Ralph viewed the banker’s note with utter devastation.
Undeterred, the notary continued. ‘A buyer has already offered to take the estate off your hands to free up credit. And there is a cottage close by the manor itself. It is small and simple, but I am sure it will suffice until your fortunes…um…turn for the better. And ‘tis preferable to renting here in Inverness, which can be ruinously expensive. There is land attached to the cottage which will yield a crop or two, if it is well-managed.’
‘A crop or two,’ shouted Ralph, his mouth spraying spittle in Mr Penry’s direction. ‘Are we to become farmers, grubbing in the muck for a living? I’ll have you know I am a gentleman, Sir, and your suggestion is outrageous. What about the servants and tenant farmers?’
‘There are none. The estate is all but derelict, Sir. But if you will hear me out….’
‘I will not.’ Ralph Hennaut stood and swayed a little. His face had taken on a deep red, and Tara rushed to support her uncle, but he waved her off and stormed straight out. His parting words echoed in the shabby room. ‘This is not be tolerated, never, I say. Am I to stand idly by while you ravens pick my bones clean?’
Tara was left to deal with a quailing Mr Penry. ‘This is very grave news to my uncle, Sir. Is there anything you can do to aid our situation?’
‘Lass, a thousand commiserations, but there is nothing left, save debts, and nothing to be done but try to salvage what you can once your creditors have been satisfied. It is either that or debtor’s prison.'
‘You cannot be in earnest?’
‘I am. In Scotland, the law dictates this. If your uncle cannot make his payment on loans extended on the estate when they fall due, then he must face the consequences. He will be flung into prison until his debts are paid. Best to sell and get clear of it, my dear, for his late cousin had business dealings with some very shady characters, aye, very shady, indeed. Not the sort of men to hold back when a debt is due. They are as like to take payment in flesh as in coin.’
Tara’s world lurched and fell into a black pit of hopelessness. It was all she could do not to cry in front of the shabby little man. Now, they were almost fallen beneath his level. They had nothing. They had less than nothing, for they were in debt.
‘Forgive my bluntness,’ said Mr Penry. ‘Get your uncle to take my advice, lass and sell. Else you are in danger too.’
Tara rushed out of his rooms and down into the street. Her exhilaration at being somewhere new and exciting was now replaced by fear and desperation. The crowds of people seemed to have sly faces and rude manners, and Inverness was a cold and cruel place, not one of beginnings but endings. And now that she knew what the look exchanged between Callum Ross and Bryce Cullan meant, they seemed conspiratorial, not kind and welcoming. Hateful, mean wretches. Were they sniggering behind her uncle’s back at his bad fortune?
Tara hurried after her uncle and caught up with him in the main square. ‘Uncle, stop,’ she yelled out, and he waited for her with stooped shoulders.
He smiled weakly. ‘Do not vex yourself about what that incompetent blatherer was saying, Tara. It is not as grim as he made out. I have speculations back in Truro, which I am sure will come to fruition soon and see us through. Curse that my good-for-nothing cousin ever set foot in this midden they call Scotland. And Inverness is nought but a den of thieves, populated by villains and louts.’
So Uncle Ralph was determined to hate everything about Scotland now that he had suffered a setback when before, he had been enthusiastically declaring its virtues.
‘I am sure we will find a way to prevail, Uncle,’ said Tara.
‘Of course, my dear. Never mind me. This has all been a shock. All will be well in time,’ he said, but the tone of his voice assured Tara that he was trying to convince himself and not her, and her heart sank.
She took his arm. ‘Come, Uncle. Let us return to our rooms and a warm fire, for you look most unwell.’
‘No, you go on,’ he said, slipping free of her.
‘Unaccompanied?’
‘Yes. Our lodgings are but a short walk away, and I need to clear my thoughts. Go now, my dear. Hurry out of this rain.’
With that, he was off, and Tara almost lost sight of him in the crowd before he disappeared into a nearby tavern. She clutched her borrowed plaid about her shoulders and turned back to their rooms with a sickness in her heart. Surely Uncle would not return to his old ways just because of one setback? No, of course not. He would think of some scheme or other to redeem their fortunes. He had to.
***
Bryce banged two cups of ale down in front of them as Callum braced for the inevitable.
‘Well, that was a strange encounter,' offered Bryce. ‘First, they bring their garrisons and troops to infect Scotland, and now they bring their useless, soft aristocrats.’
‘Bonnie ones, it has to be said,’ replied Callum.
Bryce narrowed his eyes and gave a slow smile. ‘So, the old man is Walter Hennaut’s heir, eh? I wonder, was the miserable, old bastard rich after all? I heard he had mortgaged his estate away and lived on a pittance.’
‘Walter always paid for his whisky in coin,’ said Callum.
‘Aye, but did you ever see him pay for anyone else’s? He was miserly enough to pass for a Scot, and he had been here so long, I suppose we thought of him that way. Not that he mixed in polite company much. Walter was happier in the taverns and brothels and down by the wharves in those gaming houses than in polite society.’ Bryce gave Callum a steely look. ‘So, explain yourself, my friend.’
‘Nothing to explain,’ said Callum, shrugging his shoulders.