Don't Meddle With Her Heart

[Rasmus Mohr]

Rasmus started when she introduced herself as a MacFusty. She couldn't be Robert's sister -- the sister was the one who had been expelled -- and other than that Robert just had brothers. Which meant ... a cousin? Probably a cousin, although he supposed that she might be a niece with Robert being the youngest.

"From the Hebrides?" he asked, before feeling utterly stupid. Of course she was from the Hebrides. "I mean -- I think I'm friends with your -- cousin? or something? Robert. Robert and I are friends."

Friends was the wrong word and Rasmus knew it, but friends was better than oh, I'm having an illicit and even illegal relationship with your relative. He'd stick with friends. "Sorry -- studying!" He hefted his book with another winning smile, as if to prove he intended to study.