regshoe

Oh, that's definitely not an embarrassing admission :D

Yes, the combination of tenderness and tension in this chapter is really well-done, and I agree about the development from The Wounded Name—Broster has learnt how to harness the iddy hurt/comfort to a solid plot and a well-developed emotional background in a way it wasn't there, and it becomes all the more meaningful for the depth of character here.

Had Ewen been rescued, I expect Keith would have been suspected anyway.

Now there's a good canon divergence fic idea! I was struck, reading this chapter again, by how much Keith actually thinks about the possibility of Ewen being rescued and how much he wants that to happen (and how explicitly he's willing to admit that to himself!). Much as I'd enjoy it, I think Keith turning round and deciding to try and rescue Ewen himself is a little outside the bounds of plausibility, but as for what he might do if someone else rescued Ewen... might we even end up with Keith and Lachlan working together???

ETA my agreement to the chorus of yes, Lieutenant Paton is a sweetheart :D