I shook my head and smiled. ‘We’re not fighting. We’re too smart for that.’

The Foinse spun down from a nearby window, nuzzling into Sorley’s belly. There was another, much happier, squeak.

Brochan raised his eyebrows. ‘I wouldn’t count on that.’

***

Taylor and I set off at first light, heading north again, although this time we were heading for the small MacQuarrie Clan Lands near the east coast. This wasn’t going to be a particularly dangerous venture and my old mentor’s presence effectively killed two birds with one stone. Because of Taylor’s age or gender, Tipsania was more likely to listen to him than she was to me ‒ and she’d probably require some persuading to go along with Byron’s fake wedding plans. Plus, Taylor’s presence appeased the others. Speck, in particular, seemed to think that as soon as I was let loose in the wild blue yonder I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from running full pelt back to Byron and conceding my wits, personality and independence to him with one simple kiss. Given his relationship with Lexie, he ought to have known better.

I’d made a half-hearted attempt to get Bob to come along with us but he’d huffed so much about being dragged away from his latest boxset, not to mention about being left to wait around in the dark while I had ‘thrilling, dangerous sex’ – his words, not mine – that in the end I left him behind. I wasn’t going to be gone long and I certainly had no intention of using up that last wish, no matter how often he dropped it into the conversation. It was rather nice to get some time alone with Taylor. I’d missed our chats. All in all, things seemed to be looking up.

Not long after we hit the main road, when I finally managed to get a signal on my phone, I rang Morna. ‘How’s it going?’

‘Well, dear,’ she answered, slightly caustic, ‘you spend time alone in close proximity with Tipsania Scrymgeour and you tell me how you think it’s going. I swear the MacQuarrie Chieftain almost took his father’s sword and lopped off her head the other night.’

I winced. ‘Is she being difficult?’

‘That girl won’t give me a moment’s peace. And every time I suggest to her that good manners are a boon, she spits fire.’

‘Uh…’

‘Things are fine. We’ve relocated away from the main castle and we’re in a cottage near the border. I’m working on placating the MacQuarries, too.’

I took a deep breath. ‘That’s good of you but you don’t have to worry about it now. I’m on my way up. It’s kind of complicated but I’m going to take Tipsania back to her father. You won’t have to worry about her for more than another hour or two.’

There was a pause. ‘Could you perhaps make it three or four hours? She’s cleaning the cottage and I’d hate to pull her away from that. If she keeps it up then at least the MacQuarries will get something out of all this besides my flowers.’