Now they were tears of relief even though what he had just said still seemed incredible.
As if he understood what she was feeling, Torquil continued,
“I could not believe that in any distinguished family like that of your father’s that there would not be one Scottish ancestor. So I sent somebody I trusted and who is very knowledgeable on genealogy to the College of Arms in Edinburgh.”
He kissed her forehead before he went on,
“He returned this evening with the information that alter all your heart-burning you have enough Scottish blood in you, my darling, to make you, from the Duke’s and everybody else’s point of view, a very suitable wife for one of the McNairns.”
“I-I cannot – believe it!” Pepita cried. “I thought I had to leave you – but now I can – stay?”
It was a question and ve
