Behind me, I heard Jamie say, quite casually, “Frances, no man will ever take ye against your will, while I live.” There was a startled silence, and I turned round to see Fanny staring up at him. He touched her hand, very gently. “D’ye believe me, Frances?” he said quietly. “Yes,” she whispered, after a long moment, and all the tension left her body in a sigh like the east wind.
