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Shona was standing in the doorway to the kitchen, her lovely face tired and serious, and showing its age

Alison nodded brusquely,busy Thewith them, and she meant to make certain they ell provisioned Besides, she did not want to stop, because then she would have to think She did not want to think

“She must be worried,” Shona went on “Captain Grant is a braw man, but even the bravest can be hurt, and worse”

“He will be safe,” Alison replied stubbornly

“They say ye have the sight,” Shona said “Do ye see that then, Alison? Do ye see that he will be safe? Tell me what ye see”

Alison cast her an agonized look

Shona went still and then sighed “Aye, ye see sos are easier to bear if ye share them”

Alison’s hands stilled, and she stared into space I dinna want to know, she thought Please, I dinna want to know But the words came anyway

“There is a death I’ve known it since the wedding, but I dinna knoill die ItHow can I tell her that her ht die?”

“Dinna tell her,” Shona advised, her eyes on Alison’s pale, tense face “What of ye? Does yer man ride to the duke’s castle tomorrow?”

Slowly, Alison continued with her preparations “I have no man, Shona”

“I thought,” she began, but when Alison turned and glared at her, she changed her ed instead “Well, of course not I’ll leave ye to yer work Good night, Alison”

After Shona had gone, Alison stood still and quiet She should go to bed, she supposed She should But all she could think was that Malcol toht not come back He had already left her once, and noould do so again The last tirieved for twelve years, and when he had finally returned, she had done nothing but abuse him

She put a hand to her eyes and rubbed them viciously

He deserved to be treated badly! He had abandoned her, with Angus on the way, and…and…He had left a letter for her Duncan had finally told her the truth about that He had not walked out on her without a word, he had left a letter to tell her why he was going, begging her understanding, asking that she forgive hi her he loved her