Once Upon a Midnight Masquerade: Scot to the Heart #3 by Charles Jane

Author:Charles, Jane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Night Shift Publishing
Published: 2020-03-09T16:00:00+00:00

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Donovan had been told of the property by a gentleman at White’s the night before. The family wished to sell and offered Donovan the opportunity to visit today. He’d even sent word so that the servants knew to expect him. And, after the description of the house and the grounds, Donovan also knew that it was the perfect opportunity to get Lady Claresta away from her maid and have no fear of Lord Millard interrupting them again.

It was a stately manor that dated back to Elizabeth, but larger than he needed. However, if he were to marry and have children, the home would do quite well.

Marriage, a word that he’d not considered for himself since he was a lad of twenty and thought not to give much consideration to again for many more years. However, finding his Juliet and coming to know her had changed everything, and now Donovan looked to a future that might include her.

As she took the blanket from the curricle, Donovan lifted the basket and followed her to the embankment along the Thames and the two settled beneath a shade tree.

“It is a lovely home, with a lovely setting,” Lady Claresta offered.

“Aye, it is.” He lifted the wine from the basket as she pulled out the bread and cheese.

They were completely alone and even though the large manor was behind them, they were too far away to be heard, and the tree with its long limbs and full leaves shaded them from view. It was just as he’d hoped when he’d planned this outing.

“What of your home in Scotland, Mr. MacGregor? What is Bonnybridge like?”

Unbidden, he smiled. “Bonnybridge is a quaint village in a valley of the Bonny Water,” he answered. “A canal provides a link to ships wanting to cross the country between the River Clyde and River Forth.” Those were facts, not of interest to an English Lady. “Romans had settled there at one time,” he added. Though, that wasn’t of interest either, as Romans had settled in many places in England and Scotland.

“Are you able to ship the wool directly from your home?”

“Nay. We travel to Edinburgh or other ports to take the wool south.” There were too many excisemen in the area and the MacGregors had always feared that their cargo would be searched too close to home.

“Is your home within the village of Bonnybridge?” Then she frowned. “I suppose it could not be if you have enough sheep to ship large quantities of wool and you also mentioned grains. What types does your family farm?”

A lady couldn’t possibly be interested in farming practices, but as she asked, Donovan decided to answer. “Barley and oats, mainly.” As long as Lady Claresta wasn’t aware of how whisky was made, she’d not question the reason for their crops. “Much of that is shipped for animal feed,” he added, which wasn’t a lie either. Their wealth did not come from the feed, but they produced enough that it kept the excisemen from questioning the family, though they had their suspicions.

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