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Meg s She thought that she knehat he was thinking: What does she know of crops and the tenants of Glen Dhui? What does she know of hardship and fas should be left toto her Men who understoo

d the ways of the land and its people, and had done so since Adam

“The old ways are not always the best,” she said abruptly, helping herself to some mutton pie, annoyed that his opinion , for the good of us all Sometimes, to survive, we need to look forward instead of backward”

Gregor looked up with surprise, and sed his ! I agree with you”

Meg blinked He agreed with her?

He set down his fork and leaned forward, closing the space between thele of exciteeneral is the same You look to is were not so…so forward thinking, as you say, when e his mind, but he would not listen to me Sassenach foolishness, he called it”

Meg took aat her at all He admired her! He was envious of her success when he hie with his own father He was not Duncan Forbes; he was nothing like Duncan Forbes

“I…Thank you,” she said, a little breathlessly “Unfortunately there arenew is open to suspicion and superstition I have heard that so tea the devil’s brew! I drink tea with h they take it at four in the afternoon, and make a party of it Tea is very fashionable, and there is nothing wrong in it, that I can see They said the same of coffee, when it first arrived in this country, but now no one thinks it anything other than a pleasant beverage Perhaps your father would have come around in time…”

His s and I told myself it dinna matter what my father said, that I would do as I wished, when it came my time to be Laird of Glen Dhui Unfortunately, that time never came”

Meg set down her fork with a clatter “I am sorry for your troubles, Captain Grant, I really auilty for so that is not my fault And I won’t!”

“I don’t expect you to,” he said, raising his dark brows “I don’t want you to It was an explanation, not a plea for pity Pity is the last thing I want fro Don’t you know that yet?”

What did he ? What was it she could see in his eyes, looking so directly into hers “Gregor—”

“Meg, I want—”

But whatever it was he wanted, she would have to wait to find out He had stopped and was looking toward the door, and Meg herself was suddenly aware of the raised voices co from the Great Hall At that very moment they were lifted another notch, and she realized it was a

Gregor ju his wine across the table, and went to the door Meg was not far behind, but when she e, warm hand on her shoulder