YOUR FATHER IS MOST PUT-OUT to be marooned in London, and concerned Her Majesty will take offence at his absence,” the duchess said. “But since the queen only informed Lochiel yesterday that she planned to call on him tomorrow, she cannot possibly imagine he will have been able to conjure a significant welcoming party at such short notice.”

Or that the party would include me, Margaret thought, gazing out at the view as the train puffed towards their destination after a somewhat complicated journey into the Highlands. Though Donald would know by now that she was coming, for Mama had sent a telegram. When she had proposed that Margaret deputise for the duke, it had seemed like an excellent opportunity for her to lay the ghosts of their past, but the closer she got to their destination, the more she wondered if she was ready for this encounter.

Her mother knew nothing of their friendship and would have been astounded if she knew how close it had come to marriage. Margaret had consciously refrained from asking any questions, anxious not to arouse her suspicions. Was Donald looking forward to seeing her? After all this time, he was most likely indifferent, especially if he was happily married, which she truly hoped he was. She hoped he loved his Helen, and was loved in return, and that when she saw them together it would put paid to any of her own residual feelings for him, once and for all. She had to knock him off the pedestal she had created for him and clear the way for the possibility of finding love herself, a possibility she finally felt ready to consider. She didn’t want to spend the rest of her life alone. But first she had to prove to herself that Donald was not an obstacle to her future happiness.

“You are eerily quiet,” Mama said, as the train began to slow for the approach to the station.

Roused from her reverie, Margaret smiled apologetically. “The view is so beautiful, I was quite distracted,” she said, which was partially true. “I wonder what my father’s reaction will be when he discovers that I have taken his place?”

“He is in no position to object,” the duchess said dryly. “Besides, I am sure the queen will be very pleased to see you again. The royal party are to drive from Inverlochy Castle tomorrow, where they are on a little sketching holiday. Poor Lochiel has no idea when they will arrive or for how long they plan to stay. You know how it is with Her Majesty when she is in Scotland. She will say that she wishes the call to be quite informal with no ceremony, and has no notion of the amount of preparation it takes to receive her, informally or otherwise. Thank heavens I had a decent plaid gown to bring with me.”

“And thank heavens that Mary’s tartan dress fitted me.”