Ramsay was about to move away when Annabel said with an edge to her voice, “I’ve heard that Signy Matheson is wearing a wedding ring now. Is that another rumor?”
Ramsay caught her gaze and said in a firm voice, “No, it’s quite true. We’re handfasted and will have a proper wedding in the cathedral soon. Sometime in the early autumn, I imagine.”
“So Signy has won the prize,” Annabel said, annoyance in her blue eyes.
Ramsay had to laugh at that. “If you think I’m a prize, you don’t know me very well. Luckily, Signy is tolerant of my eccentricities. If you’ll excuse me, I must go to meet my ship.”
As he moved away toward the pier where the yawl would dock, he thought of what an unhappy pair his cousins were. Being the wealthiest young people on Thorsay obviously wasn’t enough for them.
He waited impatiently for theFreyato dock, wondering why Broc wasn’t on the deck waiting to come ashore. When the ship was safely moored, the captain, Alan Innes, emerged from the wheelhouse and waved to Ramsay as he saw him waiting.
Ramsay impatiently swung onto the ship, saying, “I hope you had a good trip, Alan. Is Broc Mackenzie with you? I can’t believe he’s seasick belowdecks.”
“No, he’s well and healthy and likely still in London. He had to wait to take care of the business you’d sent him on, so he suggested we leave and run some cargo up to Edinburgh on the way. My boys were getting restless about being too long at anchor.”
Ramsay frowned and wondered what the devil Broc was up to. This didn’t seem like him. “Did he send some sort of message?”
“Aye, so he did.” The captain reached into his coat and pulled out a letter wrapped in oil cloth, then moved aft to talk to some of his men.
Frowning, Ramsay ripped the letter open immediately and scanned the lines.
Kai—
Sorry not to be in Clanwick in person yet. Briefly, I located Sophie Macleod and persuaded her to come to Thorsay, but she said it would take a fortnight for her to make arrangements and buy the art materials needed. I think she and Signy will get on well.
I also had to wait to meet with your friend Captain Vance, since he was out of London. When they returned, he and his wife called at Thorsay House and explained the interesting circumstances of your acquaintanceship.
They both want to help you survive Roald’s uncertain behavior. Vance thought he could work out a way of securing the financing you need, though he was vague about it.
He also said that you survivors of the Portuguese cellar (there’s a story I want to hear more of!) decided to call yourselves Rogues Redeemed and had vague plans to gather after the wars to celebrate your continued survival.
Ramsay paused, realizing that he hadn’t thought of that possible gathering in quite some time. He’d been too damned busy since returning home. But it would be interesting to meet the other survivors again. When he’d traveled through London on the way home, he’d read the letters they’d all sent to Hatchard’s as a way of keeping in touch, as well as dining with Vance and Lady Aurora.
The cellar survivors had all done interesting things, and had all married, as he recalled. Well, he had his own magnificent wife to show off. He returned to the letter.
So Vance has decided to gather as many of your cellar mates (and their wives) as he can and bring them up to Clanwick, along with Miss Macleod and me. Apparently he’s the owner of several sailing ships, and as a former blockade runner, he likes his ships to be fast.
His latest ship, theLady Constance, has been designed to carry a mix of cargo and passengers, so it has several good-sized cabins. As soon as he’s collected as many of your Irredeemable Rogues as are willing and able to come, we’ll be on our way. We should arrive home before the Fire Festival. If we do, that will be quite an experience for these Southerners!
How many guest rooms does Skellig House have?
Broc, bemused
Ramsay lowered the letter, equally bemused. He hoped to God that Vance had found a suitable bank to refinance the loan, because he had an uneasy feeling about what Roald might do. It was also good news that Broc had persuaded the artist to come to Thorsay. She’d be a sort of wedding present for Signy.
But a dozen or so visitors? How many guest roomsdidSkellig House have? He started mentally counting as he jumped to the dock, stopped in at Olson’s, and then headed to the livery stable for Thor so he could ride home to tell Signy about all this.
* * *
Signy blinked with astonishment at Ramsay’s recital. “We’re being invaded by the English?”
He laughed. “I’m sure they’ll all retreat to the south rather than face a Thorsay winter. Do we have enough space for everyone?”
Signy thought. “Yes, but only if they aren’t the kind of aristocrats who find it unacceptable to share rooms with their spouses.”
“Why would a husband and wife not want to share a bed?” he asked. “It’s the best reason to get married!”
“Especially in the cold north,” Signy said with a smile. “I’ll talk to Mrs. Donovan and make sure that all the rooms are ready.”
