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Sara sighed. “He certainly may be. A horrid man.”

“You know him?” Though she was unable to hide the surprise in her voice, Emma somehow refrained from asking more questions. There was so much she wanted to ask about Garrick—his family, his earldom, and Sara’s friendship with him—but she didn’t dare.

“I’ve never met the man, but I overheard my father and Garrick’s father having a conversation about him once. They didn’t speak highly of the man, and his attempts to undermine the natural succession of the earldom doesn’t speak highly of his character.” She sighed. “It matters not that Garrick is English. The title is his mother’s by right. Why his uncle can’t accept that fact . . . well . . . I suppose ’tis not so unusual.”

She knew what Sara was thinking. Her dear sister-in-law had almost been harmed by a cousin intent on murdering her for the sake of her title and land. Thank goodness Geoffrey had been there to protect her.

“But I do know his mother,” Sara said.

“What is she like?” Emma asked, too quickly.

“Fierce,” Sara said, thankfully not appearing to notice Emma’s eager response. “Determined. The only man along the border meaner than the Baron of Inverglen is the Earl of Magnus, the man she sought out for an alliance. His reputation is known well, even here.”

“It is?”

“Aye. The relative peace we’ve experienced along the border these last years has lulled everyone into a state of unpreparedness that worries me at times. But when the border was less stable, if there was one man in the North all wanted as a friend and feared as a foe, it was Magnus.”

Garrick’s future father-in-law. Or the man who would have been his father-in-law. What would such a man do if his only daughter was jilted? Would he truly allow Garrick out of the marriage contract? Or would it mean war?

Oh dear.

“Enough talk of overeager men and their insecurities. Tell me, more importantly, about these rumors I’ve heard about you and a certain man who’s taken a liking to you.”

Emma’s stomach flipped. “Sara, I can—”

“I’ve not met Graeme de Sowlis, but I’ve heard much about him from Catrina.”

Graeme?

Emma felt so flummoxed she almost gave herself away.

“Well?”

She shook her head, unsure of how to respond.

“Do you fancy the man?”

“I . . . I’m not sure.”

Sara appeared to think on that.

“Well, then perhaps we should invite him to Kenshire to get to know him a bit more. What do you say?”

Invite Graeme to Kenshire?

“Uh—”

“Think on it.” Sara jumped to her feet. “Do you smell that? Cook has managed to find cinnamon.” She took in a deep breath. “I do love that woman.”

“Aye,” Emma agreed as Sara walked away, presumably to find the source of the smell.

Graeme. Magnus.

This meeting at Clave couldn’t come soon enough. Emma needed to speak with Garrick. She required answers that only he could give her.

18

Geoffrey, look!”