“I am afraid to say that the beginning of the entrance did fall down, but no other part was damaged. The still is fine, along with all of theprehistoric artifacts,” Rose said, choosing her words carefully. Astrid, after all, did have connections beyond Frest, and she could easily be passing along information when she visited Stromness. It might be dangerous to let this woman know that Rose and Myrtle realized that the cave-in wasn’t accidental.
“It’s mighty strange.” Mrs.Flett shook her head. “Mighty strange it would just give way like that, especially with you inside.”
“Oh, Nana, it is a miracle that it hasn’t done so before. The cairn is so ancient no one knows when it was built. Some dirt must have shifted the wrong way—that’s all.” Astrid patted her grandmother’s hand reassuringly, and Rose wondered why the young woman seemed so eager to accept that the entrance had naturally fallen. Did she just want to stop Mrs.Flett from worrying? Did she think that Rose and Myrtle would be insulted by the insinuation that they had triggered the incident? Or was it because Astridknewabout the explosion and wanted the truth to remain hidden?
“I’m so glad you could make it!” Freya called out excitedly from the doorway, preventing Rose from asking any probing questions. All the Flett children crowded around them as they entered the small house. Rose had no idea how they were all going to fit around a single table, but somehow they managed. Rose found herself wedged between Myrtle and Thorfinn as the conversation bounced around her, as chaotic as the cramped seating.
“Miss Van Etten!” Widow Flett craned her neck to call around the twins, Mary and Barbara. “Now that you are indeed Lady of Frest and Hamarray, what are your first plans?”
The question spoken with such matter-of-fact directness not only miraculously silenced the roar of conversation, but it sharply reminded Rose of duties that she had assumed. As she stared down the table at Widow Flett’s clear light-green eyes, the enormity of her role crashed down upon her. Swallowing, she glanced toward Thorfinn. “That is something that I need to discuss with my estate manager in more detail.”
Mr.Flett’s thin frame stiffened like a boxing champion called into the ring. “Who is this land agent?”
Startled that Thorfinn had yet to reveal his new position to his family, Rose sent him a questioning look. He hesitated for a moment and then slowly inclined his chin.
Rose turned back to the older islander. “Only the most suitable man for the position. I think even you will approve. He’s hardworking, knows the land, and is smart as a whip.”
Thorfinn shifted a bit uncomfortably in his chair at her praise, but when his gaze found hers again, his left eye glowed with a steady warmth. Memories of the previous night swept over Rose, filling her with a delicious heat. She’d never known that sweet moments could burn so intensely. Yet their honeyed kiss and even more innocent cuddling had heated her body and soul more than any previous bed sport. And damn it, but she still desired more, no matter how much the sheer force of that want troubled her.
“Who is the new estate manager?” Margaret asked, her petite features as serious as ever.
The right side of Mr.Flett’s face had twisted into a mocking sneer. “Yes, indeed, tell us who this paragon is, Miss Van Etten.”
Widow Flett sent her brother-in-law a rather exasperated look. “Isn’t it obvious, Sigurd, even to old, crotchety folks like you and me?”
“Is it someone we know?” Alexander asked, bouncing in his seat.
“It’s your brother, Mr.Sinclair.” Rose couldn’t help but shoot Thorfinn a fond look. A slow smile spread across his handsome features.
Mr.Flett glanced over at Thorfinn with an inscrutable expression on his weathered face. He didn’t appear particularly unhappy, but neither did he seem overjoyed. He most definitely didnotlook proud. His only verbal response was a rather dubiousharrumph.
Jammed so close to Thorfinn, Rose could feel the entire length of his body grow taut at his stepfather’s less-than-enthusiastic response. Worried, she darted a glance at him and saw that his smile had dimmed.
He’d known Sigurd would react this way, Rose realized with a pang to her heart. That was why he hadn’t told his family yet. He hadn’t wanted to face the fact that his stepfather wouldn’t be thrilled by the news. And the bitter old man shouldbeecstatic and brimming with joy. Why wasn’t he? Why was Thorfinn’s relationship with his stepfather so strained, especially when it was clear that Thorfinn provided for this man and his children?
“That is wonderful news!” Astrid clapped her hands together.
Widow Flett gave Rose an approving nod. “I knew you were a smart lass when I first met you.”
“What’s a land agent?” Alexander asked, pausing in buttering his bannock.
As Rose explained, she watched Mr.Flett surreptitiously. He was chewing with a deliberation that made her pity his food.
“It now makes sense why Young Thomas said thatyouasked him to start repairs at Muckle Skaill,” Astrid told Thorfinn. “I thought you were just doing Miss Van Etten a good turn by helping her find someone to assist.”
“Are you planning to make Muckle Skaill your year-round residence?” Barbara bounced in her seat.
“I, uh ...” Rose stumbled on the words. She had no idea how long she would stay on the island, and she did not want to mention her plans for a hotel before she had a chance to discuss it more with Thorfinn. He did not seem at all in favor of it. Although she disagreed with him, she did not want or need to start out their business relationship with him thinking she was trying to undermine him.
“Ooooh,” Mary added, “you have a secret plan, don’t you! I can tell by the way you paused!”
“Oh, tell us! Please, do tell us! Nothing ever happened on Frest until you came. This is all so exciting!” Barbara begged. The pleading looks on the girls’ faces almost made Rose crumble.
“Barbara, Mary,” Freya hissed, “it is not polite to pry.”
“Unless you are as old as I am,” Widow Flett added sagely as she turned those soul-stripping pale-green eyes of hers in Rose’s direction.
Feeling rather under attack, Rose glanced helplessly in Thorfinn’s direction. Unfortunately—or rather fortunately for her—that caused all the women at the table to also send him beseeching looks. He groaned and laid his fork down on the table. “Before I tell you Miss Van Etten’s plan, I want to be clear that nothing about it is certain—”
