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will lead the way if you would kindly follow me.  You need to change out of those wet clothes quickly or we will have two invalids on our hands!”
    â€œI will wait for the doctor,” said the Duke and must have caught Viola’s expression of surprise.
    â€œI am afraid the staff at the Castle have been much reduced of late and Euan, who is the one and only footman, has been sent to summon the medical help.”
    â€œWe don’t wish to be a nuisance – ” Viola began.  “Perhaps a local hotel could – ”
    The Duke waved away her words with a brusque,
    â€œOch, what rubbish!  Never let it be said anywhere that Glentorran hospitality is lacking in any way!”
    Viola dropped a brief bob of gratitude and followed the housekeeper up the narrow winding staircase that led to the upper levels of the Castle.
    Her room was rather small, the dark green curtains and carpet clean, but worn and old-fashioned.
    Viola pulled off her soaking clothes, glad to find an old silk quilted dressing gown hanging behind the door.
    She pulled her hair free from its pins and rubbed it as dry as she could in the towel provided for her.
    Then she sank down on the bed and buried her face in her hands.
    The relief of eventually being safe, the worry over David’s health and having to face the Duke of Glentorran suddenly overwhelmed her.
    She closed her eyes gratefully and fell instantly into a deep sleep from sheer exhaustion.
    *
    A few hours later she awoke feeling much stronger.  Someone must have come unheard into her room while she was asleep, because an oil lamp had been lit and glowed gently on the dressing table whilst a large fire was crackling in the grate.
    In the passageway outside her room she could hear muffled voices and guessed that the doctor had arrived.
    Wrapping the quilted dressing gown firmly around her slender waist, she opened the door and stepped out.
    A thin wiry gentleman with sparse, sandy-coloured hair and bushy eyebrows in a dark old-fashioned frock coat was standing there talking to Lady Margaret.
    â€œOch, Lady Viola, you are awake!  Excellent.  This is Doctor Monroe.  He has been examining your brother.”
    â€œGood evening doctor.  How is David?  I have been so worried about him.”
    Doctor Monroe turned shrewd blue eyes on her.
    â€œGood evening to you, Lady Viola.  Well now, yon brother of yours, he is not as fit as a young man should be and that is the truth of the matter.”
    â€œBut he is in no danger, surely?”
    Viola was overcome with guilt.
    If anything dreadful was to happen to her beloved David, she would blame herself.  They should have stayed much longer in America until he was fully recovered from his pneumonia.
    It was only her silly fancy to get away from Lewis Wilder and his marriage demands that had made her want to flee in such a stupid headstrong fashion.
    â€œDon’t fret yourself, my Lady.  With good nursing and good food, he should pull through, but he will need to be kept warm and quiet for several weeks or I will not be answering for the consequences.”
    Viola bit her lip.
    â€œBut, doctor, we must travel down to London.  We cannot possibly stay here in Scotland.  Why, we only have with us the clothes we are standing up in – and no money nor possessions of any sort.”
    Doctor Monroe picked up his black bag and peered at the two girls over his little square spectacles.
    â€œI thought I had made myself clear, Lady Viola, but I will say it once more.  Yon young Lord is not to be moved from this Castle for at least a month!  And that is my final word on the matter.  Now I will wish you a good evening.  I will see myself out, Lady Margaret, and I will return to examine my patient in a day or two.”
    Viola gazed helplessly at Lady Margaret whilst the doctor vanished down the corridor towards the stairs.
    â€œThis is just awful .  How could we possibly impose