Page 60 of The Highlander's Princess Bride
She gave him a reassuring smile. “No, they’re going to allow the earl to manage the situation as he sees fit, as long as the still is dismantled.”
“Thank goodness. It would be awful if the twins ended up in the clink.”
“Indeed,” she said dryly, refilling his teacup. From what she’d seen yesterday, the earl had been sorely tempted to consign the twins and their grandfather to a long stay in the local gaol.
“And maybe Grandda has a point,” he said thoughtfully. “What right do the English have to tell the Scots what to do and what not to do?”
“I suggest you disregard your grandfather on that point, dear.” Angus had tried to make that argument after the customs officers had departed.
“Besides,” Angus had said, scowling at Arnprior, “what else do ye expect of them? The puir lads have to support themselves somehow.”
The earl had regarded his grandfather with disbelief. “I expect them not to get tossed out of university, and I expect them to learn a bloody profession. Also, I expect their grandfather to encourage them in those laudable and legal goals.”
“But the ladsarelearning a profession, dinna ye ken?”
“Moonshining? Are you insane?”
“I don’t see ye coming up with anything better,” Angus had retorted before glaring at Victoria. “Oh, aye, except to have herself turn them into a pair of twiddle-poops so they can find some silly twits to marry. No wonder the lads don’t listen to a bloody thing ye say. Who can blame them, running off to war like ye did? As ifyewere the only one who grieved, and the rest of us felt nothing.”
And just like that, the atmosphere in the entrance hall had gone from bad to explosive. After clearly trying to wrestle his anger under control, the earl had suddenly looked as if he were about to strangle his grandfather on the spot.
“That’s enough,” Royal had barked, limping forward to stand between the two men. “You’re not to say another word about any of that, Grandda.”
“Ye ken as well as I—” Angus had said hotly.
“No,” Royal had interrupted. He’d stood nose to nose, giving the old man a threatening glare. Then he’d turned back to his brother with a reassuring smile.
But the earl’s gaze had transformed into one so bleak and angry that it had chilled Victoria to the bone.
“Nick, he doesn’t know what he’s saying,” Royal said. “Don’t listen to him.”
Arnprior had nodded to his brother, then turned on his booted heel and stalked off. Royal had followed him and Angus had slunk away, while Mrs. Taffy had shooed the staff back to their duties.
Victoria had retreated upstairs to the schoolroom to find Kade immersed in his studies, thankfully unaware of the debacle below. She’d been tempted to ask Taffy for clarification on the obscure charges Angus had leveled at the earl, but had decided it was none of her business.
Since then, the entire household had held its collective breath, as if they were staring into a simmering volcano, waiting for the final eruption.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen if Nick doesn’t forgive the twins,” Kade said. “Or Grandda.”
For the sake of Kade’s peace of mind, it was time for Victoria to take drastic measures, even if it meant interfering in Kendrick family business. “Would you like me to speak to the earl about the twins?”
He glanced up with a hopeful expression. “Would you?”
“Yes, and I’ll talk to Royal as well. Between the two of us, perhaps we might even restore civil relations.”
He smiled at her little joke. “That would be splendid, because I’m worried about Nick. He hasn’t been this upset since—” He suddenly clamped his lips shut.
“Since when?” she gently prompted.
He seemed about to answer when Grant charged into the drawing room.
Startled, Kade almost dropped his teacup.
Victoria scowled at Grant. “I would ask that you go back into the hall and reenter the room like a gentleman.”
“Sorry, miss,” Grant puffed with excitement. “But we have a visitor.”
“Who?” Kade asked.
