Page 130 of The Highlander's Princess Bride
Besides, the Kendricks were no longer her business. She had enough problems to worry about—ones that could even find her dangling from the end of a rope.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Victoria opened her bleary eyes. Why was someone knocking on her door in the middle of the night?
She forced herself upright. More like early morning, since the light of dawn was just starting to filter through the shutters.
Another tap on the door. “Victoria, please wake up.” That was Braden’s voice.
She grabbed her wrapper and fumbled for her slippers. When she opened the door, Braden stood there, dressed in a nightshirt over breeches.
“Nick needs to see you in his study right away,” he said.
Her stomach clenched. Had Fletcher already got a warrant for her arrest? “Do you know why?”
He put out a quick, reassuring hand. “It’s got nothing to do with what happened between you and Nick last night.”
“Angus told you?” she asked, wincing.
“I don’t know all the details and I don’t need to. But I do knowyou.” He smiled. “We all trust and respect you, Victoria. Please never doubt that.”
“Thank you, Braden. That means the world to me.”
“And Nick will get over it. He’s just upset right now.”
She sighed. “I can’t blame him for that.”
“Maybe, but right now he has other problems.” He snorted with disgust. “My stupid brothers.”
Her conversation with Angus resurfaced. “And their grandfather?”
“Nick will explain.” He thrust his candle into her hand, then turned and all but ran for the stairs.
“Don’t trip,” she called out.
“Hurry up,” he called back.
She went into her room and stared at her neatly packed bags. There was clearly another Kendrick Family Crisis to be dealt with and, for a moment, she was tempted to crawl back under the bedcovers and pretend the world didn’t exist.
Really, what did she owe Lord Arnprior and his family at this point?
Your help.
They’d all given her a large measure of love and respect, so how could she turn her back on them now? Despite everything, Nicholas obviously still needed her too.
She snuffed the candle and went to her dressing table to find a nightcap, since she had no intention of going downstairs with wild, unbraided hair.
After cramming the tangled mess under her cap, she grabbed a shawl on the way to the door. As she hurried downstairs, she tried to calm her racing heartbeat. The prospect of seeing Nicholas again was decidedly unnerving.
Pausing for breath, she placed her palm flat on the study door and counted to ten before knocking.
“Enter,” rumbled the earl’s deep voice.
He was behind his desk, frowning at a note in his hand, while Braden stood nearby, nervously chewing a fingernail.
Nicholas gave her a swift glance, tracking over her from head to toe. “Thank you for joining us, Victoria.” A faint smile lifted the corners of his mouth. “So quickly.”
She must look ridiculous in her rumpled ensemble.
