“What is it like to live in England?” Iona asked suddenly.
Eliza smiled. “The climate is a little warmer, but otherwise it is not so different from here.”
“And the people?” Iona went on, sipping her tea.
Eliza sighed. “Scots are a little less friendly,” she replied, “but I think it’s a question of getting to know you better.”
“Well, that might be because you tried to invade us so many times.” Iona’s voice sounded bitter and angry, and her eyes darkened as she looked at Eliza.
“And we are slow to forgive those who do us wrong,” the smaller of the two men said. “And we prefer to deal with intelligent folks, and that rules out Sassenachs.”
They all laughed, and Eliza joined in, pretending to regard the statement as a joke, even though she was seething with rage inside.
“The land where I live is much flatter,” she went on. “The farmers grow vegetables, and there are very few sheep. You must have a thriving wool industry here.”
“We do,” Iona said, nodding.
“Well, you told us it is very cold up here,” the taller of the elders said, laughing. “But then, we are hardy people. A lot of wool is traded with places like France. We had an alliance with them a few hundred years ago. We joined forces to fight the English.” The three Scots smiled at each other triumphantly.
Eliza was beginning to feel afraid, since the hostility in the air was palpable, and she was completely outnumbered.
However, she was saved by the arrival of Duncan, who strode into the room smelling of fresh air, his hair tousled by the wind, looking, to Eliza’s eyes, absolutely delectable. She felt a rush of relief, but it did not last long.
As soon as she saw him, Iona stood up, and her beautiful face broke into a wide smile. “Duncan!” she cried. “It’s so good to see you!”
Duncan’s eyes widened in surprise, then he gave her a slightly confused smile. “Iona, why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” he asked.
“I wanted to surprise you,” she replied. “Is it a bad time for you?”
She cast a look at Eliza, who, at that moment, was wishing that the floor would open up and swallow her. Iona looked like a queen greeting her king, and it was quite obvious that the two of them were old friends—perhaps even intimate ones.
“No, of course not,” he assured her. He looked down at his clothes, which were absolutely filthy. “But if I had known you were coming, I would have stayed at home and looked a bit cleaner!”
“Pfft!” Iona flapped a hand at him and laughed. “As if that matters! Did you catch anything?”
“An old stag,” Duncan replied. “Too old for breeding, so he was no loss to the herd.”
He sat down on the couch beside Eliza, who poured him tea and sat back without speaking, intending to be quiet and take no further part in the conversation.
“You have met Eliza, I see?” Duncan turned to smile at her, and the look in his amber eyes comforted Eliza far more than any words could have done.
“Yes,” Iona replied, but the glance she sent Eliza was as cold as Duncan’s had been warm. “We have been talking about our respective countries.”
Duncan frowned and seemed lost for words for a few moments, then he changed the subject, and asked, “How is your family, Iona?”
Iona recognised this for the diversion it so clearly was. “They are well, Duncan,” she answered. “But I see things have changed around the castle since the last time I was here. Would you like to show me around? Do you still have my favourite mare in the stable?”
“Indeed I do,” Duncan replied.
They sat and made conversation for a short time like the old friends they supposedly were until Duncan finished his tea, while Eliza listened politely and said nothing.
Eventually, Duncan stood up and took Eliza’s arm so that she was obliged to join him, but her heart was thumping as they made their way to the stables. She hoped that Duncan would allow her to ride with him, since she was still not confident enough to do so on her own.
However, it was not to be. When they arrived, five horses had been saddled; one for each of the elders, Iona, Duncan and Eliza, and it was clear that she was expected to ride by herself. She had practised a few times, granted, but she was too afraid to try again, especially with Iona by her side. No doubt she would enjoy herself greatly at Eliza’s expense if she fell.
Duncan looked at her as she hesitated by the entrance. It was clear to Eliza that he understood exactly what she was going through, but could think of no way to help her. He raised his eyebrows in a silent question.
Do you want me to call this off?he asked.
