Stand Fast, Craig-Royston! (Volume II)

Vincent finds his world shaken when an unexpected letter from New York accuses his long‑standing friend, the charismatic but eccentric George Bethune, of fraudulently securing a patron’s money. The accusation forces him to balance his admiration for Bethune’s fierce love of Scotland and his devotion to Bethune’s granddaughter, Maisrie, against the unsettling possibility that the old man’s pride and literary ambition have crossed ethical lines. As he sifts through doubts and half‑formed explanations, the young man’s loyalty is tested by the stark contrast between the man he knows and the alleged impostor.

Set against the backdrop of late‑Victorian literary circles, the story follows Vincent’s internal struggle to untangle truth from rumor while navigating the subtleties of patronage and the unspoken codes of the artistic world. His attempts to rationalize the situation reveal deeper questions about honor, friendship, and the cost of ambition. The narrative invites listeners into a richly drawn portrait of characters caught between personal devotion and the shadows of suspicion.