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He nodded. “If we can find a way around your parents’ edict where I am concerned, you can use them whenever you are at the home farm.”

Her brow pulled low with concern. “They’d likely dismiss Glenna on the spot if they knew she’d disobeyed their instructions.”

“We will make certain they never know.”

Cordelia leaned against him once more, fitting rather perfectly in his arms. “I hate hiding things from them, but I am discovering their view of the world is terribly different from mine. They despise the idea of you and I even being friends yet have already decided that the laird’s visitors are worthy of association even though they haven’t met them yet.”

This was news to Sebastian. “The laird is having visitors?”

Cordelia sighed, the sound filled with exhaustion. “Other people of rank and position who live somewhat nearby. They will stay at Teviot Castle, and we’re meant to meet and visit with them.”

People of standing who lived nearby. Sebastian didn’t have much difficulty guessing who those visitors were likely to be. He knew a few families from this area of Scotland from his brief time in London. He even knew of one gentleman his same age who lived only a bit more than a day’s journey from Teviotbrae and had also been educated at Eton.

An idea began to form in the back of Sebastian’s mind. “Do you know what is planned for the gathering?”

“A dinner is to be held at the castle and another will be held here.” Cordelia’s hands, which had been pressed to his chest, slipped around him so she embraced him in return. It was at once comforting and thrilling. “I don’t believe there will be enough people for a ball. Perhaps an afternoon might be spent in the castle gardens.”

The castle gardens were accessible to him in a way the interior of the castle was not. That presented some intriguing possibilities.

“I’m certain if extra things are needed from the home farm, you will be informed.” Cordelia had shown herself time and again to be very thoughtful of his situation. It was time she understood what that actually was.

“Before these visitors arrive, I need to tell you something,” he said. “And I will confess, I’m not certain how you will react to it.”

Cordelia looked at him, both curious and concerned. Seraphina had already slipped back a little, offering them a bit of privacy.

“Will you walk with me while I explain?”

She nodded, pulling out of his embrace but, before he could even miss having her in his arms, setting her hand in his.

“Everyone hereabout calls me Sebastian of the Home Farm,” he said as they walked slowly along the path. “It’s what I am known as, because it is what I do here. Now.”

She nodded again. “You said you lived here when you were very little, that your father grew up here.”

“I do have a surname,” he continued. “The local people don’t use it because they have been instructed not to. I don’t use it because I felt obligated to the one who has forbidden me to.”

“I don’t understand.”

He was doing a poor job of explaining.

“I likely ought to have told you this sooner. You will, no doubt, think me selfish for doing so now, only after your parents have expressed such disapproval of me. But please know that revealing this is a matter of wishing to save you further disapproval from your parents.”

She squeezed his hand. “I have never thought you selfish; I am unlikely to start now.”

He hoped that proved true. “My full name is Sebastian Coburn.”

Her brow furrowed on the instant, clearly recognizing the name, as he had suspected she would. “That is the same surname as the laird.”

“My father was his only son. He grew up here in Teviotbrae. More to the point, he grew up at Teviot Castle. I was born there. We left when I was very young. My mother wished to spend more time in England.”

He could see thoughts spinning in Cordelia’s mind as she was piecing together a puzzle she hadn’t even realized she was facing. “Your father has passed away.”

“He has.”

“That means, barring the laird marrying again and having another son, you will inherent Teviot Castle.”

“I will. And I’ll be the Laird of Teviotbrae.”

She blinked a few times as she slowly shook her head. “Why do you live at the home farm? Why does the laird not refer to you as his grandson?”