Page 31 of Highland Jewel
“Are you satisfied?” Fiona frowned at her brother.
“I suppose I must be.” He sent Maisie a quick smile.
The conversation about Walter Scott drifted onto other topics and news. Niall had a teasing remark ready for anything his sister said, but he was exceptionally polite when Maisie commented or brought up something new.
She sensed there was no hiding what they were feelingfor each other. Fiona obviously knew, and she seemed to approve. Her own family’s reaction crossed her mind, but she quickly pushed the thought away. She didn’t want to spoil the magic of tonight.
When the dinner had been cleared away, the three of them sat, talking and waiting for the coffee to be brought in.
Fiona handed the decanter of wine to her brother. “I read in theEdinburgh Reviewthat Queen Caroline wishes to take part in the coronation.”
Niall poured himself a glass. “As she should. She’s Queen of England.”
Maisie agreed. “But she hasn’t been allowed in the country for five years. I don’t see the king suddenly welcoming her home.”
“It’s not his decision.”
“If it were up to the people,” she said, addressing Niall, “I believe they’d crownherand sendhimaway.”
Fiona nodded. “No one likes him, especially women. Everyone knows the king is a pig, chasing about after every skirt in sight. What self-respecting wife would put up with that? Not that I believe she ever had a choice.”
“They say it all started the day they married,” Maisie put in. “The king sent his Mrs. Fitzherbert away, only to start up with another one.”
“Aye. Lady Somethingorother.”
Niall looked from one to the other. “For anti-monarchists, you two are well-informed about court gossip.”
Fiona slapped him on the arm. “We’re not anti-monarchists. We’re against the wrongful behavior of our ruling monarchy.”
Niall put his glass on the table. “It’s well known that Queen Caroline is a strong supporter of Scotland.”
“And not simply to spite her husband,” Maisie put in.“For years, she’s been shifted about on the continent, from one city to the next, in an effort to silence her. And yet she continues to stand up for herself and for the very people the king and his ministers are trying to crush. I admire her.”
Fiona turned to her brother. “And what is your opinion of her, Lieutenant Campbell, as an officer in the most honored Highland regiment in the British military?”
Niall gazed at the framed print of theDeath of General Wolfe,hanging over the side table. “Queen Caroline is the one with fight in her. If I were riding into battle and had a choice of which of them I’d want beside me, I’d pick her over Prinny any day. And so would my regiment.”
“Sentiments like that must surely aggravate the king even more.”
He frowned. “The queen has always shown courage, though. She’s not one to be bullied.”
Maisie thought about the talk of Walter Scott earlier. As much as Niall didn’t care for the author, he clearly respected the queen. “I hope she does come back to England. We need someone like her in London who will support our cause.”
Fiona brushed her hand over the tablecloth. “The question is, can she be trusted any more than the rest of them?”
“She could easily have gone off and lived her life without a care in the world,” Maisie asserted. “Instead, she draws the wrath of the king on herself, and she does it for our sake.”
“You’re quite right.” Niall held up his glass. “To the queen.”
They were still at the table sometime later when Maisie realized the hour. She didn’t want to stay out too late and draw attention to herself. She made her excusesbut was pleased when Niall offered to take her back. She knew that he lived on Milne’s Court in the shadow of the castle. Still, he would pass close enough to Infirmary Street on his way.
Before they left the house, however, Fiona pulled her aside and whispered in her ear, “He’s tall and strong and thinks that he’s hard as flint, but Niall is still my little brother. You know already how he feels about you, I’m certain. He is not one to open his heart easily.”
Maisie blushed and her chest squeezed. Niall’s kiss had wiped away the last vestige of doubt in her. She felt the same way about him.
“With regard to your family, I respect your decision to keep our political work to yourself.” She looked meaningfully at Maisie. “But this is different. You need to have a conversation with your sister about him. If she has objections, you should tell him now.”
Fiona kissed her on the cheek as Niall joined them at the front door.
