Mrs. Gowan didn’t speak. Margot didn’t care, really—she had said what she needed to say, and she smiled. No matter what happened with her and Arran, no matter what truths she discovered, she meant this sincerely. “Well, there you are. Good morning.”

“Morning, mu’um,” the daughter said, gazing at Margot with eyes wide with surprise.

Margot left the shop, the little bell tinkling behind her.

When she returned to the bailey, shooing chickens from her path, she happened to see Sir Worthing lurking about the main door. Margot had no idea what to make of her situation at the moment, but no matter what else, she knew she couldn’t navigate her way through her marriage with Sir Worthing and Mr. Pepper watching her every move.

She smiled as she approached him. “Good morning, sir.”

“Good morning, Lady Mackenzie,” he said, bowing low over his leg. “I trust you slept well?”

“Thank you, but I cannot properly express how well I slept, sir,” she said gaily. “Sir Worthing, might I have a word?”

“Of course. Shall we go inside?”

“Here will do,” she said. She preferred the bailey, where no one would overhear what she would say to him.

“By all means. Is something amiss?”

“Not at all.” She clasped her hands tightly before her. She wanted to phrase this perfectly, knowing that every word she said would be repeated to her father. “I think it is time that you and Mr. Pepper take your leave of Balhaire.”

“Oh?” His voice was as politely mannered as ever, but his eyes were instantly hard and cold. “May I ask the reason so that I might convey your feelings to your father?”

“I have no message for my father as of yet. It would seem that your presence here at Balhaire is hindering me somewhat in that regard—my husband is quite suspicious.”

“Of?”

“Of me,” she said. “Of you.”

Sir Worthing glanced over her shoulder. So did Margot. There were Mackenzies milling about. He put his handkerchief to his nose and sniffed, then slowly turned his attention back to Margot. His gaze was hard, two pieces of polished obsidian staring down at her. “I shouldn’t think you would like to be left alone here, Lady Mackenzie, with no one to protect you. This is rough company.”

Rough! Because they did not don lace and wigs and bow so far over the leg that it was a wonder they didn’t topple over? The only thing rough about the company here was the way Arran Mackenzie had made love to her last night, his body moving so persistently in hers and lifting her up to new heights. She was loath to leave that sort of roughness behind.

“I will be perfectly fine.”

“If I may...is it your desire that we take our leave? Or his? Frankly, I think it best if Mr. Pepper and I—”