Devon’s spirits began to climb once again. So Kat Macdonald was the result of an illicit affair. Perhaps she was yet a good candidate for a dalliance after all. As long, of course, as Malcolm didn’t mind. Devon didn’t know what Malcolm’s feelings about his half sister were, but judging from the mirth he’d thus far displayed…well, things weren’t as grim as Devon had thought. “Tell me about this half sister of yours…Katherine.”

“You’ll call her Kat lest you are fond of bruised shins. She dislikes the name Katherine and has never used it.”

Kat it was, then. “Did you grow up with her?”

“In the same house? Lord no. My mother couldn’t stand the sight of her. My father asked and asked to have her live here, but my mother was not a forgiving sort of woman. Eventually he quit asking and instead had a snug little cottage built in the woods near here for Kat and her mum. Kat lives there now.”

Devon lifted his brow. “But she has a room here, in the castle.”

“Indeed she does. She oft comes for dinner and stays the night. I had the room made up for her after I came into the title. My mother had a fit, but I thought it was only right.”

“Your mother sounds like quite an opinionated woman.”

Malcolm made a face. “You don’t know the half of it. At first she flatly refused to have anything to do with Kat, even though it was painfully obvious that the girl needed some guidance. Eventually, I was able to talk sense into my mother.”

“After your father died, I’m sure some of her hard feelings must have dissolved.”

“In a strange way, it only made it worse. I think Mother blamed Kat’s mum for the problems in the marriage even though they were in existence long before she came along.”

“How awkward.”

“For me, it was difficult.” Malcolm’s expression sobered. “For Kat, it was painful. But I brought my mother round eventually. I told her that if she wished to continue living in the Strathmore Dower House in Edinburgh, she’d make Kat welcome and present her to society.”

“So Kat is a society miss.”

Something flickered across Malcolm’s face, but was quickly suppressed. “Hardly. Kat didn’t…” The Scotsman hesitated, then shrugged. “She didn’t take.”

There was something more to that story, Devon was sure of it. Still, it seemed equally obvious that Malcolm did not want to tell him.

Of course, it was entirely possible that Kat had not been accepted based on the circumstances of her birth. That and she was far too bold, too bright to be welcomed into the tepidness offered by society. Small, prim-mouthed beauties were lauded by the ton, not tall, strong women who possessed enough red gold loveliness to make even a soggy morning appear fresh and intriguing.