“The laird is in the dining room, sir,” Mrs. Donovan said calmly before she wisely got out of his way. Signy was telling Ramsay of a new find at the ship, this time a box containing two small gold coins. It was a spectacular discovery, and Ramsay was grateful that his cousins hadn’t seen it. They had done some damage to the old ship, but it could have been much worse.
When Roald crashed in, Signy said in her best hostess voice, “Good evening, Roald. Would you like to join us for dinner? Or perhaps a glass of wine?”
Ignoring her, he bellowed, “You stole my children from me!”
“No, I just gave them a chance to live their own lives,” Ramsay said coolly. “They both wanted desperately to escape your control. If you’d been a better father, they wouldn’t have wanted so much to get away.”
“I gave them everything!” Roald roared. “Annabel was the best-dressed girl in Thorsay, and Axel was going to inherit the largest industrial operations. But that wasn’t enough for the ungrateful brats. Traitors!”
Ramsay managed not to say that if Roald weren’t so obsessed with his own self-interest and listened to what his children said, they wouldn’t have run away.
His cousin spat out, “Annabel left me a note saying that they were both leaving. She didn’t say where they were going or how they’d get there. Just gone. Gone! And it’s all your fault!”
“Signy and I just opened some doors, and they both rushed out.” Ramsay rose to his feet. He was several inches taller than Roald. “If you won’t join us, it’s time for you to leave.”
“You’ll pay for this,” his cousin said through gritted teeth. “I’m calling in the loan. If you don’t pay me by the end of the business day on the twenty-first, everything your grandfather pledged as security will be mine. This house, the estate, whatever small businesses that were listed. Mine.Mine!You can starve in the streets of Clanwick for all I care!”
“But I’ll still be the laird, and Signy will still be my wife.” He glanced at Signy, needing the reassurance in her steady gaze. “I hope you won’t feel too offended if you’re not invited to the official wedding celebration.”
“I’d rather burn in hell than attend!” Roald snarled.
He was turning to leave when a thought struck Ramsay. “Several weeks back, someone fired a rifle at me when I was riding in the hills up island. Was that you?”
Roald’s scowl darkened. “I took the shot on impulse. I didn’t mean to kill you, but I wish now I had. I’ll see you at the Bank of Clanwick at five o’clock in the afternoon. Be prepared to sign over everything you own to me. If you don’t, I’ll hire men to take everything.” He left the dining room with a door slam that rattled the crockery.
Ramsay sank back into his seat, shaking. He’d expected some scene like this, but the reality was uglier than he’d imagined.
Signy reached across the table and took his hand. “You knew this would happen.”
“Yes, but the reality of dealing with Roald is worse than I thought.” He squeezed her hand. “Even if Broc and the rest of them should show up tomorrow with the name of the most generous bank in Britain, it will be too late to arrange a loan. We’ll lose all this, Signy.” He released her hand and made a gesture that indicated the house, the land, and all the people who worked for the estate.
She shrugged. “I’ve lived with much less my whole life.” She smiled. “If my cottage is too crowded, we can live in one of the Thorfield Farm barns. I hear that Flora Mackenzie has made them quite comfortable.”
He relaxed and caught her hand again. “We’ll manage.” He raised her hand and kissed the back of her fingers. “As long as we’re together.”
* * *
The next day was a quiet one. It rained, so Signy stayed in and worked on her drawings and Ramsay rode into Clanwick to give Fergus the bad news. The lawyer confirmed that Ramsay would have to move out of Skellig House immediately if Roald called in the loan.
Fiona Brae and the Viking ship were on estate land. He couldn’t bear to think of them falling into Roald’s uncaring hands. Perhaps Fergus could think of some legal delaying tactic? The lawyer wasn’t optimistic about that.
After leaving Fergus, Ramsay walked down to the harbor and bought himself mutton fritters and clapshot and beer at Gordon’s. The essence of Thorsayian food.
The rain had stopped for the time being, so Ramsay sat on a bench to eat and watch the ships. None of his were in port, and theFreyawas well on her way to Dublin with Annabelle and Axel on board.
There was no sign of Broc or the Rogues Redeemed and whatever possible salvation they might bring with them. They’d be traveling on one of Vance’s ships, which would be larger than most of the vessels that called in at Clanwick.
When he’d eaten, he brushed off his hands and returned the basket and bottle to Mrs. Gordon. Then home to Signy, the one part of his life he was completely sure of. They’d both sit in the library and work on anything that might distract them from the Sword of Damocles hanging over their heads.
Chapter 33
The next morning dawned with pale sunshine. Unusually, Ramsay didn’t want to make love when they woke up. Understanding that there was no room for joy in him today, Signy simply held him as the sun rose.
After breakfast, she moved all of her artwork to Sea Cottage as well as her personal possessions and the bedding and cookware they’d need. Technically those things belonged to Skellig House, but she doubted that Roald would be counting sheets.
All the household staff knew what was about to happen, but only Mrs. Donovan commented, “It won’t be the same, Miss Signy.”
“No, but for better or worse, change happens.” She gave a shaky smile. “Roald would be a fool to discharge you and your husband. You’re much too good at what you do.” Privately she feared that Roald was vindictive enough to sack servants who had been loyal to the old laird, but she prayed she was wrong.
