Free Trade Winds (Choc Lit) by Christina Courtenay Page B

some strange noises, but one or two of the words seemed familiar.
    ‘I’ll have to learn to speak Swedish,’ he told Craig. ‘It shouldn’t be that difficult. I managed to learn French and Latin after all, and Latin’s the very devil to get the hang of.’
    ‘Swedish is easy, so they say, but then I’ve never tried more than a few words, Mr Kinross. Good luck to you, I say,’ Craig laughed.
    Killian wasn’t sure if luck was what he needed, but thanked the captain all the same.
    Walking into the taproom some time later, Killian was astonished to hear Scots-accented English spoken almost all around him. Captain Craig was seated in a corner and beckoned him over.
    ‘There you are, Mr Kinross. Come and meet some fellow countrymen. These kind gentlemen are buying the drinks.’
    ‘That is indeed very hospitable.’ Killian joined them at their table and introductions were made.
    There were two young men, James McEvoy and Graham Frazer, who worked as assistants to Scottish merchants. One was dark-haired and swarthy, the other fair and fresh-faced, but both looked like they enjoyed life to the full and had no particular cares at the moment. The fourth person at the table was an old sea captain. His name was Muir and apparently he had known Craig for many years. They soon had Killian provided with a large tankard of ale and a heaped plate of food, which gave off an appetizing aroma.
    ‘Plain fare,’ Muir said, ‘but plenty of it and well cooked, to my mind. Though Murdoch’s wife can oblige with Scottish victuals if you prefer?’
    ‘No, no, this is fine, thank you.’
    Killian had to agree that the food was plain, but although he’d been served only mashed turnips and salted, fried pork with onion gravy, he found nothing to complain about. He’d never been fond of fancy food and preferred to eat anything that kept hunger at bay for as long as possible. During the past three years there had been quite a few occasions when he hadn’t been able to afford to eat, so he was always grateful when he could.
    ‘So you’re learning to become merchants?’ Killian said to the two younger men. ‘That’s what I’m hoping to do. Eventually I’d like to set up in business for myself, but I need to learn the ropes.’
    ‘You’ve come to the right place then,’ McEvoy smiled. ‘But be prepared to work like a slave, isn’t that right, Frazer?’ His companion nodded in full agreement and rolled his eyes.
    ‘And how! Never a moment’s peace, but at least it’s not dull and at the end of the day, there’s always convivial company to be had here at Vita Hjorten .’
    ‘Glad to hear it.’ Killian had expected to have to work hard, so the two men’s warnings didn’t faze him. It was good to know he wouldn’t have to spend his evenings alone once Captain Craig had left for Edinburgh.
    During the conversation, Killian looked around him and noticed that the inn was very sparsely furnished, with the bare minimum of tables and benches. There was no decoration to speak of, simply bare wooden walls. However, the large fireplace, very broad at the bottom and tapering up to a thin point near the ceiling, gave out plenty of heat and added cheer to the otherwise stark room.
    ‘Fancy a game of dice?’ McEvoy asked hopefully. ‘No one will play with me this week as I have the devil’s own luck.’
    Killian hesitated for a fraction. He really did want to put his old life behind him. On the other hand, if he was to set up in business he would need all the funds he could get. Unless Lady Luck had deserted him for the young man sitting opposite, here was a way of acquiring additional capital. To refuse would seem churlish and if he wanted to make friends in this foreign country, he couldn’t afford to offend anyone. To clinch the matter, he promised himself he would stop before he either lost too much or fleeced his companions.
    He smiled. ‘That sounds like a challenge I can’t refuse.’
     

    Chapter Eight
    Robert was