Donald smothered a laugh. “The man’s intentions are honourable, and you have spurned him in the most public manner possible. Whichever way you look at it, he did not deserve that. What’s more, he was not the only injured party. What about your parents? Your running off as you did was a poor show, I’m afraid.”

Lady Margaret’s lip wobbled, but no tears followed. “You are quite right, a very poor show indeed. I’ve been blaming Mama and Papa for not listening to my objections, and I’ve been blaming Lord Rufus for taking advantage, but they are all simply following the rules of the game, aren’t they?”

“I wouldn’t call marriage a game, exactly, but if you mean they are doing what they believe is expected, and for the best, too, then yes.”

“If you are right, and I cannot deny that you most probably are, then I owe my parents a huge apology.” Lady Margaret sighed wearily. “And Killin, too. Though just because you’re right, Lochiel,” she added with a touch of defiance, “doesn’t mean that I am entirely wrong. I may have gone about it ineptly, but I don’t regret the fact that I have finally acted on what my instincts told me from the first. The match would make both of us miserable. Killin will now be free to look elsewhere for a bride.”

Donald was not so sure. In his opinion, the Earl of Killin was far too ambitious to allow his pride to let the opportunity slip from his grasp. He was spared the tricky decision of whether or not to say so by the dismay on Lady Margaret’s face as she saw the long line of carriages outside Montagu House.

“Your father must have put an early end to the festivities.” He ushered her into the shadow of Admiralty House. “You can’t go back through the main entrance, that’s for sure.”

“What do you think he’ll have told people?”

“Most likely that you have been taken ill. Overcome by the occasion or some such excuse.”

“He will be absolutely apoplectic.” Her eyes wide, she stood rooted to the spot as she stared at the queue of carriages. “Oh God, what have I done?”

The bravado she had displayed only a moment before was a façade and in danger of crumbling as Lady Margaret surveyed the ruins of her betrothal party. She was very naive but, by heavens, she had real spirit, too, no one could doubt that. “Come now,” Donald encouraged, “your parents will be so relieved to find you unharmed, they will forget to be angry.”