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“What is it? What about my sister?”

The young serving boy looked as if he wished to be anywhere but standing in that doorway.

“She’s . . . ,” he stuttered. “She’s here.”

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“Here?” Gillian asked in bafflement.

“Belowstairs, my lady,” the boy said.

It took a moment for the words to fully wash over her. When they did, she lifted her gown and ran toward the hall.

“Gillian,” Graeme called after her.

She slowed just enough for him to catch her.

“How is it possible your sister is at Highgate?”

Gillian didn’t like the accusation in his voice. Did he think she’d lied to him and sent for her sister despite his concerns? That she’d conjure a story about having the impending marriage under control?

“I do not know,” she replied bitterly, moving as fast as she could.

Bursting into the hall with Graeme behind her, Gillian ran to Allie, noticing she had brought at least four men with her.

“Allie!”

Throwing her arms around her sister, Gillian hugged her as if she’d not seen her in years. She’d thought about her every day and night. Indeed, her dreams the evening before had been riddled with weddings and darkness. Nightmares, in fact, though she’d only just remembered them at this moment.

“What are you doing here?”

Graeme reached them and inclined his head in greeting. If he suspected something was awry, there was no sign of either now. He smiled as if Allie were the king of Scotland, come to visit Highgate.

“Greetings, Lady Allie,” he said.

“My lord.”

“Graeme,” he corrected.

Allie smiled, that broad, open smile she’d had even as a babe.

“Then please, Allie.” She turned to Gillian. “I will explain everything.”

She looked up as Morgan hurried into the room. No doubt she’d just learned about Allie’s arrival. The women embraced as Graeme directed the servants to assist the men who’d accompanied Allie. Her father’s men.

“I am most anxious to learn how you came to be here,” Gillian said. Turning to Graeme out of respect, though she was still peeved by his first reaction to the news of her sister’s unexpected visit, she said, “Will you join us?”

“Nay,” he said, his expression giving no indication of his earlier mistrust. “Speak in private with your sister.”

Allie’s smile grew.

One more woman under her husband’s spell.

Gillian tugged on her sister’s hand and led her to a corridor and up a set of stone stairs. The women emerged on the very same parapet where Graeme had found Gillian, kissed her, and whisked her away to their bedchamber.

The day they’d first made love.

“Oh, Gill, ’tis so beautiful.”