Naturalist and barefoot fishwife, moving freely about the island?Losing any appetite, Dougal pushed his bowl of stew away. “You know her quite well, then.”
“Very. I will speak to her on your behalf. As I said, I want the lighthouse to go up. Once the lady and I are married, I will havea say in these matters. She can be stubborn, but in a delightful way. She will succumb to reason.”
Dougal frowned, his thoughts spinning. One word had caught his attention. “Married?”
“I should not speak of it, but a happy heart loosens the tongue. I have asked the lady to marry me, and her coquetry on the matter indicates her acceptance.”
Dougal blinked. “Coquetry? Sir, forgive my confusion. We are speaking of the same woman—the formidable Lady Strathlin of Strathlin Castle and Charlotte Square in Edinburgh?”A lady fond of swimming in large hats, fond of privacy, and very fond of sinking lighthouse engineers.
“Yes. My dear Margaret.” Matheson nodded. “Do not congratulate me now. Wait until my darling is ready to make the announcement.”
A cold sensation crept through him.Beautiful, charming, winsome. Barefoot. Stubborn.“Margaret,” he repeated.
“On the island she goes by Meg MacNeill. Perhaps you met her by that name?” The man’s tone was sly, his eyes narrowed.
Dear God.All this time, he had been a supreme fool. “Ah,” he said. “I may have done.”
*
A dreary eveningrain and the folds of a dark-blue cloak wrapped Meg in shadows inside the carriage rolling down the sloped Edinburgh streets. Swaying on the seat, listening to the rhythmic clop of horse hooves, she glanced at Angela Shaw and Guy Hamilton, seated opposite her.
“We are nearly there,” Angela said. “Are you sure of the address?”
“Aye, Dr. MacBain’s house is just there,” Guy said. “Madam, if you are seen entering the doctor’s house, word might go round that Lady Strathlin is ill.”
“I will take the chance if I can speak with Dougal in private. Mr. Stewart,” she added.
“Dougal, is it? So you do know him rather well. I had a feeling it was so,” Angela said. “There is something in your eyes when he is mentioned—you cannot hide it, dear. Something happened on Caransay, I vow. Something good.” Her smile was soft and her eyes sparkled.
Meg looked out at the glinting rain, then nodded, ready and relieved to tell her friends more of the truth. Keeping secrets was not turning out so well after all. “Something that could have been wonderful, but I made a mess of it,” she said quietly.
“All can be fixed if this is meant to be,” Angela said. “Does he return your affection?”
Meant to be.Once she had hoped so, but that had dimmed. “If he did, I doubt he would return it to Lady Strathlin.”
“Love finds a way,” Angela said.
“Unless love’s way is littered with lawyers and bankers.” Guy was ever the pragmatist. “This situation is difficult for many reasons, madam. It will take more than an explanation to win his affection once he learns the truth.”
“Just wish her luck, Mr. Hamilton. Perhaps we should have left you at home,” Angela said.
“You cannot do without me, dear Mrs. Shaw,” he murmured. She gave him an impish smile.
“I must tell him the truth. I cannot live with this any longer,” Meg said. “It has become so complicated, more than I can say.” She felt dizzy, staring into the darkness and rain, as if she stood poised on a cliff edge. “I fear Sir Roderick may have already told him. They were to meet today.”
“Does Matheson realize Stewart thinks you are just a simple girl from the Isles?” Guy asked.
“It is possible.” Meg sighed.
“Sheisa girl of the Isles,” Angela pointed out. “She never truly lied to Mr. Stewart. She just omitted some details.”
“A considerable detail,” Guy said. “You are doing the right thing, madam.”
“If Roderick discovers that Mr. Stewart did not meet Lady Strathlin on Caransay, he might tell him who I am.” Frowning, she bit her lip slightly.
“Knowing Matheson, he will be too busy puffing his feathers to talk about anyone else,” Guy remarked. “I wouldn’t worry.”
“I do worry. If he sees Mr. Stewart as a rival, he might interfere. Oh dear. I must tell you two first—I have decided…to marry Sir Roderick.”
