He stalked out of the room as he finished speaking.
His mother looked towards the Countess and made a helpless gesture with her hands.
“It’s no use, Moira, I have talked and talked again to Alpin, but he is so determined not to marry and, as you well know, it is vital that he does in order to save the Castle and the estate.”
“I am sorry for you,” the Countess murmured. “I think it is infuriating of Alpin not to be more responsible.
“He must surely be well aware that everything is becoming more and more dilapidated. The Clansmen are growing restless at not being able to buy new stock at the sheep markets and the rivers are not looked after as they should be.”
“I hear that the poaching is terrible,” the Dowager Duchess added.
“I am afraid it’s true. Night after night, we are told, poac
