Arran stood at the front of his men, conscious that he was not only representing Assiniboia, but the entire Hudson’s Bay Company—one of the wealthiest and most powerful companies in the world. “We’ve come in the name of Governor Robert Semple to arrest you for the crimes committed against the Red River Colony and the Hudson’s Bay Company post at Fort Douglas.”
Duncan lifted a blond eyebrow. “Is that so?”
“We’ll take you by force,” Robertson warned, “if you try to resist us.”
Several seconds passed as Duncan worked his jaw muscles. “I’ll come with you.”
“I also want you to tell our men where you’ve put the fieldpieces belonging to the colony.”
“They’re in the barn.” Duncan nodded to a building in the corner. “You’ll find the ammunition there, as well.”
Arran indicated that the men should retrieve the weapons and then he and Robertson followed Duncan into his store.
Duncan didn’t speak as he took his jacket and hat off a nearby hook. He slipped them on, watching Arran and Robertson with unveiled arrogance.
“You think this will be the end of it?” Duncan asked as he approached his captors. His lips curled in a half-smile. “’Tis just the beginning. The North West Company will not let this colony survive, and well you ken it.”
Arran would not allow the man to intimidate him. “The governor and the crown will have something to say about your threats.”
“The crown?” Duncan scoffed. “The Royal Charter is so old it doesn’t bear acknowledging. You ken as well as I that theHudson’s Bay Company no longer has a monopoly on the fur trade. The North West Company far surpasses the HBC’s profits each year. We’re stronger and more powerful. We will take this land and keep it for our use, and the HBC will be unable to stop us.”
What Duncan said was true. The North West Company had quickly grown and was now a real threat to the Hudson’s Bay Company—but the Hudson’s Bay Company was not dead, nor was it as weak as the man suggested. It had been in business for a hundred years before the North West Company was created and would still be standing long after the North West Company folded.
Arran had no wish to parlay with Duncan, so he simply turned and left the store, indicating that Duncan should follow him.
They left Fort Gibraltar without a fight, for which Arran was thankful. The handful of voyageurs who were there seemed as compliant as Duncan, which was a little alarming. But Arran had seen enough warfare and bloodshed to last him a lifetime. Duncan came alone, leaving his post in the hands of his men.
Half an hour later, as Arran’s men reinstalled their fieldpieces in Fort Douglas, Arran and Robertson walked Duncan into the governor’s house.
Eleanor was sitting near the fireplace, a sewing project in hand. Nicolette and the baby were nowhere to be seen. Eleanor stood when they entered and set the fabric on the chair she had vacated.
Duncan stopped at the sight of her. He seemed speechless, which was something Arran had never witnessed.
The older man turned to Arran. “Are you going to introduce me?”
Everything about Eleanor bespoke a lady, from the elegant gown she wore, to the way she carried herself, to the words she spoke. There was not another woman like her in thewhole Northwestern Wilderness. No doubt Duncan was just as mesmerized as all the other fur traders upon seeing her.
Arran remembered that Eleanor did not wish to use her title, so he simply said, “This is Miss Eleanor Brooke. The new school teacher of Assiniboia.” He nodded at Eleanor. “Miss Brooke, this is Duncan Cameron, the bourgeois of Fort Gibraltar.”
“Mr. Cameron?” Eleanor’s lips parted as she stared at the man. No doubt she’d heard stories about his ruthless treatment of the colony. Mayhap Arran should have warned her that the man would be coming.
Duncan bowed deeply—almost theatrically. “You sound like a real lady, Miss Brooke.” He approached her and reached for her hand.
She did not give it freely, but did not pull away when he captured it and lifted it to his lips.
“’Tis an honor to meet you,” he said. “I’ve never seen a bonnier creature in all my life.”
Eleanor met Arran’s gaze over Duncan, a question in her eyes.
Arran shook his head, giving her a silent warning. Duncan could be charming—he had convinced over a hundred and fifty settlers to leave the colony, after all—but he was never to be trusted.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Eleanor said as she pulled her hand back to her side.
“How did Selkirk convince such a fine lass as yourself to come across the world to teach his settlers?” Duncan smiled at Eleanor, offering his undivided attention. “If I had a teacher as fine as you, I would have been a much better student.”
“It wasn’t Selkirk who did the convincing,” Eleanor said, her melodic and refined voice far more charming than the brute in front of her. “It was Mr. MacLean who spoke so highly of the Red River Valley. I had to come and see it for myself.”
Duncan shot an incredulous look in Arran’s direction. “Are you two previouslyacquainted?” He stressed the final word, lacing it with meaning.
