It was impossible to believe that Norwood would be involved in such deadly politics. And to be involved to such an extent that he would label Arran a Jacobite sympathizer seemed out of character for him. After all, Norwood was the one who had proposed that Arran marry his only daughter to expand both their holdings. Why would he want to tear apart what he’d worked so hard to put together?

“I’m no’ a Jacobite. There’s no’ a man in the Highlands who believes I am. I donna believe it,” Arran said flatly. “Norwood helped design the union. He staked his reputation on it, and he is loyal to the queen. Why would he seek to harm that?”

“Ach, the queen,” MacLeary said with a beefy wave of his hand. “She’s no’ right in the head, that one. She sleeps with her maid and wars with the Duchess of Marlborough over jewels or some such nonsense. She’s no’ meant to lead nations, and word from London is that she’s no’ long for this world, aye? Donna close your eyes and ears, man. Men are aligning themselves with whomever they believe will prevail. And ye know as well as I do that ye canna trust a Sassenach as long as a day.”

Arran didn’t disagree with that, but still, it seemed too risky for Norwood. “It doesna make sense,” he insisted, holding up a hand. “If I were accused of treason and made to stand trial, that would mean that my lands—his daughter’s lands—would be forfeited to the crown.”

“Or...perhaps yer lands would be forfeited and given as reward to whoever exposed the treason,” MacLeary suggested. “It’s a gamble a man might find worth taking.”

“Norwood would stand to gain,” Jock agreed.

“No’ bloody likely,” Arran scoffed.

“I canna say it delicately, lad,” said MacLeary. “So I’ll speak to the point. Your wife is English. If your holdings were forfeited, they’d most likely revert to her father and brothers, would they no’? By the same token, if Norwood was guilty of treason, his lands would no’ go to his sons. You’d have a decent claim to them through your wife. No, he’d no’ risk losing what he’s got, no’ to a Scot, no matter how he might have wanted this union ere now. He could very easily make you a scapegoat in his schemes.” He paused to drink more whisky, then fixed his gaze on Arran. “There are some who could be persuaded that perhaps you conspire with Norwood to line your pockets.”

“Norwood! That’s contrary to everything you’ve just said of me, is it no’? Whom do I conspire with, MacLeary? The Jacobites? Or Norwood? What possible reason would I have to conspire with either? What the bloody hell would I gain?”