“This is such a pleasant surprise,” her father said. “There is so much we must catch up on, isn’t there? But first, let us prepare for dinner, shall we? When I heard you’d returned, Margot, I sent a messenger straightaway to Lynetta and invited her family to join us this evening.”

“Oh.” She wasn’t prepared for guests. They had only just arrived—it seemed too soon. “And Knox?”

“Knox? Regrettably, he is away just now,” her father said with a wince. “Now, go, have a rest and dress for dinner. I’ll have a word with your husband.”

Margot looked at Arran. “But should I not stay—”

“Not unless you want to hear a lot of tiresome talk about land and such. I’ll send him up to you directly,” her father said, and gave her a squeeze of her shoulders before opening the door for her.

Still, Margot hesitated.

“There’s my girl,” her father said with a pointed gaze.

She had been dismissed. She glanced at Arran, and he gave her an almost imperceptible nod, so she went out.

No sooner had she stepped out than the door was shut at her back.

The minutes dragged by as Margot waited for Arran to join her in their guest suite. She felt as if she’d been pacing for an hour when at last he did come, and she was surprised by the enormous wave of relief that swept through her when he walked into the room. She threw her arms around him, almost to reassure herself that he was actually there.

“Easy, Margot, aye? It’s all right,” he said, his hands steadying her at the waist.

“What happened? What did he want?”

Arran shrugged as he set her back. “He asked after Balhaire. The strength of trade, how many Mackenzies take their livelihood from the estate. He talked about Norwood Park and the plans he has for the acreage I own.”

“Did you tell him about Thomas Dunn?”

Arran shook his head. “I should like to speak to him alone about it, aye? Your brother...he doesna care for me, it’s plain. I think it best I have the discussion with his lordship alone.”

“Bryce doesn’t care for anyone but himself, I think,” Margot said absently.

Arran shrugged out of his coat. “People are beginning to arrive. You’d best go down and greet them.”

“Not without you,” she said.

She waited for Arran to prepare himself for the evening, and they went down together. But the moment she saw Lynetta Beauly, she quite forgot her husband and grabbed her friend in a tight embrace.

It was a happy reunion, and Margot sat between Lynetta and Arran at supper. The wine flowed quite freely around the table as everyone talked over each other. There was laughter, and many toasts were made. Even Arran seemed to relax, if only a bit, when Mr. Beauly engaged him in conversation.