Free Seduced by a Rogue by Amanda Scott Page B

still plagued wi’ him.”
    “So I am, but welcome to Trailinghail,” Rob said. “What news do you bring?”
    “As to that, sir, ye mayn’t like some of it.”
    “Tell me anyway.”
    “Aye, well, I heard rumors in Kirkcudbright that the sheriff does intend to seize lands from men of Annandale and other such
     places as refuse to bend to his will,” Dow said. “Men fear such talk may lead to clan war.”
    “Aye, it might,” Rob said. Realizing he’d sounded curt, he said cordially, “What further news have you?” Most information
     of value that reached Trailinghail came from such itinerant tradesmen, who collected and shared it as they traveled.
    “I’ve summat and nowt,” the knacker said with a twinkle. “Ye did say ye ha’ work here for a thirsty man, did ye no?”
    “I do, and a drink for you first, if you’ll come inside,” Rob said. When they had settled by the hall fire, he said, “You
     told me you were for Annandale, I think.”
    “Och, aye, and I’ll be there again afore too long,” Dow said. “Ye ken fine that I take work where I find it, so I ken Annandale
     as well as Nithsdale or Galloway. I did hear that ye’d visited Dunwythie Mains and other estates whilst
ye
was there.”
    “I did,” Rob said. “What can you tell me about Lord Dunwythie?”
    “A gey good man,” Dow said. “Treats his people well, and he’s a fair man, too, highly respected and peaceable. More so than
     most o’ that Annandale lot, I’d say. Lord Johnstone o’ Johnstone, now he be a fierce one. And I’m thinking ye ken Old Jardine
     and
his
lot for yourself, sir.”
    “I do. What do you know of Dunwythie’s family?” Rob inquired mildly as he leaned forward to add more whisky to Dow’s goblet
     from the jug.
    “His lordship’s ancestors were in Annandale afore the Bruce, and—”
    “I don’t care about his ancestors,” Rob said testily. “I want to know about his immediate family. He has at least two daughters,
     for I saw them.”
    “Aye, he does, and nary a son,” the knacker said. “His lady be frequently wi’ child, but…” He spread his hands.
    “I saw Lady Dunwythie when I was at Dunwythie Mains,” Rob said. “She does not look much older than her daughters.”
    “She do still be
young
enough to bear babes,” Dow said, doubt visible in his slight frown. “But aside from her daughter—”
    “Daughters,” Rob reminded him gently.
    “Aye, sure, I expect she does look upon both o’ them as hers.”
    “Are they not?”
    “Nay, only the younger one, the lady Fiona.”
    “I see. Then his elder daughter…”
    “Men say the lady Mairi would be his lordship’s declared heir but for his lady wife’s insisting
she
will give him a son. Meantime, nae one can be sure the lass will succeed to aught save her own mam’s portion. If ye were
     a-thinking—”
    “Nay, nay,” Rob said hastily, although his thoughts were definitely busy. At least Dow had confirmed what the Jardines had
     told him about the lass. He added, “You must know as well as I do what the reaction from my clan would be—aye, and that of
     the Dunwythies—were I fool enough to consider such a marriage.”
    “I ken that fine, aye. But she be a gey handsome lass, withal.”
    “She is that,” Rob agreed. “I expect her father thinks most highly of her.”
    “He does, aye, he does,” Dow said, nodding. “I’m told, despite his lady wife’s belief that she’ll ha’ a son, he has been teaching
     the lady Mairi all she’ll need know to manage the estates should the worst befall him.”
    “A wise man,” Rob said. “But I expect he cares much for the lass. She is not only beautiful but also seemed well spoken and
     sensible—surely a daughter in whom a father would take pride and for whom he would risk much to protect.”
    “More than for her sister,” Dow said, grinning. “Nobbut what the lady Fiona be a beauty, too. But that mettlesome lass would
     lead any man a dance. Pert, she be, and from