Page 6 of Tales of Highland Loyalty

Dusting himself down for a second time, Trenton, wore an expression of injured innocence, one he was wont to show in the presence of their mother.

"Trenton has just cost our family seventy whole pounds," huffed Will, his blue eyes jutting around to Trenton's.

"No, Brother, you did that. As I told you, the full cost of that nag was tuppence ha'penny."

Standing before them both, the duchess stared incomprehensibly. "Will, you speak in riddles," she complained. "Someone explain."

William was not even slightly placated. Fury shone in his blue eyes as he stared at Trenton.

"As usual, Trenton fails to understand the cost to our reputation his foolish games have earned."

The duchess's eyes went from Trenton, back to Will, and then Trenton again.

Trying his arm, Trenton gazed mournfully at his mother. "Mother, 'tis all a terrible misunderstanding. I just had a tiny accident in a millpond."

"With a destrier," pressed Will.

Trenton snarked back, "Palfrey."

"Horse," said Will, with a snort. "The fact is, it was not his to ride, let alone crash into a lake with. Mother, when is Trenton ever going to grow up and accept his family responsibility?"

"Trenton," quipped the duchess mildly. But she made no real efforts at remonstrating with him.

She wouldn't, thought Will. He knew full well Trenton was her favorite.

"Dearest, I am sure it was all a silly misunderstanding," said the duchess, hoping to smooth things over. "Perhaps Trenton will apologize."

Unfortunately, her conciliatory methods did not pay dividends. Both brothers still stared poison at each other, and Will longed to bury his quill point in Trenton's head.

"Trenton will not apologize," cursed Trenton, finally giving up re-wrapping the chaperon. It flopped open ridiculously. "Trenton actually won some money, but none of you have even given me any credit for it. Five whole pounds, four shillings, and tuppence!"

Will could not resist a snark.

"Well that's still a deficit of sixty-five pounds, three shillings, and one groat!" he hissed, as Trenton perfected his look of affronted outrage. "I will be sending Jack Clott to the stocks for breaking a window valued a shilling, so think on!"

"Will," he said pityingly, "I feel sorry for you. You only ever think in numbers. There is more to life than money."

Will nearly chewed his own lip off.

"Yes, that's easy to say when you're not paying." He sounded gruff, but Trenton did not hear him. He was already on the way out.

Finally, it was left to him and his mother. There was a pause in which Will tried sorely to control his own annoyance.

His mother smiled weakly.

"Will, he will come around," she exhorted, "Take heart."

The dowager duchess looked at him keenly, a sudden spark in her aged eyes. But for all her attempts at peace, Will could only feel irritation.

"Surely, you remember what it was to be joyful and young?"

Will's annoyance flashed in his eyes.

"Sorry, Mother, I do not," he said pointedly, before heading to the door. "I, for one, have never been young."

CHAPTER 2

She heard it before she saw it, and drawing a little closer in, Lissie Duncan smelled it too. Pulling the hood from her head, the young Scottish lass let her crumpled locks shine in the damp morning air.