it to themselves, and those who encounter it…wisely look away.”
“So everyone in Glen Kinloch is either a smuggler or knows a smuggler.”
“We are hardly a nest of criminals here, Miss MacCarran. The people of this glen are fine and honest folk, and do what they must to survive.”
“You seem to be warning me to look away as well.”
He paused beside her, and she halted, too, noticing how dark and compelling his gaze seemed in the misty light. “Take it as a fair warning,” he murmured. “Your kinsmen work on the side of the law, which will not sit well with the residents of this glen.”
“Only one of my brothers is involved with revenue collection, and he is not assigned here.”
“Only one? How many brothers do you have?”
“Three. One is a physician in Edinburgh. My twin brother and a cousin of ours both have estatesin this part of the Highlands. In terms of Highland hospitality, I believe that makes me less than a stranger here. Besides,” she added, “I was invited to come here.”
“You have other kinsmen here, besides the gauger?” he asked quickly.
“My twin, James, Viscount Struan, has an estate southeast of here.”
“Struan! I had heard that a Lowlander inherited the estate there.” He paused. “Did your brother marry a Highland girl, by chance?”
“He did. Miss Elspeth MacArthur of Kilcrennan. Do you know her?”
“Her father, the weaver of Kilcrennan, is a distant cousin.” He narrowed his eyes. “Twin brother, is it? You two will be close, then. No doubt he will visit you here.”
“He has been in Edinburgh for some months. He is a lecturing professor.”
“I see. And what of the cousin?”
“The Earl of Eldin. But we are not so close, he and I.”
“Eldin is the one who purchased Auchnashee to turn it into a hotel.” He frowned. “We have not met, but I have heard of him. So you are an earl’s cousin, the sister of a viscount, and sister to a gauger as well.” Frowning thoughtfully, he seemed to assess her.
“So you see, I have ties to the Highlands, as you do,” she pointed out.
“Not quite as I do, I will venture to guess. Whenwere you at Auchnashee last? I hear the hotel is near ready, and is reserving dates for guests on holiday.”
“I was there two days ago, and it is coming along. But I suspect it is not Eldin who most concerns you, but Patrick.”
“The excise officer.” He inclined his head. “Then I assume the gentleman I saw you with earlier was one of your brothers—unless you have a suitor here you have not owned to.”
“Of course not. Patrick was walking with me. You saw us there?”
“I keep watch over my mountain and my glen. Where my gaze does not reach, others keep lookout for me.” He smiled, but it had an edge. “I wonder if the reverend knew your brother was a revenue officer when he invited you.”
“It never came up. Patrick’s appointment came after I agreed to the post here. His jurisdiction is south, so you need not worry about that. But he will come here to see me—and to make sure I am safe,” she added pointedly.
“Miss MacCarran,” he said, “I will guarantee your safety.”
Catching her breath at his deep, certain tone, she felt something indefinable, both pleasant and yearning, thrill through her. But she squared her shoulders. “I do not fear any danger in Glen Kinloch. It seems you are the one who needs to be cautious. The king’s men were eager to find Dougal MacGregor.”
“They know where I am if they want to talk to me. The excise men suspect me of much, but have never been able to prove anything. It is the price of being laird in a glen where, aye, some smuggling does go on. The laird is easy to blame for it.”
“Ah. There is a smuggler called the Laird. You are he?”
“I am laird of this glen,” he said.
“We were forced to hide while your kinsmen pretended you were another. If you are legitimately the laird of this area, why hide?”
“That was for your protection, Miss
“So everyone in Glen Kinloch is either a smuggler or knows a smuggler.”
“We are hardly a nest of criminals here, Miss MacCarran. The people of this glen are fine and honest folk, and do what they must to survive.”
“You seem to be warning me to look away as well.”
He paused beside her, and she halted, too, noticing how dark and compelling his gaze seemed in the misty light. “Take it as a fair warning,” he murmured. “Your kinsmen work on the side of the law, which will not sit well with the residents of this glen.”
“Only one of my brothers is involved with revenue collection, and he is not assigned here.”
“Only one? How many brothers do you have?”
“Three. One is a physician in Edinburgh. My twin brother and a cousin of ours both have estatesin this part of the Highlands. In terms of Highland hospitality, I believe that makes me less than a stranger here. Besides,” she added, “I was invited to come here.”
“You have other kinsmen here, besides the gauger?” he asked quickly.
“My twin, James, Viscount Struan, has an estate southeast of here.”
“Struan! I had heard that a Lowlander inherited the estate there.” He paused. “Did your brother marry a Highland girl, by chance?”
“He did. Miss Elspeth MacArthur of Kilcrennan. Do you know her?”
“Her father, the weaver of Kilcrennan, is a distant cousin.” He narrowed his eyes. “Twin brother, is it? You two will be close, then. No doubt he will visit you here.”
“He has been in Edinburgh for some months. He is a lecturing professor.”
“I see. And what of the cousin?”
“The Earl of Eldin. But we are not so close, he and I.”
“Eldin is the one who purchased Auchnashee to turn it into a hotel.” He frowned. “We have not met, but I have heard of him. So you are an earl’s cousin, the sister of a viscount, and sister to a gauger as well.” Frowning thoughtfully, he seemed to assess her.
“So you see, I have ties to the Highlands, as you do,” she pointed out.
“Not quite as I do, I will venture to guess. Whenwere you at Auchnashee last? I hear the hotel is near ready, and is reserving dates for guests on holiday.”
“I was there two days ago, and it is coming along. But I suspect it is not Eldin who most concerns you, but Patrick.”
“The excise officer.” He inclined his head. “Then I assume the gentleman I saw you with earlier was one of your brothers—unless you have a suitor here you have not owned to.”
“Of course not. Patrick was walking with me. You saw us there?”
“I keep watch over my mountain and my glen. Where my gaze does not reach, others keep lookout for me.” He smiled, but it had an edge. “I wonder if the reverend knew your brother was a revenue officer when he invited you.”
“It never came up. Patrick’s appointment came after I agreed to the post here. His jurisdiction is south, so you need not worry about that. But he will come here to see me—and to make sure I am safe,” she added pointedly.
“Miss MacCarran,” he said, “I will guarantee your safety.”
Catching her breath at his deep, certain tone, she felt something indefinable, both pleasant and yearning, thrill through her. But she squared her shoulders. “I do not fear any danger in Glen Kinloch. It seems you are the one who needs to be cautious. The king’s men were eager to find Dougal MacGregor.”
“They know where I am if they want to talk to me. The excise men suspect me of much, but have never been able to prove anything. It is the price of being laird in a glen where, aye, some smuggling does go on. The laird is easy to blame for it.”
“Ah. There is a smuggler called the Laird. You are he?”
“I am laird of this glen,” he said.
“We were forced to hide while your kinsmen pretended you were another. If you are legitimately the laird of this area, why hide?”
“That was for your protection, Miss
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