughtfully. “I’m surprised Roald didn’t want Thorsay House.”
“Perhaps because he almost never goes to London?” Signy suggested, intensely relieved that Sea Cottage was still hers. Was it large enough for both her and Ramsay? Probably not, but God willing, matters wouldn’t come to that.
“More likely he doesn’t consider the place grand enough for him.” Ramsay’s eyes lit up. “Enough about legal matters. I want to see what you’ve found!”
Signy accompanied him to the middle structure, where Andor and one of his men were carefully removing the soil from another of the small side chambers. “Good day, Andor!” Ramsay called. “How does it feel to be advancing our knowledge of our ancient ancestors?”
Covered with dust and dirt, Andor emerged from the side room with a smile. “Interesting, though it’s more satisfying to fix a roof so a family can have their dinner without being rained on.”
