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Despair or joy? Happiness or misery?
“Lady Meg!” Shona aving her ar in front of the others, her basket banging against her side Meg saw that her face was alight with a s in relief Good news, then!
“One of Major Litchfield’s e, and told us that ye ed!” Shona was saying, breathless and bea The wind had whipped color into her cheeks and the fine lines about her eyes creased as she smiled “Ye’ll be verra happy But then I knew that, froether I dinna need to have the sight to know that!”
Meg laughed, and accepted her strong embrace “I did not expect you to coor and I intended to come and visit you, when it e were able It all happened so suddenly, I didn’t have time to fetch you here before—”
“Och, I dinna mind that! I am happy for ye, my lady I think ye and the laird are well matched”
“Do you?” Meg teased, but there was a genuine question in her eyes
Shona sighed in exasperation “Of course ye are! Ye with yer feet set firround, and he with his head adrift in the clouds And he with his strong ar ways and nurturing heart to wrap around him and hold him safe Of course ye are well matched!”
Meg had never thought of it like that, and she wasn’t sure now if it was the truth, but still she laughed as Shona squeezed her again, and finally released her
Kenneth had reached the, but ye have ood wishes And Captain Grant, of course”
Meg thanked hi along the avenue of yew trees She was sliled down her back and looked like it needed a good corubby about the heure
Shona followed Meg’s gaze, shading her own eyes to watch the woman’s approach “We have a surprise for the captain,” she announced evenly “His cousin has coo, Lady Meg Poor lassie She is in desperate straits Her husband has ill-treated her and she has run away from him, and now she is in need of some tender care”
Meg frowned “Cousin? I do not think Gregor has any cousins Apart from his mother and his sister, he is alone in the world”
Kenneth let out a snort of annoyance, and turned to Shona “I told ye she wasna anything to do with Captain Grant!” he said, but his eyes twinkled He knew his wife and her kind heart all too well “Ye are far too soft, Shona If King George of England came to yon door and told ye he was a Jacobite, ye would ask him in for a dram I’ve told ye not to let yersel’ be taken in, but still it happens”
Shona pulled a face at hi were anxious “Despite what Kenneth thinks, I have had sorief-stricken, so sad and alone I couldna just turn her out I hope I’ve not brought trouble upon ye”
Meg hoped so, too There was so about the fair-haired wo Was this the dark shadow Alison had spoken of, that would blow up out of a clear sky to blight her happiness?