“It shouldn’t. But you’re right, it could help.” She smiled. “I guess perhaps I’ll forgive you for keeping MacDuff amused all morning.” She added thoughtfully, “But don’t be too sure that MacDuff was fooled. I’ve been in that dungeon, and he knows it’s possible to get out. He might have known you were playing him. He’s very sharp.”

He nodded. “There was always that possibility. However, I think there’s a decent chance that he was. If he wasn’t, then he was in a mood to let me play a game that he also enjoyed. At any rate, even though I’d won the bet he took me back to the castle for a brandy and we parted on good terms. That’s not bad.” He asked curiously, “You were in that dungeon?”

She shrugged. “I couldn’t resist. My father, Joe, is a detective and an expert in any number of restraint techniques from handcuffs to safes. He spent a summer when I was a teenager teaching me. It was great fun.”

“And so was showing up MacDuff when you came here?”

“We were friends, he was glad that I’d been taught a skill. It wasn’t a game between us. I wouldn’t have tried to show him up. But never underestimate him.”

“I won’t. I’m glad you warned me.” He gazed at the pile of volumes on the floor beside Jane. “You found more Fiona journals?”

She shook her head. “Historical books from MacDuff’s library. I went over most of them in my room last night, but I wanted to compare the contents with entries from Fiona’s diaries and journals. These are very good. They go back to the time of Cira and her arrival in a very savage Gaul from Herculaneum.”

“Cira. I’ve heard you mention her before.”

“It doesn’t surprise me. Even after two thousand years she still seems to dominate the Highlands and the MacDuff family. She wasn’t only colorful, but also the protectress. She’s always fascinated me.”

“Interesting. Maybe I’ll glance through it.”

“Careful. Cira’s never light reading. But you might be amused by some of the stories about her legendary treasure troves. However, you’d probably do better to check the more modern allusions in this book.” She made a face. “Those include any known references to railroads in the area at the time Fiona MacDuff was living near MacDuff’s Run.”

“It doesn’t surprise me you’d latch onto those rail tracks. Did it sting a little?”