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Chapter 1

The pleasure of your company is requested at the baptism of Alexandra Ehteenth, in the one thousand eight hundred and forty-fifth year of Our Lord, to be held at the village church of St Anne the Doleful in Upper Rippington, Suffolk, and to be followed by a reception at Starlings Manor immediately thereafter

Brandon lowered himself carefully into the chair He’d learned not to throw himself into furniture as he once had—the price he paid was far too dear He et and cold—he’d spent the last three hours hiking ahlands, his home for the last three years of self-ied closer to the fire

“By the s yon Taely, and Taer spaniel who had traced Brandon’s every step, lifted his head at the sound of his na was evenhike than Brandon was He used a gnarled walking stick to help hi, but Ta with excitement, while Brandon had learned to keep a steady pace, inured to their lengthy, daily excursions

“Give me a chance to dry out, old man,” Brandon replied sourly “I still haven’t taken a swim, and the water in the burn is colder than a witch’s tit Let me just warm ht add that you’re s none too sweet yourself”

Noonan cackled, pouring hiainst the Scots cold Brandon eyed the drink dispassionately He had trained hi for it, and he could even pour for so, spend the afternoon with an open bottle and not break into a sweat It was opium and its bitch of a sister, laudanue ae the effects of the stronger drugs, but he had no intention of ever going near any of theain

He’d learned to work through those cravings by hiking noout of the sky, and in the Highlands it was always so, followed by endless swi a thin film of ice in order to torment his body

The results, slow but steady, were satisfying His mother would have said positively remarkable, but his mother doted on her four children, no ressor

All this ell and good where he was Returning to the bosom of his family, to civilization and all its temptations, would be another matter entirely

Noonan atching him frooing to go to the little one’s christening?” he demanded suddenly “You missed the first one, and this wee one is named after you”

Brandon’s head shot up “How did you know about that? Have you been reading my mail?”

“Of course not, nantly “Your brother sento back home”

“This is my home,” he said stubbornly “It’s not like this is Melisande and Benedick’s first child Why all the bother now?”

“It’s the first girl, she’s naodfather”

“I never agreed to that And it’s only her middle name”

“Can’t call a wee lass ‘Brandon’ now, can they?” Noonan snapped His voice softened “It’s time, laddie You can’t hide away up here forever”

Brandon said nothing, staring into the fire They were in the kitchen of the gaiven hi house—and the peaty s, ool, and whiskey was a familiar comfort

Noonan was right, the sly old bastard, he thought wearily There was no way he could live here forever until he’d faced his dehosts he had to lay It was past time to face them and banish them once and for all He had to make peace with Benedick at the very least, and see if he could find the answer to the half-ht’s sleep and offering no clarity in return

He gave Noonan a grim smile “We’ll leave in three days’ time”

“We will?” Noonan echoed in a startled gasp “You know I don’t go south of the border,expression

“I go, you go They’ve forgotten all about you and anything you ht have been involved in”

“The blasted police never forget anything,” Noonan said glumly “The only reason they haven’t found ood Irishhted place like Scotland”

“It was over twenty years ago, and my family is not without influence in these matters Either you come with me or I stay put And what do you think the marchioness would have to say about that?”

Brandon knew perfectly well that Noonan was more afraid of Brandon’s lare left hiht fro his mouth with the back of his hand The rich smell of the whiskey al, but Brandon didn’t flinch