But most puzzling of all was a question far more simple. Why, after
facing death to protect her, had the woman suddenly put her niece, his
daughter, into the palm of his hand?
Back in their chambers, the two women saw they had no choice but to
see it through. To switch the ring back to the widow's hand might
prove disastrous, while to change any element of their story (much of
which was still unclear to Mary), would prove equally perilous.
It was decided that they should speak of the ring as an heirloom,
which had been passed on to the sole inheritor of Scott blood and
tradition. This might also lend credence to the guardian's fierce
determination to protect her. And in this same hurried conference,
Anne Scott went over again all that should, and should not be said at
Mary's inevitable, and surely imminent meeting with her father.
Still, if she had been summoned to him in that moment, and had he not
been distracted, he might easily have picked her story apart, and held
them all at his questionable mercy.
But he was distracted, and distraught.
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