Sister of Rogues by Cynthia Breeding

Author:Cynthia Breeding
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Rogue;Highland;Regency;Scotland;Ireland;Irish;Scottish
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Published: 2015-02-17T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Fontaine and Algernon were already seated at one of the corner tables, snifters of cognac in front of them. Trust the French to drink brandy when there was fine Jameson whiskey to be had or a pint of Guinness.

Kier and Finley drew up chairs while the bartender brought their drams around. Kier noted that Fontaine had his back to the wall, as he had the last time they met, and that his eyes seemed to rove the room as though looking for someone…or maybe something, like trouble.

Trouble they didn’t need. Funding for the cause—or contacts that could provide funding—they did. Still, he wondered once more what had brought Fontaine to Ireland.

“How is business going for you?” Kier asked.

“Quite well. I received my first shipment of cognac from La Havre just two days ago,” Fontaine answered as he held up his glass. “I dare say it will be better than this.”

“We might be havin’ to put your bottle against one of our fine whiskeys then,” Finley said, lifting one brow in mock challenge.

Algernon gave the shot glass Finley held a dismissive look. “Nothing compares to a good French cognac.”

Spoken like the dandy he was. Kier hid his dislike for the man, reminding himself the French often acted arrogant, but truth be told, Kier had little respect for men who dallied with married women. Then he noticed Fontaine watching him and forced a smile. “Whiskey is an acquired taste.”

“And a worthy one,” Fontaine intervened smoothly. “Perhaps I should look into exporting whiskey along with wool.”

Algeron started to retort but then snapped his mouth closed as Fontaine gave him a cool look.

Kier noticed the exchange with interest. Apparently, Fontaine was in charge, but were the men more than business partners? It seemed strange that an artist would also be a merchant, but then wars took tolls on every country’s economy. “Have you contracted with someone for the wool?”

“I am working on that,” Fontaine replied. “The market in France is open to fine wool, especially this time of year. I want to be able to offer the best price I can to your sheep breeders and still make a profit of course.” He shifted the conversation subtly. “The French investors for woolens would also have an interest in securing Ireland’s independence since that would keep export taxes down.”

At least the man knew his business. The Irish had chafed under high export taxes England imposed on them, while English goods coming to Ireland bore none of that burden. The tax situation was just another way to ensure Ireland remained poor and under English control.

Kier could understand the impatience of some of his countrymen to wrest themselves free. His ancestral Viking blood stirred at times as well, but the age of berserkers was long over. Daniel O’Connell had the right of it—the path to freedom was in reestablishing the Irish Parliament, or at least seats in London. That would come through negotiation, not the use of swords, but they still needed funding.

“That is good news,” Finley said amiably while signaling for the barkeep to bring everyone another round.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.