Fiona gave a sigh of relief. Once she and Malcolm settled this one argument, their relationship could go back to the way it had been when they’d first gotten married. She knew that once she got to Edinburgh, she would be merry again, and then so would Malcolm. “Thank you, Murien! I knew I could count on you.”

Murien smoothed her hands over the front of her dress, pressing her breasts up, her eyes gleaming softly. “Indeed you may, Fiona. You will win this wager. Devon St. John won’t know what has befallen him.”

Chapter 7

I love you. I really, really love you. Like the stars in the sky, like the water in the oceans. You, my dear, are everything to me and there will never be another.

Mr. Poole to Lady Lucinda Sutherlund, while stealing a kiss beneath the stars on the veranda at the Sutherlund rout

“Ye’re sure ye’re feeling well?”

Kat turned from where she’d been supervising the loading of the cart. They’d finished the earl’s final window late last night and had spent the morning grinding off the uneven edges and cleaning the glass until it gleamed. Now all the windows were safely packed in frames and were ready for delivery. “I’m fine, Simon. I’m fine now. And I was fine five minutes ago when you asked me then.”

He reddened. “Sorry aboot that, Miss Kat. I was just wonderin’—” He clamped his mouth closed. “Never mind.”

She waved good-bye to Alistair and Donald, who dutifully waved back. Alistair was, as usual, grinning from ear to ear, while Donald, ever the soothsayer of doom, was muttering about the bad roads ahead and how his left knee told him they were in for a fierce storm.

Kat waited until they were well down the path before she turned to Simon. “I’m ready now. You may begin.”

“Begin what?”

“Whatever it is that has been worrying you all day. Out with it before you explode.”

“Nothing’s worrying me, Miss Kat. I was jus’ wonderin’—” He scratched his neck. “’Tis not my place to say anything, but from what I’ve heard aboot the Sassenach, you’d best have a care.”

“Have a care about what? I’ve only spoken to him once.” That Simon knew about. Kat didn’t see the need to inform him of the other time as it would just raise unnecessary questions. Questions she wasn’t sure she could answer.

“I know, missus. But he seemed a wee bit determined to take you for a ride when he was here a few days ago. I’d thought he’d be back by now.” Simon’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him.”

“Well, I said no, didn’t I? So you have nothing to fear.”

Simon looked at her.

“What?”

He raised his brows, his gaze fastening on her gown.