a fit. There were stories of a tall man in black clothes who came to her that night. He cast a chill around him."
"Satan! Lord have mercy."
They hurried on.
I went on up the street. I was sad for Mistress Virtue. I drifted toward the windows of the Luckenbooth shops and stared unseeingly at the displays of ribbons and lace and buttons. Had Mistress Virtue been alone at the end? Had anyone been there to hold her hand at her passing, as I had held Tam's? Would there be anyone to hold mine, when my turn came?
Yes, I told myself firmly. I'm going to marry someone, a rover like me, who'll love me always. And we'll have children, and live...
"Why, it's Margaret Blair!"
The voice behind me made me spin round. Mr. Shillinglaw, tall and angular as ever, stood behind me. I felt a rush of fury. I'd had enough unpleasant surprises today and had no wish for another.
"Oh, it's you," I said brusquely. "The lawyer."
"You're very elusive, young lady." He was ignoring my rudeness. "I've been searching for you everywhere."
"I've been with my uncle, Hugh Blair. The brother of my father. But then, according to you, he wasn't my father, was he?"
He looked uncomfortable and swallowed. In spite of myself, I couldn't help being fascinated by the way his Adam's apple rose and fell in his long thin neck.
"I owe you an apology." He nodded solemnly, as if conferring on me a rare privilege. "I know now that you are indeed who you claim to be."
His condescension enraged me even more.
"I'm glad to hear it. I'm afraid I've got to go."
I tried to move past him, but he blocked my way.
"What made me believe you first of all," he said, looking suddenly more human, "is that I remember your grandmother. To be frank, she terrified the life out of me when I was a little boy. When you lost your temper with me, you looked exactly like her. As a matter of fact, you look rather like her now."
"Oh!" I didn't know whether to laugh or be angry. I laughed.
He smiled in response and offered me his arm.
"Will you come with me to my premises, Mistress Blair? There are matters to discuss that are better spoken of in private."
No one had ever called me "Mistress" before. In spite of myself, I was charmed. No gentleman had ever offered me his arm either, and I was grateful to Cousin Thomas for my new gown and shawl. On our slow progress down the High Street, every gentleman we passed bowed to Mr. Shillinglaw, and ladies waved to him from their sedan chairs.
Mr. Shillinglaw's office was paneled in wood, and there were windows with glass panes in them, instead of wooden shutters. I tried not to look too impressed and sat on the edge of the chair that he drew forward for me with my hands clasped tightly together.
"The sum of money that Mr. Bannantyne owes you is not large," he stated. "I wouldn't want to raise your expectations. Macbean of Scalpsie Bay owed your father rather more. He was always reluctant to pay the drovers and used to hold the money over from one year to the next. It might not be easy to recover it from him."
"I couldn't, even if I wanted to," I said. "I can never go back to Bute."
"Ah. The trial. We heard all about that."
Now for it, I thought. Here comes trouble. All this soft talk's a trap. He's going to have me arrested again.
I looked toward the door, but Mr. Shillinglaw was sitting close to it. My heart began to thud painfully.
"The general opinion," Mr. Shillinglaw went on, his voice as dry as straw in August, "is that an injustice was performed against you. Your grandmother's case, of course, was another matter."
"Granny wasn't a witch!" I burst out. "I don't care what anyone says!"
He didn't meet my eyes.
"Be that as it may. But as far as you are concerned, there is no doubt of your innocence."
"How do you know all this?" I demanded. "What's it to do with you?"
He lifted a hand.
"There's no need to bite my head off, Maggie, every time I open my mouth. I'm trying to tell you what's in your interest."
"All right." I knew I sounded ungracious, but I didn't care. "Go on."
"Sentiment on the island changed almost immediately after your grandmother's execution. When the girl Annie disappeared and was known to have joined forces with a disreputable vagabond..."
I wanted to interrupt again,