The maid dipped a curtsy and left while Moira curled her hands about the arms of her chair in frustration. He left me a letter? Why in hell didn’t he just wake me up and tell me he was leaving? But she knew the answer: she would have argued and he didn’t wish to hear her objections. The coward!

Lady Anne sighed. “I can see you’re upset, and no wonder. Men can be so impatient.”

“What time did he leave?”

“Early this morning. I’m surprised I didn’t hear his coach being brought around, for my bedchamber is right off the main courtyard and I’m a notoriously light sleeper. If he hadn’t left a note we would never have known he was gone until breakfast.”

“He can be very impulsive.” And arrogant, and a great pain in the ass, too.

Lady Anne must have noticed that Moira’s teeth were clenched, for the older lady looked uneasy. “He said he wouldn’t be long—just a week or a little more.”

“Ha! With the roads the way they are? He’s mad.”

“Oh, dear.” Lady Anne fidgeted with the brocade trim on one of her sleeves. “I do hope—”

Firtha returned and handed a neatly addressed note to Moira.

She ripped it open.

Moira,

I’m off to fetch the onyx box. I’ll return as soon as possible and we’ll make plans to retrieve Rowena. Rest easy; come what may, I shall not allow Ross to keep the artifact. Aniston’s fate, too, is sealed, though he does not know it.

I know you would have preferred to travel along for this adventure, but I work better on my own. In the meantime, stay with the squire and his wife. I shall bring another coach with me for our return to Edinburgh.

Yours,

Hurst

Moira refolded the letter, resisting the unladylike temptation to wad it into a ball and stomp it into flatness.

Lady Anne cleared her throat. “I hope the letter explains everything to your satisfaction.”

Moira tucked the note into the pocket of her gown and managed to say fairly calmly, “Hurst has continued on our journey and will see about hiring another coach, since we lost one of ours.”

“Ah. I suppose that explains why he took all of the horses with him.”

Moira’s teacup was halfway to her lips, but at that, she lowered it. “I’m sorry, did you say . . . he took all of the horses?”

“Yes. And all of the footmen and coachmen, too.” Lady Anne’s brow lowered. “I still can’t believe we didn’t hear them! That’s quite a retinue.”

Moira managed a smile, though it cost her dearly. Oh, the things she’d have to say to Robert the next time she saw him. She didn’t know exactly when that would be, but it would be far sooner than he thought.

“There, there,” Lady Anne said bracingly. “Don’t look so gloomy. You needn’t fear that you’ll languish here while waiting for your husband.” Lady Anne patted Moira’s hand, as if conferring a treat upon a child. “The squire and I are quite well thought of in the neighborhood, and we’re planning a quiet little dinner party for your amusement once you feel more the thing. We won’t have dancing—I fear that would tire you too much—just a nice, snug little dinner party and some music. Mrs. MacDunnon’s oldest daughter is coming. She recently returned from Rome, where she took singing lessons from La Cabrini!”