Page 43 of The Highlander's Princess Bride
His hands stilled. “He raised me, you know. My mother died when I was born, and I barely remember my father, since he died when I was three. Nick had to pick up the slack.” He flashed her an uncertain smile. “What a burden we are for him.”
“I doubt he feels that way,” she said. “But I am sorry you never knew your mother.”
“Thank you. Janet was very kind to me, though. She was also musical, and played the harp for me whenever she stayed at Kinglas. I liked that a lot.”
Victoria had never heard anyone at the castle mention that name. “Who is Janet?”
He shot her a startled glance. “She was Nick’s wife. Didn’t you know he’d been married?”
Her brain seemed to trip over itself. “Ah, no, actually.”
Kade suddenly looked uncomfortable. “Itwasquite a long time ago. I was only about seven when she died. Nick doesn’t like to talk about it, so we generally don’t mention her.”
That was an understatement, since she’d heard not one reference to Arnprior’s wife or his widowed state. In fact, she’d seen no evidence of the lady’s existence at all.
Kade plunked one of the minor keys, playing a sad little note. “I still miss her.”
“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “It’s sad when someone we love passes away.”
“She fell ill very suddenly. Nick was quite broken up about it.”
Losing his wife at such a young age? No wonder the earl was so somber a man. “I can imagine.”
“Still, it wasn’t as bad as what happened to—” Kade broke off, rolling his lips into a tight line.
“Happened to?” she prompted.
He flashed her a smile that was more like a grimace. “Never mind. I really shouldn’t be airing the family’s dirty clouts, as Grandda says. Nick wouldn’t like me gossiping, either.”
Victoria had to squelch an unseemly curiosity. The Kendrick family past was none of her business. “Quite right too, young man. Gossiping with your governess—how shocking. Everyone would think we’reterriblyvulgar.”
His brow cleared. “Gosh, that sounds rather fun. Perhaps we—”
He broke off when the door to the drawing room opened. When Arnprior entered, Victoria felt her cheeks grow hot.
“You two appear to be up to some sort of mischief,” the earl said, strolling over to join them. “What are you talking about?”
She and Kade exchanged sheepish glances. “Nothing,” they chorused.
“From your guilty expressions, I suspect such is not the case,” he replied in a sardonic tone.
“We’ve been discussing music, my lord,” Victoria said. The last thing she’d want him to know was that they’d been talking about his wife. Her employer was a reserved, private man, and if he didn’t wish to discuss his late wife—or even acknowledge her existence—then it behooved her to respect that.
Kade gave his brother a beatific smile. “That’s right. We’ve been discussing Beethoven.”
Arnprior propped his hands on his kilted hips—his tall, lean form looked wonderful in the traditional garb—and blew out an exaggerated sigh. “I’m going to have to keep an eye on the pair of you. I have the distinct impression you are not to be trusted.”
Kade let out a gleeful chuckle. “Yes, it’s fun to finally have a partner in crime.”
“You’re as bad as the twins,” Arnprior said.
“Worse,” Kade said.
The earl laughed, his handsome face lighting with rare amusement. Heavens, the man was devastating when he smiled like that, especially when that smile was directed at her. Victoria was all but ready to melt into a puddle at his booted feet.
It was a ridiculous thought. She was not the sort of woman to melt at any man’s feet.
Arnprior was about to reply when the rest of the Kendricks strolled in, followed by a footman and Mrs. Taffy with the tea service. The earl gave Victoria a nod and headed to the mahogany writing desk in the corner. He spent most evenings at that desk, attending to his correspondence while she and Kade practiced the piano or chatted with the twins over tea. Royal occasionally joined them, although he wasn’t much of a conversationalist.
