Free Highland Storms by Christina Courtenay Page A

back – his first genuine smile for weeks – and agreed.
     
    Thinking back now to everything he’d seen at Rosyth, Brice had no regrets about the spying mission. It had been clear just by looking out of his window that the place had been mismanaged. He’d seen dilapidation everywhere, a garden overrun with bushes and weeds and a dovecote which didn’t seem to be in use. All the men had been lazing about and although he’d caught a glimpse of cattle in the pasture beyond the fields, there weren’t nearly as many as there ought to be.
    The women had been busy with the washing, but even from a distance he’d noticed the sheets they were hanging out were threadbare and patched. Children playing in the yard wore an odd assortment of clothes, as if they were hand-me-downs or remade from bigger garments. And the women themselves had on faded skirts and shawls with holes in.
    It seemed as if Killian’s worst fears were realised.
    ‘ Time for a change,’ Brice muttered. ‘I’d say some people need a wake-up call and no mistake.’ He smiled again at the prospect and nudged Starke into a canter. ‘Come on, my friend, we have work to do.’
     
    Brice rode into the courtyard of Rosyth House almost exactly two weeks after he’d left it, but this time he wasn’t alone. Two so-called kellachs followed in his wake, laden with all manner of goods. They were primitive carts with solid wheels, well suited to use on the rough Highland tracks, but they weren’t able to take very heavy loads so Brice had also brought six garrons carrying as much as they could. A small herd of black cattle, twenty goats and some sheep came next, driven by two youths he’d hired for the purpose. It was a slow procession and therefore he wasn’t surprised to find Seton and what seemed like most of the house’s inhabitants waiting for him. There would have been ample time for one of the villagers to run over and alert them to his arrival.
    He came to a halt directly in front of the scowling man and smiled. ‘Good morning, Mr Seton. I trust I find you well?’
    The man’s frown deepened and Brice imagined that if Seton had been a dog, his hackles would have been well and truly up by now. ‘You’re out travelling again? Or did you forget something?’ Seton said, none too graciously, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of the cavalcade entering the courtyard in Brice’s wake.
    ‘ Yes, as a matter of fact I did.’ Brice widened his smile. ‘I completely forgot to tell you I’m the new Lord Rosyth.’ He dismounted with a graceful jump and landed only inches in front of Seton. ‘Brice Aaron Kinross is my name. I believe my father might have mentioned me in his letters?’
    At least twenty pairs of eyes were fixed on them and Brice could almost feel the weight of those stares as something tangible. There was a susurration of surprise from the onlookers, but he ignored everyone else and kept his gaze trained on Seton. He knew very well the others would take their cue from the factor, as they had on his previous visit.
    Seton had stilled upon hearing his announcement, his mouth falling open a fraction. He stood as if paralysed by lightning for a long moment. When Brice continued to stare into the man’s eyes without wavering to show that he was serious, Seton finally drew in a long breath and blinked. ‘You have proof of this, I take it?’ he said, his voice not quite steady. ‘I’m sure you don’t expect me to accept such a claim otherwise.’
    Brice nodded. ‘Of course.’ He’d come prepared and reached into his saddle-bags to retrieve the documents Rory had procured for him. ‘Here’s the legal documentation.’
    Seton took the papers reluctantly, as if he was afraid they’d burn him, and unrolled the official looking missives. And metaphorically speaking, they might well singe you , Brice thought to himself. Outwardly, he remained calm while the factor glanced at the first one. A long silence ensued, but Brice waited