"How old is James," Egan asked.
"He be thirteen now and him with a fine job in the mills of Scotland, makin' his own pay and everything. But he'd never guess where we are. He'd never guess it in his wildest dreams."
*
The next afternoon, Amos Wells drove his wagon up the lane and stopped in front of Marblestone Mansion. He wound the reins around the wagon post, climbed down and was heading for the door, when the footmen came out to help unload the new furniture. Eager to have a look inside, Amos grabbed an end table and followed the footmen inside. He was impressed with the place, but he was looking for something more - Sassy.
"Mr. Wells," said Alistair. "Mr. MacGreagor wishes to see you in the study."
"Very well." He followed the butler into the study and shook hands with Hannish. "This is quite some place, Mr. MacGreagor."
"I thank you. You would not happen to have a mounted grizzly head you are willing to sell? My sister teases me about putting one on the wall in here."
"A bear head, no, I do not believe I do. I am not much of a hunter, you see, although there are bears in these woods."
"So I found out last year when we began to build." He reached into his drawer and pulled out a check. "I believe this is what we agreed upon."
"Is Leesil around?"
Hannish's smile faded. "Somewhere, I suppose. Is the check made out properly?"
Amos quickly glanced over it. "Oh, yes it is. Might I speak to Leesil for a moment?"
Hannish was about to ask what about, when he realized it was really none of his business. "Wait in the foyer and I shall try to find her."
Amos went to the foyer where he waited and waited, turning his straw hat round and round in his hands the whole time. He watched his furniture being taken to other rooms in the house and waited some more.
At last, Hannish came back. Leesil is in her room resting."
"Is she ill?" Amos Wells asked.
"Not that I have heard. Perhaps you might speak to her another time."
Amos was not pleased, but he put his hat on, nodded and went out the door. Not a second later, Sassy walked into the parlor with a feather duster in her hand. She lifted the lamp off an end table next to one of the chairs, ran her duster across the tabletop and set the lamp back down.
Hannish smiled and went back to his study.
A small package had come in the mail the day before and it still sat open on his table. Inside was the carefully wrapped figurine of a woman in a blue ball gown, the one he found marked in his catalogue. When questioned, McKenna claimed she had not asked for it, and the only other person with the courage to go into his study uninvited was Sassy. He wrapped it back up and put it back in the box.