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She recognized that voice Turning her head she stared up at the Duke of Abercauldy’s favorite servant Lorenzo wore all black, a startling contrast to the other men, but Lorenzo was the sort who liked to be noticed
And feared
According to Lorenzo he had been born in Italy, to a rich and aristocratic falish to Lorenzo—he had found his way into the duke’s service Meg wasn’t sure how much of the story to believe, and her father insisted there was a hint of Glasgow in Lorenzo’s Italian But the Duke of Abercauldy found hih in his estiht he treated him more like a friend than someone paid to serve him And Lorenzo served him slavishly
With an effort, Meg stilled the fear in her heart and made her voice calm “Lorenzo, you are far from home”
The other riders had drawn up at a distance, but Lorenzo ca down at her with the smile that never quite reached his doe-brown eyes His eyes flicked scornfully over her windblown hair and man’s attire, as if she were beneath his conteht her beneath the contempt of a man like the duke Lorenzo’s insolent manner spoke the words for him, words that he did not need to utter aloud
“We are on a mission for His Grace”
Meg s with soh to knoould not be able to keep it to hi but usually ue as other men used their swords, to wound and inflict pain
“As we passed south of the loch we stopped at the croft of Fiona MacGregor, uest at Glen Dhui Castle, a man who used to be the laird before he went out for the Jacobite Jae, I hardly knehether to believe her Why would General Mackintosh offer his hospitality to a traitor? Lah, ’tis beyond my comprehension, and I don’t knohat His Grace will say”
Meg spoke pleasantly, trying not to grit her teeth “I do not know if it is either the duke’s or your business, but if you eneral are old friends”
“Old friends?”
Meg smiled
Lorenzo’s sor says he is young Young and very handsome, she says AAnd we all kno very discerning you are, my lady”
Meg frowned “Fiona MacGregor is so old that anyto her, Lorenzo Have you a e for me from your master? Is that why you are here? If so, please deliver it and be done”
Lorenzo bowed very slightly, giving the iood ed to “His Grace says you are yet to answer his last letter, Lady Margaret He is in need of a date for your wedding He has great plans, you know A fantastical celebration His Grace works day and night to hlands for many years to come An occasion!”
Despite the sun and the fine day, Meg felt completely chilled Suddenly it see over a proposal froor Grant when the implacable Duke of Abercauldy believed her to be his