“It seems nae just them,” Niall said. “MacQuarrie’s men found additional opium hidden in the bolts of woolens—”
“That cannae be! I checked those bolts myself when they came in,” Annie said.
A muscle twitched in Niall’s jaw. “Aye. One of the weavers brought that up.”
“That clears the weavers, then,” Annie said.
Niall hesitated. “But it does nae clear ye.”
Annie frowned. “What do ye mean?”
“Someone put that opium inside the bolts. Haines swore he hadn’t been in the warehouse since the woolens were delivered.”
“He is nae lying about that,” Annie said. “The wool came in Wednesday afternoon. I was already in the office Thursday morning when Mr. Haines arrived ”
“That does nae help ye,” Niall said, his face growing dark. “And Kingsley? He was ill Thursday morning. Was he at the warehouse Wednesday after the wool came in?”
“Aye. He counted the bolts.”
Niall brightened. “Was he still in the warehouse when I came for ye?”
Annie thought a moment. “Nae. He said something about his horse having thrown a shoe that morning and he wanted to get to the farrier’s.”
“Damnation.” He glanced out the window and then turned back. “I need for ye to pack a bag. I am taking ye away from here.”
“Why? I have naught to hide.”
“I ken that, but ’tis nae the point. Ye had the opportunity to—”
“But I didnae! I—”
“For once, doona argue with me.” Niall gave her an exasperated look. “The men were getting riled up when I left. ’TiswhyI left. If they turn into a mob…”
“Niall is right,” Mrs. Ferguson said. “Ye will be safer away from here until tempers cool down.”
“But I—”
“Will ye at least listen to your mother if ye will nae listen to me?” Niall glanced out the window again. “I expect Aidan or MacLean to be here any minute with more news. I’m going to go saddle two horses. When I come back in, I want ye ready to leave.”
He didn’t wait for an answer. Annie stared after him and then looked at her mother. “Do ye really think this is that serious?”
“I saw a riot once in Edinburgh. It was nae pretty. I would rather have ye safe.” Her mother bit her lip. “I trust the Highlander.”
Annie hesitated a moment, then nodded and went upstairs to gather her things. She changed into breeches and a linen shirt and pulled on a man’s jacket. It was an outfit she’d used several times when she and other members of her club wanted to travel incognito on the streets. She stuffed a couple of dresses and some necessary articles into her portmanteau. Just as she finished pinning up her hair, she heard a commotion outside. Her window looked into the alley and she couldn’t tell what was making the noise. Grabbing her bag and a cap, she went down the steps to find Owen in fast conversation with Niall while Aidan stood at the front door.
“What is happening?” Annie asked, trying to peer around Aidan.
“’Tis nae time to explain,” Niall said. “There is a mob on the way.”
“But—”
Owen turned to her, his burr evident. “’Tis talk of lynching. This place is nae fortress. We can hold them off for only so long. Ye need to go.”
“It may be too late,” Aidan said from the doorway and pulled his sword. “The men are here.”
Owen drew his sword and joined him.
“The back door! Quickly!” Annie’s mother said, but Niall was already heading that way. “I’ll latch it behind ye.”
