“That man says you’re to go to England with the laird, that you’ll be gone and I’d best keep out of his way, and keep your things as they ought to be. And I says to him, ‘I know what I’m to do, I don’t need you to tell me, but her ladyship’s not said a word of it, and I don’t believe you.’ And he says, ‘Well, she is, and you can pout that she didn’t tell you before I did, or you can help her, but whatever you choose, stay well out of my sight.’”

“It’s true, Nell,” Margot said wearily.

“No, milady, please don’t say you mean to leave me here!”

“I’m not leaving you. But I can’t take you with me, not this time. You must stay here and do as Jock tells you.”

Nell gaped at her. “Here! With no one—”

“Yes, Nell.” Margot stood up and grabbed her maid’s hands. “You must. And you mustn’t complain, God please, don’t you complain. Stay out of Jock’s path and do as they say. Please, Nell, it’s quite important. Please.”

Nell looked terrified. She glanced around the dressing room, at the door that led to the smaller chamber where she slept at night.

“Think of it—you’ll be quite all right. You’ll be safe, you’ll be fed, and you need only keep my things and these rooms while I’m away. You might take your leisure every day.” Margot glanced at the clock on the mantel. She was going to be late. “I have to go, Nell. Help me don these...things. You mustn’t fret! You have my word that all will be well.” She mustered a smile that she hoped looked as if she meant what she said, and handed the clothing to Nell. “Help me out of this gown,” she begged.

A quarter of an hour later, Margot hurried down the curving staircase.

At the bottom of the stairs, Griselda was pacing the floor, and surprisingly, at least to Margot, she was dressed in the same strange clothing. Except that Griselda had braided her hair and had wound it into a knot at her nape.

Margot took her in from head to toe as Griselda tapped a crop against her leg. She looked almost natural in these clothes, but on Margot, the trews fit tightly across her bottom and did not reach her boots, and the coat overwhelmed her. “Why are we dressed like this?”

“Because you canna ride to England in a fancy ball gown, aye?”

Margot snorted. “I don’t ride in fancy ball gowns, Zelda. But this is indecent!”