Of course he was right. Nanny positively beamed throughout the meal. I had sent word back to the castle that I wouldn’t be joining the family for dinner, then I’d changed out of my trousers into a simple silk dress. At least I thought it was a simple silk dress until I saw their faces.

“Blimey, this ain’t Buckingham Palace, you know,” Granddad said, looking at Nanny and laughing.

“We don’t usually dress for dinner in the cottages, but we’re very flattered that you’ve done so,” Nanny said. “At least I know I brought you up with good manners.”

“I only changed out of dirty old trousers,” I said. “And whatever you are cooking smells heavenly.”

I returned to the castle just as the last of the daylight was fading, feeling replete and content. I don’t think I had ever been in a room with two people who loved me before. As soon as I stepped into the front hall, Hamilton appeared. “Oh, my lady, you’ve just had a visitor. The Honorable Darcy O’Mara.”

“Where is he?” I looked around expecting him to emerge from the shadows.

“He left again. We told him that you were dining out and he said that he couldn’t stay.”

“How long ago was this?” I asked.

“About half an hour, my lady.”

I thanked him as patiently as I could, kicking myself for not mentioning that I was dining at the cottage with Nanny. Then I ran back out into the night. I realized I had little hope of catching him, but I roused the chauffeur and had him bring out the estate car for me. Then I drove into the night.

“This is ridiculous,” I said to myself. “I shouldn’t be chasing a man. Besides, he’ll be back at the house across the loch by now.”

Then, just as I reached the loch, I spotted someone going down to the jetty. I parked the car and jumped out.

“Darcy?” I called.

My voice echoed back from the hills, unnaturally loud in the evening stillness. He started at the sound of his name, then came toward me, a big smile on his face.

“They said you’d gone out. Were they just keeping me away because I didn’t look suitable? I had to mention that I was the son of a peer to stop your butler from looking down his nose at me.”

I laughed. “Yes, he can be awfully snooty at times. I was having supper with my old nanny and my grandfather in one of the cottages.”

We stood there, looking at each other.

“What are you doing on the dock?” I asked.

“I have no car and I couldn’t seem to borrow one tonight. So I rowed across and then walked.”

“That’s a long walk.”

“I just wanted to make sure you were all right.”

“I’m very well, thank you.”