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stood holding yards of chintz between them. The cloth flowed over their belled skirts like a stream of cabbage roses.
    "Oh, dear, Aunt Lillias gave that tea set to your father," Amy said. "A pity to lose a piece of it. Knick-knacks and memorabilia lend such charm and tradition to a home."
    "And images of the monarch are so verra cheering to the spirit." His father's sister, Lillias—Lady Balmossie—peered at him from her place on the sofa. She leaned to pick up her embroidery in its hand frame and smiled at him, cheeks dimpling and lace cap bobbing, black taffeta skirt rustling as she moved.
    "Cousin Aedan will have no nice things left at Dundrennan if Miss Thistle is allowed to run about." Amy turned in her flounced lavender gown just as a silver spoon sailed past her blond head and dropped to the floor.
    "Miss Thistle, stop tossing the whigmaleeries aboot!" Lady Balmossie snapped without looking up from her embroidery. Meg laughed, standing by the window, its glass lashed in pouring rain.
    Perched on the arm of a chair, Miss Thistle chattered loudly in reply, showed her small teeth, then reached for another dish from the tea tray. Aedan took an abrupt warning step toward the little monkey. She retreated hastily, tail swirling beneath the frills of her peach satin gown.
    "She misbehaves so," Amy complained.
    Aedan gathered the saucer shards in his handkerchief and set them on a table with the spoon. "Thistle, fling the pewter instead. It will only dent up a bit."
    "You missed tea again yesterday, Aedan," Amy said. "We waited it for you, but Aunt Lill was famished for her sweets." She pouted prettily.
    "I was at the work site, dear cousin," he said mildly.
    "You should not work like a laborer. You are laird of an ancient estate now."
    "A day's labor is honest means for many Highland men. I only use a shovel now and then to help my crew."
    "We did not see your guests at breakfast," Amy said. "Mrs. Gunn said they arrived last night."
    "Most people take their breakfast a little earlier than you, Amy." Aedan smiled. "I didn't see them either, but I went early to the site. The rains proved too much today, so I returned and went with Tam to fetch Dougal and his bride from the train station." He glanced at Meg, who returned an enchanting smile. In the months since he had met her, Aedan could easily understand why his cousin and good friend, Dougal Stewart, had fallen in love with her.
    "Mrs. Gunn will bring the museum guests here for introductions," Lady Balmossie said. "Mornings are for visiting, after all. You can bring them out to your wee hill later, Aedan."
    "That may have to be tomorrow. It's raining now, and it looks to continue much of the day. Thistle," he warned, seeing the little creature reaching for Lady Balmossie's teacup. The monkey chittered and folded her arms. Lady Balmossie laughed.
    "Aunt Lill, why must we always bring Miss Thistle with us when we come to Dundrennan?" Amy asked. "We should leave her at Balmossie."
    "She likes it here. Dundrennan was her home when my dear brother Hugh was alive," Lady Balmossie answered, as Thistle crossed the back of the sofa behind her, tail waving.
    "But she is tiresome." Amy went to the window to help Meg hold up the fabric. "Look. This would make lovely drapes," she went on. "And we should replace that rug with a tartan pattern carpet like the carpet we're putting in the corridors. The plaid would look so well with the flowers. What do you think, Aedan?"
    He glanced at the blue draperies, worn brocaded sofa, faded but handsome Turkey carpet. The furnishings in the sitting room were shabby and outdated, but they would do, and had belonged to his mother. He cherished the childhood memories and comfort here, and did not think everything should change at Dundrennan.
    "This room is fine," he answered, watching Thistle's tail disappear beneath a chair.
    "Dougal said the same!" Amy sighed in exasperation.
    "Then they agree." Meg smiled.
    Aedan wrinkled his nose at her in amusement.