Prologue
Aberdeen, Spring 1647
Ten-year-old Aidan glared from his twin brother to their playmate, Marjorie. The two of them were ganging up on him. Again. “Not the fire,” he said.
“Aye, the fire. ” Cormac linked arms with Marjorie, glaring defiantly. “Marjorie wants to. ”
“But we always play the Ogilvy fire. ”
“I’ll have your head,” his twin shouted, ignoring him. “I will claim my revenge!”
Aidan narrowed his eyes. Lately, when Marjorie was around, Cormac dove heart and soul into their playacting. And somehow Aidan always ended up cast as the bad guy. “Why do I have to be Campbell again?”
Marjorie stepped forward to peer at his face. “Because your nose is bigger than Cormac’s. ”
Aidan wanted to punch that nose. “But we’re twins. ”
Cormac shrugged. “It’s not my fault we don’t look alike. ”
“I always play the cursed Campbell. ”
Cormac paid no attention. Instead, he spun and grabbed Marjorie’s hand. “Revenge shall be mine, I say! Fear not, Lady Ogilvy, I’ll save you from the blaze!”
Aidan threw his wooden sword to the ground. The two of them were annoying him more than usual, and he refused to play along. “Why do you always get to save Marjorie?”
Marjorie picked up his sword, thrusting it back to him hilt first. “That’s just how we play it, Aidan. ”
Marjorie and Cormac looked at each other, all treaclyeyed. It made Aidan want to sick up.
She sauntered to the window, swaying her hips as though she were a real woman. Cormac followed right behind, like a starved pup. She stared out, while Cormac just stared at her shoulders. “You boys should climb the chimney,” she said, “like the sweeps. ”
Aidan scowled at her. Fancy girls like Marj always thought they’d the right to boss menfolk around. And at ten, he and Cormac were definitely almost men. “You mean up in the chimney? I’m not climbing your uncle’s stinking chimney. ”
His brother swung around, aiming his sword at Aidan’s chest. “You’ll not speak so to the lady. ”
Cormac was so much more fun when Marjorie wasn’t around. Aidan wanted to stick out his tongue, but knew it wasn’t something an almost-man would do.
“Those boys do it,” she said, pointing out the window.
Aidan shook his head. “You climb the chimney. ”
“I’ll do no such thing. ” She pulled her shoulders back, making like she was the Queen of England. “I shall wait here for my rescue. ”
“Aidan. ” Cormac gave him a pleading look. “Mum will be back soon. And soon we’ll be gone from Aberdeen, and then it’s back to home. Don’t be so contrary. ”
Wretched. His brother was in love, and it was wretched.
He strode to the window. A cartload of chimney boys were filing into the neighboring town house. They were a ragtag bunch, younger than he, covered in soot and tar. It occurred to him how to get Marjie back. “She’s afraid. I should’ve known a lass would be afraid. ”
“Och, she’s not afraid, Aidan. As I recall, she climbed higher than you last time. ”
Aidan crossed his arms. Of course Cormac would leap to her aid. “That was a tree, not up into some stinkin’ chimney. ”
“And I could’ve gone higher if I’d wanted. ”
Sure she could have. He crossed his arms, looking skeptical.
“It’s just that I tore my dress last time. ” She and Cormac flashed looks at each other.