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MacDonald of the Isles, evidently; the Major’s fa the interrogation, but Jaone to earth

Farquard Ca the verbal ga back and forth between me and the Major with a look of amusement The amusement faded into a look of surprise as I finished a rather confused analysis of Jae, in response to the Major’s expert catechisrandfather was Simon, Lord Lovat?" Cahtly with incredulity

"Wellyes," I said, a little uneasily "I thought you knew that"

"Indeed," said Farquard He looked as though he had sed a brandied plu too late that the stone was still in it He’d known Jaht, but plainly Jocasta hadn’t mentioned his close connection with the Old Fox--executed as a traitor for his role in the Stuart Rising Most of the Caht on the Government side of that particular brouhaha

"Yes," MacDonald said, ignoring Cahtly in concentration "I have the honor to be slightly acquainted with the present Lord Lovat--the title has been restored, I collect?"

He went on, turning to Ca Siht the French in’58? No, ’57 Yes, ’57 A gallant soldier, excellent fighting man And he would be your husband’snephew? No, uncle"

"Half-uncle," I clarified Old Simon had been married three times, and made no secret of his extramarital by-blows--of which Jah

MacDonald nodded, lean face clearing in satisfaction at having got it all neatly sorted Farquard’s face relaxed a little, hearing that the faone so far toward rehabilitation

"Papist, of course," MacDonald added, "but an excellent soldier, nonetheless"

"Speaking of soldiers," Cah of relief that s creak, as Mr Campbell smoothly led the Major into an analysis of some past military event The Major, it seemed, was not on active duty, but like many, presently retired on half-pay Unless and until the Crown found some further use for his services, he was thus left to mooch round the Colonies in search of occupation Peace was hard on professional soldiers

Just wait, I thought, with a small premonitory shiver Four years, or less, and the Major would be busy enough

I caught a flash of tartan from the corner of my eye and turned to look, but it was neither Jaer, dark-haired and handsome in his kilt His face lit as he spotted Brianna, and his stride lengthened She turned her head, as though feeling his presence, and her own face brightened in answer

He reached her side, and without the least acknowledgentleman with her, embraced her and kissed her soundly on the mouth As they drew apart, he held out his arms for Jemmy, and dropped another kiss on the silky red head

I returned to the conversation at hand, belatedly realizing that Farquard Ca any notion what he had said Seeing o and pay my respects elsewhere, Mrs Fraser," he said "If you will pardon me? I shall leave you to the Major’s excellent company" He touched his hat courteously, and eeled off toward the house, perhaps intending to track down Lieutenant Wolff and stop hi the silver

Thus marooned with me, the Major cast about for suitable conversation, and fell back upon the most commonly asked question between new acquaintances

"Are you and your husband long arrived in the colony, ," I said, rather wary "Three years or so We live in a small settlement in the backcountry--" I waved my closed fan toward the invisible e"

"Ah, yes I have heard of it" A muscle twitched near the corner of his mouth, and I wondered uneasily just what he had heard Ja the Scottish settlers of the Cape Fear--in fact, several kegs of rahisky froht by the stables, Ja present to his aunt and Duncan--but I hoped the secret wasn’t quite so open that an army officer newly arrived in the colony would already have heard about it

"Tell ed ahead "Do you encounter a great deal offactionalism in your area of the colony?"

"Factionalisreat deal" I cast a wary eye toward Hector Caray showed up like a blot against the pure white marble Factionalism was a code word for the activities of ulators