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Euan rode into the town with Jupiter, his stallion, at a casual pace. While it seemed that he was a man of leisure, he still had a business to run and ensure the expansion of the current Campbell shipping into Kamouraska was running well. When the weather warmed, his new offices and warehouse would be built where the ships docked. He planned to start exporting furs and other goods from Canada back to Europe. His China fleet of ships that moved between Asia and London would dock in Kamouraska, then the Americas to collect goods and on to Europe in the final stretch.
Since his arrival, many of the wealthy men of the town wanted to know his plans. He’d been invited to dinners, met daughters, and seen them used as a chess piece to catch an inkling of his business plans and cash in. Euan had no need for investors; his wealth would take care of all he needed. Working for Queen Victoria and the expansion of her territories into the Caribbean had been quite lucrative.
His exploits and deals that happened in darkened ships and on deserted beaches had also gained him wealth. So, he attended the fancy dinners and listened with a neutral face as they boasted about their lives and how much favors they could garner. The property was his, his own personal dock would be built. Euan had learned very early in life not to trust men who smiled and showed too many teeth. He would never be prey to anyone, not ever again.
The afternoon boasted warmer temperatures if four degrees Celsius could be called warm. Compared to the initial weeks where the numbers dropped below zero, it was downright balmy. The children ran from the one school that was in the town; he watched them flow out from the gates set into the stonewall. Even though it was built on a side street of the main road that ran through Kamouraska, it was difficult to miss the three-story structure that probably boasted ivy crawling the wall in the spring and summer.
That was where Ophelia worked—just the thought of her made his stomach clench in desire. It had been two weeks since they started their intimate relationship, and she was firm about keeping it a secret. She came to his house in secret, made dinner, and they shared it in the dining room of his home. She read books from his library, intimate poems that stirred his desire, or they just talked. How many times could a man say he and his female companion talked about everything and nothing at all?
She listened to his stories with her breath held and wide eyes. Ophelia wanted her own adventures, but she had gotten lost somewhere along the line. He wondered what the true story was beneath the simple layers she shared with him. Ophelia stirred something within him, something he thought lost in all his travels and tragedy. But, she refused to have anyone in the town know of their companionship for fear of losing her position as a French teacher.
Euan had already made up in his mind: she would not have to work. The spirited Paris beauty, with skin like ebony, would be his. The world and this town be damned—here there were no laws against their coupling. He had long stopped caring about the thoughts and opinions of others.
“You seem deep in thought.” The voice came from below him, and he looked down to see Ophelia’s friend, Marie the doctor. She had a thin, rolled cigarette in her hand. The smoke smelled of clove and other spices combined with tobacco.
“I am a dark and mysterious man,” Euan teased and slid off the back of Jupiter.
“I hear there will be a big, fancy party at the Lachlan Manor house tomorrow night; the hotel will be closed and the band in your sitting room,” she commented.
“I hope to see you there.” Euan inclined his head cordially.
Marie gave a short laugh. “Imagine me and my man dressed in plaid and furs in the midst of the fine gentlefolk of Kamouraska. The women will faint into their bustled skirts, and the men will lift their noses in offense.”
“I really don’t give a damn who likes what,” Euan answered. “It is my home, and I will invite whom I chose. They can take their fine, distinguished asses home.”
Marie laughed. “I like you, Laird Campbell. Will the fair Ophelia be a guest at the Lachlan Manor, or has she already, I wonder?”
Euan smiled. “You will have to ask her that yourself, Doctor.”
“You can bet your ass I will.” Marie’s eyes danced with wicked merriment. “I think I will come to your party just to be a fly on the wall.”
“Good. I rather like the flies of this world—they can always smell the shit from a mile away,” Euan answered.
Marie puffed at her thin cigarette. “That we do, that we do.”
After his interaction with Doctor Marie, Euan went about his business, collecting his mail. He received long tubes of maps and telegrams about the wood he was buying that was to be delivered from Quebec by rail. The hotel and the main store would cook and set up the food and the wine for the party for that evening. He had to hire the cooks and servers from the hotel to work at his manor for the day. Euan knew that a staff was required for his home. He trusted very few people, and his housekeeper and her husband from Scotland would be there by March. After the sale of that house, the last of his furnishings would sail with them to Lachlan manor.
Bettina always managed to seek him out. After his errands were completed, he was about to mount his horse when she skittered up to him. The young, annoying woman reminded him of a baby goat, jumping to and fro without the good sense God gave a human. The other two young ladies with her, that he’d come to know as Kathleen and Edwina, glanced at him shyly. They seemed in awe that Bettina would dare talk to him
“Euan, oh Euan!” Her voice made him grit his teeth.
“Bettina, I hope the day finds you well,” Euan answered calmly.
“As well as can be expected. I was picking up my dress for tomorrow’s gala at your home.” She blushed daintily.
“There is no need for such formality,” he answered. “It is a small get together, all are invited.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Everyone? Some people are the most distinguished of characters or taste.”
“They are just like me then,” Euan replied.
She ignored his statement. “I still must look my best for Laird Campbell.”
“I am a man of simple tastes.” His eyes found Ophelia instantly as she rounded the corner from the school. Her simple, dark burgundy skirt and the ruffled cream blouse she wore only made her more beautiful. Her dark hair was pulled back in a bun, and he could recall how it felt in his hands, how her body melted against his and her every curve as they—
“Euan... Euan, are you listening?” Bettina whined.
He answered honestly and turned his gaze back to her. “No, I was not.”
“She is fascinating, Ms. Pascal, the only darkie around this area with a decent position at a school. Most men are fascinated with her until they grow bored. They all soon see there is nothing different about her than her skin,” Bettina gossiped and leaned in. “I’ve heard she has had many men in her bed, even last night, some trapper was at her home. Being a Parisian, she is very loose with her favors.”
“Such a sharp, vile tongue is not becoming of a young woman.” Euan’s tone was dark.
“I-I’m just cautioning you to be wary,” Bettina stammered, and her friends looked ashamed.
“A man like myself throws caution to the wind.”
Bettina’s eyes narrowed. “It would be a pity if she lost her position, then she would simply be a wash girl at the hotel. My father’s influence reaches far.”
Euan leaned in. “That would be a shame because my reach is much farther. I think, Ms. Bettina, that you, such a fine lass, and your family, may not be suited for my home and the people that will be gathered there. I rescind your invitation. Please tell your father. I wish you a good day.”
“You... you can’t do that!” Bettina gasped and her friends whispered. “Everyone is going—what will anyone think of me and my family if we are not in attendance?”
“You can tell you them you are much too sophisticated to be in the company of the Laird of Lachlan house.” Euan mounted his horse. “Good day.”
He left her standing there, mouth agape. He had nothing for a treacherous woman who would let their tongue deceive in hopes of gaining a man. He’d seen what it could do to men, sending some to their deaths and causing fucking wars. No, he wouldn’t have it in his new home and not against Ophelia. He understood more why their first meeting struck a nerve within her. The word ‘darkie’ was a disgusting term. Still, it was evident to Euan, he had to proceed with caution when it came to Bettina and her tribe of bustled skirts and satin gloves. On his way home, Jupiter trotted near the object of his desire as she made her way to her cottage.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Pascal,” he called to her as he passed by.
She looked up at him with a nod. “Laird Campbell.”
From that simple interaction, one would not realize how she screamed his name when he took her—that they spent every moment they could with each other. It would stay their secret for now, even though he had no problem staking his claim on her and letting them all know she was his.