Kinfairlie, on the east coast of Scotland—April 1421 Kinfairlie, on the east coast of Scotland—April 1421Alexander, newly made Laird of Kinfairlie, glowered at his sister. There was no immediate effect. In fact, Madeline granted him a charming smile. She was a beautiful woman, dark of hair and blue of eye, her coloring and comeliness so striking that men oft stared at her in awe. She was fiercely clever and charming, as well. All of these traits, along with the score of men anxious to win her hand, only made Madeline’s refusal to wed more irksome. “You need not look so annoyed, Alexander,” she said, her tone teasing. “My suggestion is wrought of good sense.” “It is no good sense for a woman of three and twenty summers to remain unwed,” he grumbled. “I cannot imagine what Papa was think

