The door slammed shut on Ophelia’s exit from Neville’s sitting room, making him wince at the unexpected sound. But then he leaned back in his chair with a thoughtful look, wondering if he hadn’t overdone it a bit with the girl.

“Having second thoughts, are ye?” Archibald asked when he poked his head around the large reading chair by the window where he had sat unnoticed, at least by Ophelia.

“Second, third, and fourth is more like it, Neville said in a tired tone.

“Och, dinna fash yerself, mon. If yer thinking she’s the innocent in all this, yer dead wrong. She did something tae enrage the lad, or he wouldna hae taken his anger tae her, throwing caution tae the winds.”

“Did he ever tell you what that was, or at least what started it all?”

Archibald sighed as he changed chairs, putting himself on the other side of Neville’s desk. “He willna speak o’ that night, no’ e’en tae me. Believe me, I’ve asked, but he just gets angry again each time it’s mentioned. He blames himself, and his temper, for the whole mess. And it’s breaking m’heart tae see him sae miserable.”

“You think I like this any better?” Neville asked. “You were the one who claimed it didn’t matter what the girl was made of, as long as she was beautiful. You see now that it does matter?”

“Ye dinna need tae belabor the point,” Archie grouched. “Why d’ye think I suggested ye hae that talk wi’ her? She was looking tae bluidy pleased wi’ the results o’ this fiasco. Now she isna, and if anyone can figure a way oout o’ this, it’ll be a schemer like her. And ye did nae more’n tell her the truth, or did ye embellish a wee bit?”

“Embellish, no. Overstressed a bit, indeed. Of course, I already knew she would never fit in here. Knew that after first meeting her, which is why I was so glad Duncan was able to see past her pretty face.” Neville sighed at that point. “I just don’t think that what was said here today is going to make any difference. There simply is no way to get out of this. The girl can’t break the engagement even if she does now wish she could. Her reputation will be shredded beyond repair if that little incident in her bedroom ever gets out. She knows that as well as we do.”

“But ye’ve heard nothing yet aboot it. The lass who walked in and saw them together in the bedroom, wherever she went, hasna spread any gossip aboot it. Did ye consider she just may no’ be the type tae spread gossip? Even though she might hate Ophelia and relish her downfall as the lass claimed was the case, her scruples may prevent her from getting revenge in such a despicable way.”

“That isn’t something that can be left to chance, Archibald, and well you know it. Whether Mavis Newbolt would have started the scandal or not is redundant. We had to assume the worst and take the steps to prevent it, which we did. We’ve heard nothing because it’s passé gossip now, due to the announced engagement. What would have been shocking, now might only raise a brow or two. The engagement completely took the scandal out of the equation.”

“And ye’ve still had nae luck finding this lass?” Archie asked.

Neville ran a hand through his white hair in frustration. “Completely disappeared, and now her parents as well.”

Archibald frowned, hearing that, and speculated, “Are they merely afeared o’ ye?”

Neville snorted. “I wish that were the case, but no. Lord Newbolt is the type of man who doesn’t like to be questioned—about anything, and most particularly when he doesn’t have the answers. I’ve been informed that he was quite livid when my man showed up at his door for the fourth time, refused to speak to him again, and soon after, took him and his wife out of London so they wouldn’t be bothered further. If they did know where their daughter went when she left here, they aren’t about to say so. My guess is that she hasn’t let them know where she is, and that is one reason Lord Newbolt blew up about it.”

“Och, why in the bluidy hell does this hae tae be sae difficult? How hard can it be tae track down one wee lass? Are yer hirelings utter incompetents?”

Neville ignored the last question, remarking, “It could simply be coincidence that we haven’t found her yet. But I’m beginning to think otherwise, that she’s gone into hiding instead. If she has, then we had better start turning our discussions into how to keep our future great-grandchildren away from the influence of their mother.”

Archibald waved that aside. “Ye’ll simply send them tae me sooner than ye planned tae. She’ll no’ be wanting tae come tae the Highlands, believe me.”

“That is not an option,” Neville growled.

“Sae we’re back to bickering amongst ourselves, are we?” Archibald shot back.

“Not at all,” Neville replied stiffly. “I’m merely pointing out that Duncan’s children will be English, will learn a love for this country, will sound like Englishmen before you get your hands on them.”

“Dinna insult me more’n ye hae tae, mon, or I may be thinking ye dinna like me anymore,” Archie remarked with a chuckle.

Neville scowled at him. “I’m glad you got the point, though how you can find anything amusing about this situation baffles me.”

“The situation is no’ the least bit amusing, but ye are when ye take on yer English airs. Now, dinna get all up in arms again, mon. We are on the same side in no’ wanting the Reid lass in the family. Sae why do we no’ just delay the bluidy wedding until the other lass can be found?”

Neville was back to sighing. “Because the same outcome applies. If the girl is sitting on the scandal because it will do her little good to spread it just now, with the wedding pending, then what do you think she will do with the information she has if she suspects the engagement is just a farce? She might start spreading the tale then, and that will guarantee an immediate wedding.”

“D’ye ken who it is we’re trying tae protect here, tae the detriment o’ yer family and mine?”

“If you are suggesting that we let Ophelia Reid take her own chances, and throw her to the wolves, so to speak, I have considered that, since she does hardly deserve our efforts to protect her after what she did—at least in my own opinion. I even alluded to it with Duncan, though indirectly. Now, tell me, what do you suppose his reaction was, when he considers himself responsible?”

It was Archie’s turn to sigh. “He’s a good lad, Duncan is. E’en hating her, he’d nae see her harmed through a fault o’ his. Sae that still leaves us searching for the Newbolt lass, or hoping Lady Ophelia herself can think o’ something tae get oout o’ marrying Duncan, now ye’ve given her good incentive tae work on it.”

“You may think she’s devious enough to come up with something, but I’m not counting on it, and will double efforts to find Mavis instead. Believe me, if I can find her, I will do whatever is necessary to gain her silence—pay her off, threaten her, plead with her, whatever it takes. But I have to find her first, and our time is running out.”