“Well, I can start with Fiona.” She took a step closer to the portrait. “That’s why I’ve decided not to make my presence here any more difficult than I have to for all of you. I’ll stay inside the castle for the most part instead of moving freely around the grounds.”

His brows rose. “No more Mist Child?”

“If I choose, I can finish the painting here inside the castle.” She smiled. “Or I can give the sketch to you for being so kind as to shelter me. But, as I said, I’ll be spending most of my time with your Fiona until I solve her puzzle. It will give me something to do if I need the distraction.” She glanced over her shoulder at him. “I’ll want to know more about her. Do you have any family literature about Fiona? If there’s such a mystery, there must have been some kind of historical data to document it.”

“There are a few books about her.” He made a face. “Actually, I have to admit that I haven’t been entirely honest about Fiona. I guess it’s time I cleared up the small discrepancies I might have made regarding her history. Come along to the library and we’ll talk and I’ll give the books to you. You may know more about her than you think. I’m sure I’ve mentioned her now and then. Fiona made her mark on this place. It was one of the reasons I could detect a resemblance between the two of you.” He smiled. “I’ll even give you a cup of tea while I tell you all that I personally know about her. She’s one of my favorite ancestresses, and I’ve been studying her in-depth since I thought I discovered the connection with you.”

“Which didn’t exist,” Jane said firmly.

“We’ll see.” His eyes were twinkling. “But now I’m at last getting to lure you into my parlor.” He waved his hand toward the hall. “Or in this case, my library. That’s true progress after all this time.”

*  *  *

“Only two books?” Jane gazed down at the two slim volumes on her lap that MacDuff had handed her. “You weren’t exaggerating. I thought she’d get a bit more attention from your august family.”

“August family?” MacDuff repeated. “You have to remember that the MacDuffs had fallen into hard times before Fiona appeared on the scene.” He paused. “Which happened about 1852.”

Jane was frowning. “No, that can’t be correct. The time span wouldn’t be right. I remember when you showed me her portrait that I was impressed by the story you told me about her marrying a MacGuire and having five children. You said two of them moved out of her house in the Lowlands to go to America in 1872.”

“You have an excellent memory.” His eyes were twinkling. “There’s only one problem with it.”