Fletcher found Geddes in the library. “What haven’t you told me?”
Geddes looked up, guilt written all over him. “Well, I meant to, but—”
“It’s almost like they’re angry with me. Why is that?”
Geddes frowned, puzzled. “Who?”
“Those poor crofters who live north of here.”
Geddes sat back in the chair and removed his spectacles. “What makes you think they’re angry with you?”
“Well, they might not be angry, but they sure as hell aren’t friendly.”
“They know their place,” Geddes said, straightening some papers on the desk.
Fletcher paced in front of him, his hands behind his back. “Tell me everything about them.”
With a casual shrug, Geddes said, “There’s not much to tell. You already know that crofts are actually little parcels of land worked by the farmers. Those who live north of here have the poorest land on the island. As with all the crofters, some raise sheep, some fish, and some collect kelp.”
“Kelp? You mean seaweed? What for?”
“It’s collected to make alkali.”
“Why do they have such poor land? There’s plenty of fertile land on the island, I’ve seen it myself.”
“Aye, that’s your land.”
Fletcher stopped pacing and stared at Geddes. “You mean, all the arable land is mine, and what’s left belongs to those crofters up north?”
“It’s been that way for a long time, sir.”
“Do they at least own it?”
Geddes glanced down. “I’m afraid not. They pay you rent.”
Fletcher dropped into a chair beside the desk. “They actually pay me for that? That’s terrible.”
“It’s always been that way, probably from the beginning of time.”
The elation of finding the horses was quickly diminishing into self-loathing, something he was quite good at. “Good God, it’s no wonder they hated the sight of me.”
“It’s not your concern, sir.”
“Of course it’s my concern.” But Fletcher had no idea what to do about it. He had so much to learn about his new station in life. “Surely something can be done.”
“If that’s what you wish,” Geddes answered.
“You mean it’s up to me to change it?”
“Of course. You’re the duke.”
Fletcher laughed quietly. “You say that so easily. It isn’t easy for me to believe I actually have the power to do something. You must realize I’ve never had any power before. When you found me I was two days away from being hanged.”
“What do you want to do?”
Fletcher steepled his fingers in front of him. “Do we really need rent from those poor people?”
“No, it’s just always been that way.”
“Then stop collecting it.”
Geddes gave him a cautious look. “As your solicitor, I don’t recommend it.”
“Have you any idea how much rent we’ve collected, say, in the past ten years, for example?”
“I have very complete records, sir. I can look it up.”
“Would you say that in the past ten years, we have collected more rent from that land than it’s currently worth?”
“I’m sure we have.”
“Then don’t you think it’s about time we stop? Good God, man, I couldn’t live with myself if I took any more money from them.”
“Sir, this is highly unorthodox.”
“But I can do it, right?”
“Yes. You can do it.”
“Then make the arrangements, Geddes, and no fanfare. Just get word to them somehow that they no longer owe me rent for that paltry land.” Fletcher got up to leave.
Geddes mouth lifted into a smile. “I will get right on it. And sir?”
“Yes?”
Geddes cleared his throat and tugged at his collar. “I’ll be gone for a spell, sir. Business in Edinburgh, I’m afraid. I’ve…ah, notified the station master to keep you posted on your siblings. He will be in touch with you weekly, if you wish.”
“Thank you, Geddes. That will be fine.” Fletcher left the library, an uncomfortable weight gone from his shoulders and a pleasant sensation in his stomach.
• • •
“It’s been almost a bloody month since we wed and he hasn’t so much as touched me on the chin.” Rosalyn morosely took a sip of tea, then placed the cup on the table.
“What did you say to him?”
Fen’s voice was accusatory, and Rosalyn bristled. “Are you saying this is my fault?”
“Yes,” Fenella said without hesitation. “You must have said something, or he wouldn’t have backed away.”
Rosalyn exhaled sharply, recalling the exchange the night after their wedding. “Well, I did tell him we would not share a bedroom.”
Fen glared at her. “Why on earth would you tell him that?”
“Because he came into my bedroom like he belonged there. He didn’t even have the decency to knock first.”
“God, but you’re a stubborn woman, Roz. You’re your own worst enemy, I swear.”
Rosalyn broke a honey cake in two, biting into one of the halves. “I just didn’t want him to think he could do whatever he pleased.”
“Good lord, Roz. He’s toying with you, love. You set the rules, and he’s playing by them, knowing that eventually you’ll give in. I would bet you a bottle of good champagne that he’s doing this intentionally, reveling in the fact that he’s making you squirm.”
Rosalyn thought about their conversation regarding the mare. “I do believe you might be right, Fen.”
“Of course I’m right.”
“But, what shall I do about it?”
“If it were me, I would crawl into his bed and surprise him. And I wouldn’t have a stitch of clothing on.”
Rosalyn, desperate during the past week, had even thought of that, but she hadn’t done it. “Oh, Fen, I don’t know.”
“It’s probably what he’s waiting for you to do. He’s tasted your wares, Roz, and he wants them again. No red-blooded male alive could resist that, and he’s certainly a red-blooded male, your savage.”
Rosalyn chewed on her thumbnail. “I just don’t know if I could do it.”
“Take a drink to fortify yourself, then. What harm could it do?”
“Nay, that’s your medicine, not mine. Remember, when I drink I get sleepy and intimacy is the furthest thing from my mind.”
“Aye, that might be so, but things can’t go on this way—you know that as well as I.”
She had to do something; she was actually getting desperate.
• • •
Geddes carefully packed a satchel. God, he hated lying! But he wanted the duke and Rosalyn to have some time alone, some time to get to know one another without the anticipation of the children’s arrival. And they would be here soon enough. That was his mission. He was going to collect them himself.
There was a soft knock on the door.
“Enter.”
Rosalyn opened the door and stepped into the room. “Where are you going?”
He fussed with the clothing in his wardrobe so he wouldn’t have to look at her. She always knew when he was lying. “I have some of the duke’s business in Edinburgh. I’ll be back in a few weeks.”
“Is he going with you?”
He turned from the wardrobe at the hint of concern in her voice. Her face was carefully masked, but he knew her, too. She was worried. “It isn’t necessary. I didn’t think it was a good time to tear him away from here.”
Her gaze dropped to the floor. “Because of me.”
“Rosalyn, you need some time alone with him. I haven’t seen the two of you together other than at meals, and frankly, I’m beginning to worry.”
She picked at her apron. “He hasn’t come to me, brother.”
Geddes knew this was a hard thing for her to admit. “Then perhaps it’s time you go to him.”
“That’s what Fen said, too.”
“Good God, Rosalyn, is there nothing you don’t discuss with that woman?”
Rosalyn met his gaze, hers resolute. “No. She’s my friend and I trust her with my life.”
He crossed to where she stood and lifted her chin. “Whatever you think the duke is, he’s a fine man. Aye, he has a lot to learn, but he is intelligent and, above all, he is fair. You will not believe what he has asked me to do.”
Her eyes were wide, eager. “What?”
“He learned that the poor crofters pay him rent for their pitiful plots of land and has told me to stop collecting them.”
Rosalyn’s face expressed shock and surprise. “Can he do that?”
“Of course, he can do whatever he wishes. It’s a most generous idea, but the more I think about it, the more I feel we should come to a compromise. Simply giving them the land seems irresponsible. I believe they should pay something, perhaps just a pittance.”
“Aye,” she said. “They are poor, but they are also proud. Will you explain this to him?”
“Perhaps you can.” He lifted an eyebrow. “It will give you an excuse to go to him.”
She opened her mouth as if to argue, but instead said, “I wonder what brought him to that decision.”
“It undoubtedly goes back to his roots. He’s quite aware of how it is to live in poverty. I assume the thought of him having so much and the crofters having so little appalled him.”
She moved toward the door. “It will be quiet around here without you.”
“All the better. When I return, I will expect things to have changed between you, Rosalyn. Don’t disappoint me.”
She bristled slightly. “Remember, what you expect takes two—I cannot do it alone.”
“Then do something about it.” He picked up his satchel and followed her out into the hall. He left her, went outside, and called for his gig. He needed to let someone know his mission, and since he didn’t want to tell either Rosalyn or the duke, he took the worn path to Fenella Begley’s cottage. Oddly, his heart beat fast in anticipation of seeing her again. Her remark about someone else’s blood on her uniform the day she was married gave him pause, and he’d thought of her frequently.