—Scottish nursery rhyme There was little time to prepare for the wedding ceremony, as Colin did not announce their intention until after everyone had broken their fasts, and law dictated that nuptials and the bridal feast had to be performed before the sun had set on the shortening autumnal day. This suited Colin fine, as it meant everyone was kept busy with preparations and would have no time to warn the outside world of what was afoot. After the event was accomplished, he would be pleased to have events known to all who passed for society in those northern parts. But he wanted no last-moment interruption from thwarted suitors to mar the occasion, or to interfere with the Archimedes lever he meant to employ to save George and Frances Balfour. A visibly stunned Cook, after slave-driving the sculleries in a manner worthy of any of history’s great tyrants, declared herself prepared for a wedding feast just an hour before sundown. As the pale bride also agreed that she was ready, the ceremony went forth at once.
