“Och now,” Kat said softly, her voice gently chiding. “I reminded her of a time between herself and her husband that she wished gone. I cannot blame her for that.”

“I suppose not,” he said, unconvinced. “Did you like living at Kilkairn?”

“No. For so long, I had been on the outside of the castle. I thought being on the inside would be magical. But it wasn’t. I felt lost, and I think Malcolm sensed that. He decided I needed more companionship, that I should be ‘launched’ on society as if I belonged.”

“As if?”

“I was illegitimate, and everyone knew it. I had no money other than the dowry Malcolm was willing to settle on me. And—” She shrugged. “I am not a beauty. I never have been. But Malcolm was determined that I go. He coerced his mother to sponsor me, and for once she and I were in agreement; I didn’t want to go any more than she wanted to take me. But Malcolm won the day and we went.”

“It sounds as if the conditions were perfect for a disaster.”

“It was horrid. And it got worse before it was over. I believe Lady Strathmore was sincere in her attempts to dress me well and show me about, but I did not take.”

“I am sorry.”

“So am I. Every event was painful and punishing. And the clothes she chose…now that I know more about color and texture, I can see her mistakes and mine.”

Devon shook his head. “Men have it so much easier.”

“Indeed they do. By the second week of arriving in Edinburgh, I was miserable. Meanwhile, Malcolm had met Fiona and he was gone a good deal, wooing her. I was left with Lady Strathmore and that…that was when I met Stephen.”

“A rakehell of the first water, I take it.”

“Worse. A rakehell of the worst water. He was unacceptable in almost every household, a fact I thought grossly unfair.”

“Ah, words of the young.”

“Words of the foolish. He was glib, and he spoke to me.” A faint color touched her cheeks. “I’m afraid that was all it took. I eventually thought I was in love and I agreed…I-I absconded with him.”

“You eloped?”

“So I thought. But apparently even that was too much for Stephen. It turned out later than he never intended to marry me, but merely wished to cause a scandal so that Malcolm would be forced to buy his silence.” Her cheeks were deep pink.

Devon had to swallow a bitter lump of anger for the long-absent Stephen before he could speak. “We all make mistakes.”

“Most people do not embarrass their entire family with their errors,” she replied sharply. “I was foolish enough to let practiced words muddle my thinking.”

“Which is why you wish to think rather than feel. You believe it will keep you from making a similar error.”