Page 42 of Stealing Sophie

Connor nodded. “I have asked them not to pay me, but they insist on giving me part of the customary rent, though they are pay Campbell less to make up for it. He does not realize it so far.”

“Cheating the cheater. Good.” Neill nodded.

“They cannot afford to pay and should not take the risk,” Connor said.

“Some of them borrow from Campbell’s herds and sell the livestock, so they are paying him with his own proceeds.” Neill chuckled. “The best way to change that is to gain back your rightful lands.”

“Would that I could,” Connor murmured. “Come on, I want a look at the road.”

Neill glanced toward the castle on the hill behind them. “Your bride—you should not spend the day away–“

”It is fine,” Connor answered. “She is exhausted after last night.”

“Exhausted?” Neill lifted a brow.

“From the journey,” Connor snapped. “She will rest today. We will be back soon.”

“Roderick, take up your post by the house until we return,” Neill told his son. “And do not let Kinnoull’s bride escape. Kate MacCarran is a clever lass.”

”She is not Kate MacCarran,” Connor said. “Though she is a clever lass.” The Murrays turned to stare at him.

“Not Kate?” Neill looked dumbfounded.

“It seems that I have married Kate’s sister Sophie.”

“What!” Neill and Roderick gaped, looking one to the other.

“Duncrieff has another sister. This one just came back from a convent.”

“A nun?” Neill’s brows rose high. Roderick laughed.

Connor shot them both a dark glare. “Not quite a nun, but close enough. To be fair, she looks like Kate, certainly enough to fool me. Two bonny blond lasses.”

“Well, then,” Roderick said, “what is the problem?”

“Jesu, lad,” Connor said.

“I would not have thought the lass a nun,” Neill said. “Though she did cow Andrew with just one look. They have a way about them, nuns.”

“All that praying,” Roderick said. “All that holiness. It is frightening.”

“Andrew is easily cowed,” Connor pointed out, “and Sophie is not a nun.” Educated there, she had said. He knew few details otherwise. The fact that she was one sister and not the other was more than enough detail to digest for now.

“Ach,I hope for your sake the wee nun enjoys being a wife more than praying.” Neill winked.

“None of this is amusing,” Connor said, fixing both Murrays with a dark look.

“But how is it you married the wrong lass?” Roderick asked.

“I was told she was on her way to Duncrieff and would meet with Sir Henry yesterday. And their names are similar. This one is Katherine Sophia.” Connor shrugged. “I thought she was Kate.”

“Tcha,”Neill said. “Duncrieff should have made it clear. Perhaps he thought you would refuse to marry a nun.”

“He would be right,” Connor said.

“But where is Kate now?” Roderick asked.

“London. Her sister Sophie came over from the Continent only days ago.”