Amanda Scott Read Online Free PDF Page A

“But I’m thinking there were Macleans aplenty before that Flood, and afterward as well.”
    “So ye say,” Macleod said. “However, I ha’ never heard that any Maclean walked aboard Noah’s Ark.”
    “Noah’s Ark?” Hector said, raising his eyebrows. “Faith, we’d no need of Noah’s Ark. Whoever heard of a Maclean that had not a good boat of his own?”
    A heavy silence fell, as if everyone in the chamber had stopped breathing. Then Macleod uttered a bark of laughter, and Hector grinned at him.
    “Truly, sir,” he said, “I meant no disrespect, but you ken my history well enough, and my present position in the Isles as well. Surely, you must agree that an alliance betwixt our two families would serve us both well.”
    “’Tis true ye’ve acquired a deal o’ power,” Macleod admitted. “Leastways, that wily brother o’ yours has, and ye’ve acquired a respectable amount o’ land, too, thanks to his canny ways.”
    “Is it true they call your brother Lachlan the Wily?” Isobel asked.
    “Aye, lass,” Hector said, smiling at her. “He is Lord High Admiral of the Isles and also serves as master of his grace’s household.”
    “I’ve heard of him,” she said. “Is it true that he abducted his grace and—?”
    “That will do, Isobel,” Macleod said harshly. “I dinna want to hear your voice again, or things will go very unpleasantly for ye.”
    Grimacing, the little girl muttered, “Yes, sir.”
    Macleod glowered next at his guest. “We see what the world has come to when bairns ken as much about the doings o’ the powerful as that wee one does. Your brother—aye, and ye, too—should be ashamed o’ some of the things ye’ve done to gain your positions.”
    “My brother would respectfully disagree with you, sir, for he believes that in a good cause, even wrongdoing can be virtuous.”
    “But no man should serve as judge in his own case,” Lady Euphemia said.
    Clearly startled, Hector said with his charming smile, “You have read the Maxims of Publilius Syrus, madam?”
    “Oh, goodness no,” Lady Euphemia said, shooting a nervous look at her brother, who was frowning again. “Mercy me, sir, how very strange that you should mistake me for a Latin scholar, when I promise you I am no such thing. Why, everyone knows that only the sterner sex can benefit from education, and so it doubtless astonishes you that I, a mere female, should have had any at all, but my father, although not as learned a man as your own, was generous with his daughters and allowed us to sit with our brothers if we liked, whilst they took lessons with their tutors. You, I am sure, have a far greater acquaintance with the Roman masters than I, but I do find some of their notions quite fascinating. I confess, though, that I admire Sextus Propertius more than Publilius Syrus, for it was Sextus, was it not, who said, ‘There is something beyond the grave; death does not end all, and the pale ghost escapes from the vanquished pyre.’ So comforting, don’t you agree?”
    “I own, madam, that I am not familiar with that particular quotation,” he said with what Cristina believed was commendable, and extremely civil, restraint.
    “Oh, but one cannot be surprised at that, can one?” Lady Euphemia said. “For like many educated gentlemen, you have doubtless acquired much learning, sir, so one cannot wonder at your having forgotten a few things, whilst it must astonish you that I should have dared to speak so forwardly as I did. But to be telling the children, particularly such an outspoken child as our Isobel, that doing wrong can ever be virtuous—”
    “Be silent, woman,” Macleod snapped. “He doesna want to hear it. Nor do I.”
    “Oh, certainly, Murdo . . . That is, certainly not! Pray forgive me, my lord,” she added to Hector. “I cannot imagine what prompted me to speak so to you.”
    “That rattling tongue o’ yours needs nae prompting,” Macleod said sourly.
    “Her ladyship clearly has a