“Dinna fear, Peggy; not ane of the Hielanders will take the oaths—or if Glengarry or Lochiel do, the Macdonalds willna’.”
“Ah!” she took a deep breath. “And then ye will have the law to help ye.”
“I shall get letters of fire and sword from the government,” said Breadalbane, “and clear the Hielands of the Macdonalds.”
There fell a little pause; the two utterly absorbed in themselves and each other did not notice or heed the falling fire and guttering candles or the lifting wail of the storm without.
The Countess spoke; under her breath:
“But at Edinburgh—in England, where they want the Hielands quiet—will they no demand an account of ye?—will they support ye?”
The room was growing cold; unconsciously she felt it and shivered, drawing closer to her husband.
“I have the most powerful man in Scotland behind me,” said the Earl slowly. “And he has great weight in England—is a close friend of the King—and he is no’ willing for the Hielands to take the oaths.”
“Who do you mean?” she questioned eagerly.
A dying log on the hearth fell and broke into a shower of sparks; a gust of wind blew down the chimney.