Chapter Eight
Iain frowned at the paper he held and could make out only a few words. The lessons he had been forced into by Mrs. O’Neal and his brothers were actually working, but slowly. It had only been a week of regular lessons but he felt he should have been able to read more than a few words. If he was to get the small loan he needed, however, he needed to understand every word before he signed it. That meant he had to go to Emily and he sighed. He had done a good job of angering her with his wavering emotions and he doubted she would want to be helpful. Then he told himself not to be a fool. Emily would help because she was one who could not do anything else.
Standing up, he headed out of his room, deciding it was best just to steel his spine and get it over with. It was late so he hoped the meeting would be over quickly. He rapped on the door to her room and she opened it, her look of surprise changing quickly to one of wariness. To his astonishment she stepped out into the hall and shut the door behind her.
“Neddy is asleep,” she said quietly.
“Ah. Weel, I need ye to read a paper for me.”
“What sort of paper?”
“I need a loan from the bank and they said they wanted me to sign this.” He held out the paper. “Your teachings helped me guess at only a few words. I dinnae want to sign anything until I ken exactly what it says though.”
“That is wise. A rule my papa lived by. Is there a place where we can sit for a moment?”
“We can go down to the dining room. No one there this hour of the night.”
She allowed him to lead her down the stairs. He was not in one of his cold moods and she was pleased he had turned to her for help but she remained cautious. The way he could go from warm and seductive to coldly formal in the blink of an eye was unsettling and, to her disgust, hurt her feelings. She was not going to be made to suffer for wrongs done by the others of her class.
By the time they reached the dining room, Emily was calm but determined. She would not allow him to play his confusing games of kissing her one moment and treating her like a complete, and somewhat disliked, stranger the next. Since she intended to tell him the truth, that might well end his games anyway. With his rancorous feelings about the English gentry, the truth would certainly end the strange bouts of warmth he showed her. Sitting down, she frowned when he pulled a chair closer and sat right next to her then handed her a couple of papers.
“Dinnae ken why they need more than one page,” he muttered.
“Probably written by their lawyers or one of them has learned the craft. I have never known a lawyer to use one word when he could use six. They are always trying to make certain they do not lose or forget a thing. Do you wish this to be read aloud?”
“No need unless you find something you think is important. My agreement was to put up my flock in exchange for a loan.”
Emily nodded and began to read. She was pleased she had read several such legally binding papers before now so she knew how to dig her way through the massive collection of unneeded words. Then she hit the section that spoke of what Iain was to put up as collateral and frowned. Her frown deepened as she slowly read it again then finished reading the whole document.
“Did they know you cannot read?” she asked.
“I didnae say. I told them I needed the night to think on this. But, then, not many folk around here can read and I suspicion they guessed.”
“Quite probably, because if you looked at the whole document . . .”
“I did.”
“Then you would have immediately objected if you had been able to read it. You offered them your flock as collateral. Right?”
“Aye. I saw that word.”
“Oh, it is there. It says if you do not repay this loan in the time agreed upon they have the right to take your flock as payment, and your land, and your house and all belongings which they will be permitted to sell at auction to recoup the money owed.”
Iain sat stunned. “Jesu. I never mentioned our lands. We could recover if we lost the flock but would never recover if we lost the house, land, and all else. What were they thinking?”
“That you cannot read, would sign this, and thus give them the chance to make a gain. It very nicely says for repayment of loan, all interest accrued, and other expenses including a penalty for being so rude as to not repay as agreed. Even if they left it as you asked those last two should not be there as they are left vague as to how much and such things can be fiddled to their liking.”
“Ye mean raised to whatever they want.”
“Yes. A fee added for nonpayment or even late payment would be acceptable if stated clearly but not this. It was always stated clearly, the cost and how it could rise. Is there a lawyer in town? A man you trust?”
“There is a lawyer but I dinnae ken the mon weel. Cannae say if he is trustworthy or nay. Then again, I thought I could trust the bank.”
“I suppose I could meet him with you and give you another opinion to work with.”
He sighed and took back the paper. “Or I can try to get what I need without the loan.”
“No. These things tell me they have made some bad loans. This is being done to help recoup their losses off the back of an honest man. Sad to say, banks are not above such chicanery. Has there been a change of ownership at the bank since the last time you dealt with them?”
“Weel, the son took over from the father last year.”
“Ah, and obviously the son has the morals of a snake.”
“I dinnae ken how anyone can ken the morals or lack of ’em in a snake.”
“Hush.” Emily cupped her chin in her hand and stared at the wall as she thought, trying to recall her father’s various dealings with banks. “I think you need to judge the trustworthiness of this lawyer. It would be best if you returned to the bank with someone on your side, someone who has the power to cause trouble.”
“I trusted the bank,” he muttered. “How good are ye at kenning who ye can trust?”
“Good enough, I think, but I also understand lawyers and can tell you if he just talks a lot of idiocy.”
“Then we shall go to see him on the morrow. He doesnae have much to do so I’ve suspicion he will be glad to see us,” he said as he stood up and helped her out of her chair.
As they walked up the stairs, Iain sighed. “Thank ye. I would have signed this, I think. Now I find myself wondering if they already had plans to ensure that I couldnae pay them back.”
“It is possible. It is also possible it would have occurred to them at some time before you could pay them back. Hard to know. They were obviously underhanded enough to try to trick you with this paper so they may well have done more. Let us hope this lawyer is an honest man,” she said as she stopped by her door. “Do you wish to go in the morning?”
“Morning,” he replied as he placed his hand on the doorframe and gently pinned her against the door. “I have the feeling ye have dealt far more with lawyers than I have.”
“Possibly. Cities are much fonder of the use of them than the outlying towns.”
He kissed her forehead. “Gentry are fond of legal papers.”
“Which is wise of them considering they usually have more to protect or pass on and often are cursed with family that cannot always be trusted.” She hoped she sounded just like someone stating a simple fact rather than someone trying to deter him from the conversation as she was.
He kissed her forehead. “And gentry are fond of legal papers.”
“Most people with things they value are.”
The heat of him was seeping through her body and Emily knew it would be a good idea for her to put an end to this. Then his mouth was on hers and she decided the good-nights could wait a few moments. Feeling his arms wrapped around her, her body pressed close to his, was enough to clear her mind of all thought. All she became concerned about was what he made her feel.
Then all her warm feelings fled as he did as he usually did. He let her go, stared down at her, and she could almost see the cold that entered his veins. A moment later he wished her a good sleep and walked away. Emily sighed before entering her room. She hoped she could put all the questions she had out of her head so she could actually get some sleep.
* * *
Morning was as busy as always with hungry men and children to feed. Then everyone went off to tend to their work and she walked out to meet with Iain, who was fetching the buggy. Emily hoped the lawyer was there because spending a lot of time sitting close to a man who could not decide if he wanted to kiss her or ignore her was asking too much of any woman. As they engaged in idle, empty talk, she had to clench her hands into fists to keep from beating on his arm.
The lawyer had his cabin on the edge of town. Emily wondered why the man had not set up an office in town where everyone would know about him faster. As Iain helped her down from the buggy she told herself not to prejudge the man. If he had only just set up his practice it might be a simple matter of using what he could best afford.
Iain rapped on the door and Emily heard some yelling from inside followed by a thud. She glanced at Iain but he seemed unconcerned. A young voice joined the deeper one of a man and then the door opened. The man who stood there brushing his clothes off and smiling did not make her confident. He was handsome with his somewhat too long brown hair and hazel eyes but he was so young she could not believe he had finished all his schooling.
“Do come in. How can I help you?” he asked, waving them inside.
“Mr. Bannister?” she asked, and he nodded. “We wished to see if you can help us with a problem,” she said, and was not sure the way he looked so delighted was encouraging.
“Of course.” He led them to a large room furnished with a desk and two chairs facing it then waved toward those chairs. “Please sit down.” As soon as she and Iain were seated, he sat and clasped his hands together on the top of the desk. “What is your trouble?”
Emily looked at Iain but he just waved her on, so she explained how they had come across a problem in the papers needed to get a loan. “It seems to me they have, well, erred.”
“May I see the papers?”
Iain handed it over without hesitation. Emily sat a little tensely as the man read it over. She was certain there was something underhanded in what the bank had done but she had no idea of what the laws were about such things in this country. The frown forming on the man’s face could be encouraging or it could mean he simply could not see what her problem was with the agreement.
“What did you offer up as collateral?” he asked Iain.
“My flock. I gave them the number of sheep I had and the value of the flock and it is well above what the loan was for,” Iain answered.
“You said nothing about your land or house or belongings?”
“Nay. Then again, most people ken where I live and what I have. Probably even ken where my lands stretch to.”
“Then they should not be listed.” He looked closely at Iain. “May I ask you a personal question?”
Iain shrugged. “Aye.”
“Have you done business with this bank before?”
“Only one in town so the answer is aye. Took a loan from them when we were setting up, as buying the land and all took more of our money than we anticipated. Put our money in there as weel. Been a customer of theirs for years. The father’s, not the son’s.”
“Ah.”
Iain grinned at Emily. “That is what ye said.”
“And can you read?” Mr. Bannister asked.
Iain could not fully suppress a blush but he shook his head. “Thinking it might be time to learn.”
Mr. Bannister smiled. “It can be helpful. This is very close to fraud,” he said, and patted the paper. “They were obviously trying to trick you into offering more than you wished and, I suspect, had every intention of trying to make sure you could not meet payments so they could make a land grab. I would suspect there is one of their customers who would like your lands and they thought to win his favor. Maybe get hold of it all and make a profitable deal with that man. It is fortunate you did not sign this.”
“Had a bad feeling so took it home, said I needed a night to think on it, and had Emily read it to me.”
“Good, good. Best to never sign anything you can’t read or cannot understand. What do you wish to do about this?”
“I still need a loan but I need the paper to be right. Need it to say what is right and fair.”
“I can help you with dealing with the paper and the bank if that is what you wish.”
Iain looked at Emily and she nodded, her brief qualms about the man having faded. In the large mirror on the wall behind him she had been watching the door slowly open and a curly-headed child peeping in. The child dropped to his knees and had just started to crawl toward the desk when adult arms reached in and grabbed him. Then he was gone. Emily suspected that child was behind the thump and yell they had heard.
“When would you like to deal with this?”
“Soon as we can. I am supposed to get back to them sometime today.”
“Then we shall go. I can go along to the bank with you, now. We will let them see that you have legal representation. But, perhaps I should first tell you what my fees are.” He blushed and glanced at Emily.
Realizing he was one to fret over speaking business before a woman she smiled and stood up. “I will just step outside.”
“Nay too far and keep a close eye out,” said Iain.
Emily nodded and stepped out of the office. She turned to go out the door and found herself facing a plump brunette holding a very young boy. “Hello. I am Emily Stanton.”
“Sorry that William was disturbing you. I am Charlotte Bannister.” She moved to a settee. “Come and sit down. I suspect they are talking money. George still finds it hard to discuss such things in front of a woman.”
“Yes, a strange habit some men have. Probably think it will give us a brain fever.” She grinned when Charlotte laughed.
“I am trying to break him of it. So you and the man are hiring him?”
“Iain is. He needs a bank loan and the paper they wanted him to sign is not, well, right. Mr. Bannister said he can help.”
“That is his strength. The paperwork.” She frowned. “Our bank tried to cheat him?”
“I suppose you could say that. They did not write down what he verbally agreed to.”
“Oh, dear. We were thinking of going to them to try and set up a proper law office in the town. Now I do not know what George will do.”
“I doubt they would try a trick with him as he can read and understands all that wordage.”
Charlotte relaxed and then smiled. “I have not seen you in town. Are you new to the place?”
“No. I am staying out at the MacEnroys.” Emily could see by the slight frown Charlotte could not hide what the woman was thinking and she smiled faintly. “I fear I was living with my sister and her husband and their cabin was attacked. They did not survive. The MacEnroys saved me and my nephew.”
“Oh, I am so sorry. How terrible for you. There are so many dangers out here. My family was not happy when George said we were headed here so that he could set up an office. He did not wish to just become another man in some other lawyer’s office, a simple worker who did most of the paperwork but got none of the thanks. It is all he has ever wished to do.”
The little boy wriggled out of her arms and hopped off her lap. “You do not go into Daddy’s office, William. He has a client.”
William had a look on his face that told Emily he intended to go anyway as soon as he could when Iain and Mr. Bannister walked out. She stood up as the boy ran to his father. The way that man took the time to hug his child before handing the boy back to his wife made Emily feel even more sure of him.
Mr. Bannister got his horse and rode beside them as they went to town. He and Iain carried on a varied conversation with complete amenity. When the man spoke of some incident he had in the university and the name Harvard came out, Emily relaxed even more. Even she had heard of that place. It also explained why he wanted to be head of his own office. The way Mr. Bannister appeared to soak up the conversation as if he was starved for some began to make her understand the way the wife talked so freely. This young couple was still new, and had probably not yet made friends. She had to think hard on how she might ease that. The boy was close to Neddy’s age, she mused, and smiled to herself.
When they got to the bank, Emily was not sure what she was to do. Iain had someone to stand for him so she was no longer needed. By the time they got admitted to the office she found out she would not have been allowed to aid him even if she had wanted to. Mr. Colton allowed no women in his offices while business was discussed. It infuriated Emily but she held back her anger and silently nudged at Iain when it looked as if he was about to protest. Instead she sat in a chair outside the office as the men discussed things. She hoped Mr. Bannister had the spine to put the fear of God into Mr. Colton. A young woman stepped up to her holding out a cup of tea.
“Mr. Colton says we should offer some to any of the ladies waiting for their menfolk to do business,” the young woman said, her voice shaking with nerves.
Accepting the cup, Emily smiled and said, “Thank you kindly. Have to offer a lot of these, do you?”
“Enough. He made the rule the moment he stepped into the office so one cannot claim it was some bad experience that caused it.” She shrugged. “We had not expected him,” she added softly.
“No? Who did you expect to be the new boss?”
“Oh, I should not say.”
“Oh, please do. I do not live in town anyway and I am no gossip.”
“We expected the younger son as he really liked working in the bank and helping folk and all.” She sighed. “If we were not the only bank in town I think we would be losing our customers by now.” She blushed and clapped a hand over her mouth. “Was that Mr. Bannister?” she asked after calming herself down.
“Yes. He has come along to help Iain MacEnroy sort out the terms of a loan.”
“MacEnroy? One of those brothers up in the hills?”
Emily nodded and spent the time waiting for Iain answering the woman’s many questions about all those bachelors in the hills. When Iain and Mr. Bannister stepped out she handed her empty cup back to the young woman who was staring at Iain in a way that made Emily itch to loudly claim he was not up for bid. Iain took her by the arm and led her out, then paused when they reached the buggy and turned to grin at Mr. Bannister.
“One thing good about having a lawyer is it makes it hard for the man you’re dealing with to spit out his anger.”
Mr. Bannister laughed. “He was angry. Makes me really wonder who he was trying to grab your lands for.”
“That is something I would like to know as well.” He reached out and shook Mr. Bannister’s hand. “I will send you the payment within a day or two. And, be sure of it, I will tell anyone I can how good you are at your job.”
Mr. Bannister blushed and thanked Iain profusely. He then mounted his horse and rode off. Iain helped Emily into the buggy and headed toward the hills.
“I ken I didnae really let ye give your opinion,” he started.
“There was no need. I think we were both of the same mind. Not sure if Mr. Bannister even knows how to be sly.”
“Nay. He is an open book.”
“So is his wife. Seems they were thinking of getting a loan from that same fool so that George could set up an office in town. I suspect his son is part of the reason he needs one.”
Iain laughed. “Cute lad and I suspicion he was the cause of the thud we heard.”
“Well, I was trying to think of a way to aid his wife in getting out more. Her William is of an age, or close to, with Neddy. But there is that problem of not being able to let Neddy be as free as other children.”
Iain just nodded. He would be meeting with George tomorrow to send out a few letters. He intended to do his best to find the one behind the attempts to kill Emily and Neddy and put an end to it. With the help of a woman in town who was willing to read and write for him for a fee, he had kept in touch with a few people and he meant to reach out to them now to try to find something to prove this Albert’s guilt and get him locked up for it. It might not get him anything but he saw no wrong in trying.
They had to put a stop to the man’s attempts to kill all the Stantons. What he needed was to get Emily to tell him exactly what she thought, who might be involved, and what exactly the man thought was worth so much death. He might well pick up another name or two of people to contact. If nothing else, he wanted to know why some idiot in England was trying so hard to wipe out the Stantons.