‘Damn right I am. What else would I be? I’m all alone since Nettie escorted poor Thom home. I wanted to be awake in case you turned up, so made that bottle —’ she jabbed the air with a finger, ‘keep me company.’ She swung away from him, her arms flailing momentarily. ‘I’ll get you a drink and we can celebrate my freedom together now you’re here.’ She found a quaich, sniffed it, peered inside and tipped what remained into a bowl. Finding a bottle of whisky that wasn’t drained, she poured. Most of it went into the cup.

‘Here,’ she said, thrusting it towards him, licking the back of her hand as a wave of liquid splashed over the rim.

Aidan took it.

‘Now, sit, sit. Drink. Tell me why your connel —’ she giggled, ‘colo-nel wanted to see you.’

Putting down the cup carefully without touching the contents, Aidan took Sorcha’s hands. ‘That’s exactly what I’ve come to do.’

There was something in his tone, in the gentle way he held her hands, that made Sorcha’s heart beat faster. The sensible part of her began to work against the treacle in her mind. Why was Aidan in dress uniform? Why was it dry when his coat was so wet? Where was Liath?

She glanced over his shoulder, but could see nothing of his horse in the darkness outside.

Propelled to a chair, Sorcha waited while Aidan brushed the crumbs from it before she sat. He knelt beside her. Pushing her hair from her forehead, he gave a sad smile. ‘I’m afraid, Sorcha, I’ve some news.’

‘You’re not here to tell me Edinburgh want to lock me up now, are you?’ She folded her arms and pouted.

‘Nae.’ He smiled softly and found her hands again, unfolding her arms. ‘Nothing like that. I’m here to tell you I’ve been posted.’

‘Posted? Like a parcel?’ Sorcha heard the word and refused it. The sister of a soldier, she knew damn well what ‘posted’ meant.

Aidan didn’t answer, but tilted his head and ran his thumb over her lips. She shivered.

Sober now, the clouds of whisky and thick memory swiftly thinning, she kissed his thumb then covered the hand that cupped one side of her face with her own. ‘Where?’ Her heart was so loud in her ears, she felt sure he must be able to hear it.

‘I’m to join the Duke of Marlborough’s forces in Bavaria.’

‘Bavaria?’ Sorcha felt as if she’d been punched in the stomach. It was hard to breathe. ‘When?’ she whispered.

Aidan tried to take her in his arms, but she resisted. ‘When? Tell me.’

‘At dawn. We sail with the tide.’