Page 36 of The Nabob's Designing Daughter
And then he knew.
His heart sank, taking the life blood with it. Ann had an inheritance. She’d paid for his schooling. She was his benefactor, and she had demanded he come to the Highlands.
Damn and blast it all. She’d been scheming.
“You’ll not talk to me that way.” Strachney took a step toward her, and Errol moved in between them.
He’d been duped, made a fool of by this wee slip of a girl. Still, he wouldn’t stand for her father’s bullying. Though in her own quiet way, she was as much of a bully as her father.
“Move out of my way, Robillard.”
Errol clenched his fists. He’d tossed more than one drunken brute out of his father’s common room.
“Not in your present state of mind, Strachney.”
“I said move,” Strachney shouted, and his fist shot out.
Errol dodged and gripped the man’s wrist, yanking him around. Behind him, Ann gasped, and a woman shouted.
Urjit appeared and grasped Strachney’s other arm.
“What is going on?” Mrs. MacDonal asked. “Are you quite all right, Dr. Robillard?”
Strachney spluttered, his gaze raking over the two men holding him.
Robillard released him. “I’m fine. And now I must check on the duchess. Will you kindly escort Ann back to the castle?”
Ann gulped back tears,watching his proud back as he strode down the path, anger and pain warring in her.
“Dear Ann, are you alright?” The older lady wrapped an arm around Ann and cast her father a hard gaze.
“Be off with you, Mrs. MacDonal,” he said. “This is a matter between me and my daughter.”
Penelope scoffed. “Oh? It appeared to be a matter between you and Dr. Robillard. Or was Dr. Robillard interceding in Ann’s behalf? Were you planning to use that fist on your daughter? In the Duke of Kinmarty’s lands?”
Father’s mouth firmed, but he had enough sense to pull back. He loved to brag about his money and his influence, but news of such vulgarity—striking his daughter or the duke’s physician—would travel fast.
He was, after all, a guest in the home of a duke, a duke who had resources outside of the Strachney fortune.
Plus, there were influential noblemen visiting.
“I’ve been surprised you’ve not availed yourself much of the hunting, Strachney,” Mrs. MacDonal said. “If you don’t wish to hunt, or if your business is so pressing as to keep you from it, perhaps you may want to return to Glenthistle. Ann, of course, will stay here. The duchess appreciates her help.” She smiled at Urjit and linked arms with Ann. “Urjit, will you escort us to the castle? You may see your daughter at dinner, Strachney” she said. “If you decide to remain.”
Mrs. MacDonal pulled her along, while Urjit followed, guarding them against Father’s ire.
“Would you like to share what that was about?” the lady whispered.
Tears welled and threatened to brim over. “I have money of my own, Mrs. MacDonal. Not a great deal, but enough that I was able to pay Errol’s university fees.”
“Foolish men and their pride,” she muttered.
Errol foundthe duke seated on the bed, while his wife nibbled her breakfast from a tray, and Ravi and Arun perched on either side of her helping themselves to buttered scones.
The boys shouted greetings, and the duke beamed at him, so obviously happy, he swallowed his own anger and smiled back.
“We’ve come to an agreement,” the duke said. “If the child is a boy, we’re calling him Evan, after my late brother.”
“Our papa,” Arun said.
