The old man’s wrinkled lips pursed thoughtfully. “I think…I’m fairly certain Her Ladyship didn’t say anything else.”

Malcolm threw his napkin on the table, disgust in his voice. “You are fairly certain? You believe she didn’t have anything more to say?”

The footman nodded, seeming rather pleased with himself. “I usually forget something if I’m told more than one thing, but this time, I remembered it all.” His smile faded. “I think.”

“Thank you, Ketron,” Malcolm said tiredly. “I’ll see Lady Strathmore myself as soon as I’m through here.”

“Yes, my lord.” Still looking pleased, the elderly man turned slowly, then shuffled out of the room.

The second the door closed, Malcolm flashed a look at Devon. “Do you see what I’m saddled with? Do you see?”

Devon chuckled. “You need new servants.”

“I had new servants. Well-trained servants. Excellent servants. But they all left because Fiona—” He broke off, his face red. “I suppose there is no hiding that things are not as they should be. We were doing well, Fiona and I. But then, six months ago, we had an argument about Kat, of all things.”

“Kat?” Devon raised his brows.

“I dislike Fiona’s sister, Murien, and I made a disparaging comment. I didn’t mean it, though if you ever meet Murien, you’ll know why I said what I did. She’s a beautiful woman on the outside, but she has ambition beyond what is acceptable.”

Devon would take care that he didn’t meet Murien. She sounded exactly like the sort of woman he wanted to avoid.

Malcolm shook his head. “So Fiona took offense and said that at least her sister hadn’t ruined herself like Kat had by running off with a—” He stopped and his face pinkened. “Never mind. You don’t need to hear our family problems.”

Ah ha! Devon was intrigued and wished to hear more, though all he said was, “All families have problems.” And they did. For example, his family had a horrid curse of a ring to contend with. Which was why, in a way, it was fortuitous to confirm his suspicions that lovely, impulsive, passionate Kat Macdonald was a ruined woman. Ruined women could not demand marriage if a dalliance became something more. Of course, Devon had no intention of going anywhere he wasn’t invited; he wasn’t a man to take anything that wasn’t freely offered. But the passion behind Kat’s kiss made him believe that there was the potential for that something more.

He stole a glance at Malcolm. His friend’s usually joyful expression was somber now. He sat silently staring at his half-finished plate, his shoulders slumped. He caught Devon’s gaze and managed a painful smile. “I apologize for my wife’s absence.”