Her uncle looked at her. “Are youallright, my dear?”
“I am fine.”
He stood back and inhaled quickly. “Ishallhearallabout your ordeal soon enough,” he said. “But first…” He faced Duncan again. “I am responsible for this young gel, Moncrieffe. She is my dearly departed brother’s only child, and she means the world to me, so I must beg to ask,why?
Why have you proposed this match between yourself and my niece?”
Amelia felt her smile drop. She moved closer to stand at Duncan’s side and linked her arm through his, feeling grateful that he was not brandishing his axe today.
“She is already pledged to Lieutenant-colonel Richard Bennett,” her uncle continued, “and this is highly inappropriate, to conduct yourself in such a manner.”
“But Uncle…,” she protested. He did not know who he was speaking to!
His Grace swung a hand through the air. “Hup! Hup!
Hush!”
Her teeth clicked together.
The duke tilted his wigged head to the side and raised an accusing eyebrow at Duncan. “What do you have to say for yourself, young man?”
Duncan inclined his head and put a foot forward in a second, more elegant bow. “Forgive me, Your Grace. I have no excuse to offer, except to confess that Ifellin love with your niece, and lost my head completely.”
Amelia’s head drew back in astonishment.
Her uncle turned his eyes to her. “The great Scottish lairdfellin love, did he?”
“Yes,” Amelia shakily replied.
“Just like that?”
“Can you blame me, Your Grace?” Duncan interjected.
“Lady Amelia is like no other woman.”
“My brother spokewellof you, Moncrieffe. I wondered if I’d ever be privileged enough in this lifetime to make your acquaintance and see for myself what sort of man you are.”
“I’llleave that to Your Grace to decide,” Duncan said, “if youwillbestow us the honor of your company at dinner this evening.”
“Of course I’llhonor you with my company!” the duke shouted as he adjusted his wig. “Where else am I to go?
We’re deep in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands. I am fortunate I didn’t getswallowed up by a hungry boar on the way here.”
Amelia exhaled a nervous breath as theyallentered the mainhalltogether.
* * *
“Ah, Moncrieffe. I daresay this is the finest whisky in Great Britain and beyond.” Winslowe swirled the amber liquid around in his crystal glass, then delighted himself with another deep draught. Duncan lifted his own glass. “I am honored you think so, Your Grace. I’llbe sure to send you back to England with a crate of my very best.”
“You are a true gentleman, sir.”
They had enjoyed a sumptuous dinner and dessert,followedby musical entertainment in the old banquetinghall, but now the hour had grown late. Only Duncan and the duke chose to linger on, sipping whisky by the fire in the library.
The others had retired for the night.
“This is a fine castle, Moncrieffe. Quite old, I presume?”
“Construction of the keep and gate tower began in 1214,”
