“It near broke my heart to treat such a good piece of meat in such a way.""Aye," Red said with feeling. "I watched ye do it, and it near made me cry,too."Sophia laughed and hugged her father. "When this is over,Mary will cook you an entire leg of mutton, perfectly roasted and seasoned."His eyes brightened. "With mint sauce?""Aye," Mary said, beaming.”

“Though he may dally with loose women, he's been raised a gentleman. He would never touch me unless I gave him permission." He might use incredibly powerful seduction tactics, but that was her problem, not Angus's."Aye," Mary said. "Don't ye remember how the miss took care o' the squire's son when he tried to kiss her in the garden?" She beamed at Sophia. "That was well done."Sophia grinned. "He limped for a week"Angus grunted. "The squire's son isn't half the man this one is. This is no boy ye're dealin' with here. He's a man's man;ye can see it in his eyes."She placed a hand on his arm. "Angus, if it will make you feel better, I promise to call for help if MacLean so much as looks askance at me.”

“Gor," she breathed when she picked up the nearly empty tureen. "Someone done eat the soup!""Never!" Angus said, his eyes as wide as saucers."All of it," she said, holding the tureen toward Angus.He peered into it as if expecting to see a hole in the bottom. "Well, I'll be.""It was excellent," Dougal said.Angus sent Dougal a look of respect. "Ye must have an iron stomach.""Indeed," Mary said, a worried look on her face. "I beg yer pardon, me lord, but do ye feel well? There was a bit of pepper in that soup."Dougal shrugged. "I'm fine. And I must get that recipe to give to my own chef.""Gor!" Mary blinked at him, unable to look away.Angus did the same.Dougal smiled inquiringly at Sophia. "I feel as if I've become an exhibit at the British Museum.”

“Blast it! Where is that letter?"Sophia pulled it from her pocket. "I have it here."Sir Reginald's voice lifted with amazament. "You took that from me? When we were-""Yes," she said, her color high. "I thought you'd sold my jewelry and that the envelope contained the payment. I wanted proof,so I took it.""By kissing me?"Outside, lightning cracked."You kissed him?" Dougal demanded."Only once.""Actually, it was twice," Sir Reginald said softly.Dougal punched him, sending the dandy flying into the wall, where he slid to the floor."B'God, that's a nice one!" Red cried. "MacLean, I'd like to see you in a real mill.""Aye," the earl agreed. "He's got a good solid left.""What do you know about boxing? Red asked rudely."I've seen every large match for the last-"Thunder crashed as lightning sent shards of light flashing into the great hall."That's enough," Dougal said firmly, noting Sophia's pale face.”

“Dougal lifted his spoon and slit it into his mouth. Immediately, a frozen look came over his face.Sophia tensed.He removed the spoon from his mouth.Sophia gripped her own spoon tighter.A slow red crept up his face, his eyes watering slightly.Ha! Mary's soup was working its magic. Pleased, Sophia pretended to eat some soup.Dougal slapped a hand on the table.The dishes and Sophia jumped. "What's wrong?"He pointed to his bowl with his spoon. "That.""The soup? Why, whatever's wrong with it?""Nothing.That is the best soup I've ever had."Sophia blinked. Surely he hadn't just said-He dipped his spoon back into his bowl and took another large bite. Though his eyes watered and his face turned a deeper red, he continued to eat, murmuring, "Excellent!" every third bite or so.Sophia looked at her own soup, which reeked of garlic and pepper and onion. Mary had added a large amount of salt, as well. But watching MacLean eat with gusto made her question her perceptions.What if Mary's natural ability to cook had overcome her attempts to provide an inedible meal?Sophia dipped her spoon into herbowl and gingerly sniffed the contents, grimacing at the strong odor. Casting a puzzled look at MacLean, who was about finished with his soup, she put the spoon into her mouth.The burning sensation of pepper mingled with the rancid taste of uncooked garlic and what could only have been salted dishwater. She jerked the spoon from her mouth and grabbed her water goblet, pouring it into her mouth to wash down the horrid taste.Gasping, she glared with watery, accusing eyes at MacLean.He seemed not to have noticed anything, too busy scraping the bottom of his bowl, as if afraid some succulent tidbit might have escaped him. Finding nothing more, he placed his spoon on the table and sat back, wiping his mouth with his napkin. "That was the best soup I've ever been served. I believe I'll have more.""More? Are you...are you certain?""I'm positive.”

“Bloody hell, what did he hit me with? An anvil?""His fist.""You should put that fool in a bear-baiting pit. You'd make a fortune." Dougal struggled to rise.Sophia helped him on one side, Mary slipping under his other arm.The wind swirled a bit harder, sending dust into the air."Heavens!" Mary said, glancing over their heads at the sky. "That's the third thunderhead as has passed this way today."Sophia turned. A huge bank of thunderclouds hung overhead, roiling as if alive."We should get inside," she said uneasily.Dougal didn't even glance at the clouds as he held a hand over his bruised eye and cheek. "Bloody hell, I can barely see.”

“You told me he was dead."Red said through his teeth, "There was no point,for there's no meaner, more petty man in all of God's England.""At least I'm not a wastrel," the old man snapped.Red started toward the old man, but Sophia stepped between them. "Red, don't."He looked as if he might burst into flames, then snapped, "I came to get you, Sophie.Have Mary bring your things, and let's go.”