Page 18 of Utterly Dauntless

McHenish grinned. "Poor bastard's probably polishing boots that haven't seen polish since the war."

"Which war?" Aries asked.

"Any war." The painfully handsome man winked at her. "Though I doubt Banner will let him retire early. Might keep him up all night just to watch him squirm."

Peg started collecting empty plates, but Grey took them from her hands. "I'll do that." He gestured for her to sit back down.

Aries tried to do the same, but he waved her off.

"Well," Aries said, "speaking of tomorrow... Gran, do you know of any witch powerful enough to help convince CraigCampbell of the truth? Someone who might be willing to go to Glasgow with us?"

The old woman's eyes sparkled. "Wickham's sisters. But they're in Edinburgh."

"I believe they're out of the country, with Wickham." Wyndham tapped a finger on his chin. "Oxford, Ireland maybe. Wherever they are, Kitchens is with them. We can reach him, obviously."

McHenish nodded. "They sent for my wife not long ago. Fixed up an estate house in Oxford."

Grey dried his hands on a tea towel. "I'll make the call." He headed out of the kitchen and Aries started to follow, but McHenish smoothly intercepted.

"Tell me more, lass, about what happened to the Campbell brothers. I want to understand just how Wickham found them if they were nowhere..."

Grey escaped onto the front porch and pulled in a deep breath. The evening had settled in properly now, and the scent of cooled heather mixed with wood smoke and steadied his jangled nerves. He pulled out his phone and dialed the emergency number.

"Grey?" Loretta answered on the first ring. "Everything all right?"

"Aye. We've got Aries back safe. Listen, can ye meet us at Glasgow Airport tomorrow, early?"

"Us?"

"Aries, myself, and a few others. It's a long story, but we need a witch's help to right an old wrong."

"Of course we'll come." There was a pause. "How are you holding up?"

"Too early to tell." He lowered his voice. "But I think my life's about to take a turn."

"Oh, it is," she said, with that knowing tone that made the hair on his neck rise. "It definitely is."

He took that as a good sign, though his stomach still churned at the thought of what lay ahead. He just hoped he'd survive until the end of the week.

Inside, laughter erupted, and Grey's heart squeezed at the sound of Aries' voice rising above the rest. Time to go back in and face whatever came next. After all, he was a Highland warrior who'd faced The Butcher at Culloden.

Of course…he hadn't survived that.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

In the most cowardly act he remembered performing in either of his lives, Grey stuck his head back in the kitchen to let them all know the plane would be ready at ten in the morning, and that he'd be back with pastries at nine. Then he fled.

If Aries chased after him, not that she would, he didn't look back to see.

In the morning,Grey arrived at Campbell’s to collect the two men. Carson was dressed in his Sunday best, and since Wallace looked wearier than his charge, Grey thanked him and sent him home. He'd done enough. Wallace only agreed after he arranged for Duncan Houser to replace him.

Grey was almost surprised to find Aries hadn't fled in the night. Instinct had tried to convince him to sit on the house andwatch for her escape so he could follow her. But his need for sleep had overridden that instinct for once.

She had a closet of clothes at Peg's house, so she was able to change and pack a bag. When Tristan found out they were headed to Glasgow, he called and promised to bring her other things to her. He just waited for an address.

Peg's home was as quiet as the morning after a bender. Aries sported a pair of sunglasses. She smelled freshly laundered when he dared pass her in the kitchen, and he fought hard not to reach out and touch her when the pull to do so felt as if there were powerful magnets inside them both. His only consolation was when he noticed her pause and lean ever so slightly his way.

Then the moment was gone.

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