Read Amanda Scott for Free Online

afternoon, my lord,” a large, muscular man said, approaching him. “I am Bannatyne, his lordship’s captain of guards. The lad tells me ye’re wishful to see his lordship.”
    “Aye,” Michael said. “I come from Mingary, on the peninsula of Ardnamurchan. I can return another day, if necessary, but if his lordship means to return shortly, perhaps it would serve me better to stay here.”
    “I cannot say when he will return,” Bannatyne said, watching him narrowly.
    “I understand your reluctance,” Michael said. “I should be wroth with any man of mine who revealed my whereabouts or intentions to a stranger. The matter I wish to put to his lordship is one of some import, however. It concerns young MacCrichton, as well. Is it possible that they have traveled to his estates?”
    “The family departed for London some days ago,” Bannatyne said, evidently making up his mind to trust him with that much information. “For the Season.”
    “Devil a bit,” Michael said, his mind beginning to race. The most likely reason for Balcardane to take the young MacCrichton to London was to introduce him to society, and the most likely reason for that was to arrange his marriage. There was no time to be lost. “Thank you. I shan’t trouble you for hospitality. If I hurry, I can still make it back across Loch Linnhe before dark.”
    It was late when Michael returned, so he did not see his sister till the following morning. When she hurried into his bookroom after breakfast, he looked up from the work on his desk to greet her with a wry smile.
    “Good morning, Bridget.”
    “I did not think you would be back so soon, Michael. What did they say?”
    “They said nothing at all,” he replied. “They have gone to London.”
    Her face fell ludicrously. “Oh, no! How horrid! Now, what shall I do?”
    “Did you want me to succeed, then? I should not have guessed it”
    “Well, to speak truly, I don’t know what I want, but it seems a shame that we shall never know if I might have married Lord MacCrichton. He is rich, is he not?”
    “Aye, although I do not yet know the full extent of his fortune,” Michael said. “As to our never knowing if he will have you, I cannot predict that either.”
    “I don’t understand you. Why are you looking so oddly at me?”
    “Well, I was just wondering if you still want to visit Edinburgh.”
    “If I—Merciful heaven, sir, do not tease me! You know I wish it above all things. Do you mean to take me, after all? Oh, Michael, say that you do!”
    “I am inquiring presently into numerous possibilities,” he said. “I’ve written a letter to Aunt Marsali that I will send with a runner to Fort William for the first post to Edinburgh, and if you will grant me a few minutes’ more peace, I mean to finish this letter to go with the same runner.”
    “But you said that you have no money!”
    “I am going to sell Glenmore a dog,” Michael said evenly.
    “The Earl of Glenmore? But you said he would take only—”
    “—only Cailean, that’s right.” Michael glanced at the great dog, which lifted its ears and began thumping its tail at hearing its name. Ignoring the sick feeling in his midsection, he said, “The sum he has offered won’t repay the debt to Sir Renfrew, but I believe it will be enough to take the three of us to London in style.”
    “London!” Bridget stared at him in astonishment. Then, as if fearing to put the matter to a test, she turned and left the room without another word.

CHAPTER THREE
    Glen Moidart
    Near Ardmolich
    Later That Same Morning
    W HEN THE BELL RANG to announce that his men were ready to tap the iron, Sir Renfrew Campbell looked around his newest bloomery with satisfaction. The iron ore from England had made it safely from his wharf at Abernish to the smelter in the lush forest that had once belonged to the MacDonnells and which was now part of his own vast, sprawling estate. Sir Renfrew was one of the largest landholders in the Western