“Or perhaps not.” MacDuff looked suddenly thoughtful as he stared at her expression. “I’ve never seen you quite this on edge and driven. You’re usually very cool. Look, I realize you have reason, but is there something I can do?”

So much for trying to act normal around MacDuff. He knew her too well. “No, I’m tired of worrying about Caleb. I’m being a bother to you and all your employees here at the Run. I feel guilty and I want it to stop.” She held up her hand as he opened his lips to speak. “But it’s nothing I can’t handle. I’ll just keep busy working on Fiona. It will at least give me something to do. Now can we sit down and have dinner?”

“I’m not allowed to offer comfort or discussion?”

She shook her head. “You’re doing too much already. Just ignore me until everything miraculously straightens itself out or I get Caleb back. Okay?”

He sighed. “I imagine that means I can’t indulge myself with attacking Caleb for the duration of your time with me?”

She nodded. “Absolutely not. Just ignore me.”

“If you insist, but you’re all that’s made these weeks interesting.” He was holding her chair for her. “As a reward I believe it’s only fair that you consider selling me the Mist Child…”

*  *  *

Railroad tracks…

Jane stopped just as she started to climb the staircase to her room after dinner. She’d believed she’d dismissed the thought of Rodland’s guesswork about Fiona and the code that was no code. She should have known that it would stay with her. She hated what an idiot she’d been not to know what seemed obvious to Rodland. It was the second mistake she’d made about Fiona.

Railroad tracks.

That didn’t mean she had to make any more mistakes. She whirled on the stairs and ran back down. Not when MacDuff had a library overflowing with ancient books about the property and all of Scotland itself. Fiona might even have been exposed to some of those books at one time or another. Or not. That didn’t mean Jane couldn’t explore and learn and find out if there was anything in them that could help her unveil a little of the mystery that was Fiona.

God knows, she doubted if she was going to be able to sleep tonight.

Not when she had no idea what was waiting for her tomorrow at Kilgoray.

*  *  *