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choice but to agree.  There was nothing more she could do at the pub.  Valerie was obviously not coming.  She would just try to go to bed , and pray that she would show up in the morning.  Maybe this was just some dramatic reaction to Michael’s wedding.  Deep down , Lou didn’t believe that.  She knew her sister too well , and she prayed that the detective would shed some light on the case.

 
     
    Chapter 6
    June 1605
     
    Alec had a number of questions to put to his unexpected guest, but they all died on his lips when he saw Valerie Crane walk into the dining room the following morning on the heels of Betty.  She was wearing a blue gown that had belonged to Rose , and the color only served to accentuate the dark smudges under her eyes and the pallor of her skin.  It was obvious that she had been crying , and Alec felt a terrible pity for the girl.  She looked so frail and ill. 
    Alec did not really believe that she didn’t know what happened to her, she just didn’t want to tell him.  She was obviously not from around here , and judging by her odd speech , she must have come from somewhere abroad.   She might have married an Englishman and left her home , only to find her husband cruel or violent.  She would not be the first.  She was obviously terrified of being found out , and he had no intention of forcing her to return home.  In his experience, very few women ran away from home, so her situation must have been particularly bad.  Judging from her clear complexion and soft hands, she was obviously not a servant , and her proud bearing proclaimed her to be of the upper classes.  She was most likely educated and bred for the life of a lady.  In any case, if there was anything to find out, Finlay would no doubt charm it out of her in short order.  Women had a way of opening up to his brother, he thought, as he rose to bid Miss Crane a good morrow.
    “How are you feeling this morning, Mistress Crane?”  He could tell exactly how she was feeling, but he felt the need to say something and that was the first thing that came to mind.
    “ I ’ m all right, thank you.”  She looked away from him as quickly as possible , a voiding eye contact.  Poor girl , he thought , I am not going to hurt you .  He did, however, feel the need to address the issue somehow without frightening her.
    “Is there anywhere I can escort you?”  Her eyes flew to his in obvious panic.
    “No, I ’ ve nowhere to go.”  Her hands were trembling in her lap and he felt a cad for asking, but to say nothing would be strange under the circumstances.
    “Might someone be looking for you, Mistress Crane?  A relative , or a friend, perhaps?”
    “I don’t believe so, Mr. Whitfield.”  Alec was wondering what to say next , when he was rescued by the arrival of his brother.  Finn came strolling into the dining room and stopped at the sight of Valerie.  Alec couldn’t help noticing that his brother was wearing his favorite green doublet which brought out the color of his eyes, knowing full well that the girl was said to be attractive.  He smiled into his napkin and watched the exchange with interest.
    “Finlay Whitfield at your service, Mistress Crane.”  He took the girl’s hand and bowed over it , before placing a gentle kiss and gazing into her eyes.  “ I must confess that i f re gaining your memory means losing you, then I hope you never recover.” 
    Alec nearly groaned with disgust, but the girl seemed to respond to Finlay and smiled up at him with gratitude.  He was obviously on the right track, that devil.  Finlay was not about to stop.
    “This tomb of a castle is in desperate need of a woman’s beauty.  You have lit up the dining room like the morning sun.”  Alec wanted to point out that the dining room was indeed lit up by the morning sun, but looked down instead to hide his grin.  Finn was certainly having better results than he was.  Valerie was looking at him with open admiration, the fear