Margaret had lain in bed wide awake watching the sun come up, disturbed and confused by the emotions swirling around in her head, and making no progress. Less than twenty-four hours ago, she had arrived here, hoping to prove to herself that her feelings for Donald were a distant memory. Frowning deeply, she poured the last of her tea into the pretty cup painted with forget-me-nots. The moment she heard his voice, the moment their hands touched, their eyes met, she knew that her feelings were no figment of her imagination. There was no doubt in her mind: she still loved him, and not only as a friend. She wanted more from him than that.

Dear lord, M., what are you saying? More to the point, what are you imagining you might do about it?

Dumbfounded, she gazed into the dregs of her tea-cup, as if they would provide her with inspiration. She didn’t even know if Donald felt as she did. Was she too late? This was far too momentous a decision to do anything other than wait, consider things rationally. Yes, but if she did nothing, she might never get the chance again.

A soft tap at the door saved her from descending into complete panic.

“I came to tell you that Her Majesty has finally sent word of her plans,” Mama said, breezing into the room. “She is expected this afternoon, so there is no rush to dress, though if you are expecting to monopolise Lochiel for the rest of the morning, you are out of luck, for he has gone down to the pier to make sure his little boat is ship-shape for the royal party.”

QUEEN VICTORIA AND HER ENTOURAGE arrived in the late afternoon, and drove straight to the pier Donald had built at the head of Loch Arkaig. Margaret and the duchess, Camilla and Susan were waiting to greet them, decked out in the various forms of tartan that the queen seemed to expect everyone in the Highlands to wear no matter the weather or the occasion. While the other three ladies wore cotton and silk, Margaret’s gown, borrowed from Mary, was wool, which in the unseasonable heat of the early-autumn sun, made for uncomfortable wearing.