Page 91 of The Last Debutante

Robbie told him some of what had happened at the cottage. There had been a heated argument, and Daria had fled from her grandmother. He told Jamie how ragged the old woman had looked, her decline evident since the last time they’d seen her.

It was Mackenzie who told him what Mrs. Moss had said, having learned it from Charity. Mackenzie told him that long ago, Charity’s father had stood accused of having stolen priceless jewels from Lady Ashwood, and had hanged for it. Years later, it was discovered he’d died an innocent man, that Lord Ashwood had made it appear as if the jewels had been stolen. And he’d allowed the woodcarver to be accused and hanged for the crime. The earl had disappeared, presumed to have drowned in a swollen river—but the secret the old woman had been keeping was that he was very much alive, living in an abandoned Scottish fort.

Jamie ordered four men to go and bring the earl to Dundavie at once.

But he still did not understand why Daria would not see him.

He brooded, pacing before the hearth in his study.

He brooded until Geordie entered the study with his slate, which he put under Jamie’s nose.What?

Jamie didn’t want to try to explain his heart—he could scarcely understand it himself. He shook his head. “It’s quite complicated, aye?”

With a dark frown, Geordie erased his slate and wrote,Mut. Na dum.

Jamie sighed. “No, you are no’ dumb. All right, then, brother. I have fallen in love. But no’ with Isabella Brodie.”

Geordie’s brows lifted and he gestured for Jamie to go on. So Jamie told him what he was feeling for Daria. That he’d refused the Brodies’ latest offer. That he expected to be squeezed mightily between the Brodies and the Murchisons.

Geordie nodded. He wrote,Good.

That surprised Jamie. “Good? Have you heard a word?”

Geordie nodded.

Jamie studied his brother. “You like her, then?”

Geordie smiled.I,he wrote. And then another word that Jamie thought was Gaelic for “spirited,” although it was impossible to be certain. He also wroteSasnak.

“Sassenach, aye, that she is,” Jamie said, and shrugged helplessly.

Geordie erased the slate.Good for Dundavie.

Remarkably, the words were as clear as if Geordie had spoken them. Jamie smiled. “Thank you. I needed to hear a bit of support.”

Geordie nodded, then frowned.Hast,he wrote.

“Haste?” Jamie shook his head. “I am paralyzed as long as she remains locked away from me.”

Geordie grabbed his elbow and pulled him to the window. Jamie looked out to see his footmen loading bags and a trunk on the back of Mackenzie’s coach in the rain.

She was leaving him.No, no!Jamie whirled around from the window and dashed from his study, Geordie at his side.

He reached the foyer just as Mackenzie stepped inside.

“What are you doing?” Jamie demanded.

Mackenzie’s demeanor changed slightly, and he squared off in front of Jamie. “The ransom has been paid, aye? We are leaving.”

“And who wouldwebe then?” Jamie demanded.

“If you are referring to Miss Babcock, she has spoken with her parents and they want to leave at once.”

“No,” Jamie said.

“Aye,” Mackenzie said calmly. “As I said, the ransom has been paid.”

Jamie had waited long enough, and he intended to demand answers. But when he turned for the stairs he saw Daria slowly coming down, her parents and Miss Scott behind her. She was dressed in a heavy cloak, her step leaden and her face drawn.