Page 29 of The Highlander's Princess Bride
“I’ll never give up on you, you idiot,” Nick said with a wry smile.
“May I suggest we defer further argumentation until Miss Knight gives us her answer?” Alec said. “That should be momentarily, if I’m not mistaken.”
Because Royal had left the door open, Nick could hear the murmur of voices in the hall before a determined set of feminine footsteps approached the library. A moment later Miss Knight sailed into the room, looking ready to fire all guns. It would be a broadside, from the scowl on her pretty face, a cannonade aimed right at him.
Chapter Seven
Victoria almost stumbled when she confronted three sets of intent male gazes. Once again, she’d been caught flat-footed.
It was the right decision to leave Castle Kinglas, but it was never a pleasant thing to admit defeat, especially when doing so would disappoint those trying to help her. Victoria hated disappointing people, and she hated giving up. She had no desire to engage in what was sure to be a humiliating discussion in front of witnesses, even if one was Alec.
The gentlemen rose from their seats, and Alec gave her a warm smile.
“Good morning,” he said. “Why don’t you join us for a cup of coffee?” He glanced at the large coffee service. “As you can see, his lordship has been expecting us.”
The earl stood quietly behind his desk, regarding her with an unnerving, calculating gaze.
Blast.
He wasn’t going to make it easy on her, even though she had a stack of objections that, if written down, would be a foot high. Enumerating all those objections—and her reluctance to deal with them—would be embarrassing enough in private.
“I beg your pardon for the interruption, Lord Arnprior,” she said, edging backward toward the door. “I can return later after your business with Captain Gilbride and Mr. Kendrick is concluded.”
“Miss Knight, youarethe business under discussion,” the earl said, a growly note coloring his voice. “Please join us.”
The shadows under his eyes and his unshaven jaw gave him an unexpectedly rakish and arrogantly masculine appearance. That she found it a dangerously appealing look was a disturbing discovery.
It’s just your nerves, you nitwit.
Lord Arnprior wasnotthe sort of man she normally found attractive. “Thank God,” she muttered.
“What was that, Miss Knight?” the earl said.
“Only that I’m sorry I interrupted you, my lord. Again, I’ll be happy to return later.”
“Nonsense. We need to have this discussion immediately, and it makes perfect sense for Captain Gilbride to remain.”
He flicked a covert glance at Alec, who continued to regard her with a deceptively innocent expression, as if they were all at a jolly little tea party. Victoria had the distinct impression that the men were conspiring to manipulate her. Well, except for Royal, who simply looked bored.
“Arnprior thought you’d be more comfortable with me here,” Alec said. “We’re just going to have a little chat about the situation and see how we can improve things.”
Oh, dear.Her cousin had clearly gone over to the other side.
“Situation?” she inquired politely. “Would that be the circus troupe that performed underneath my window last night?”
Alec winced and Arnprior looked even more annoyed.
Royal, however, chuckled. “I heard there was something of a ruckus in the courtyard. So sad that Taffy had to move you to a bedroom in the tower. It’s always much quieter in the east wing of the house.”
The earl slowly turned, his gaze narrowing to ice blue slits as he stared at his brother. Royal shrugged, but a flush crept up the young man’s cheeks.
Arnprior’s attention came back to her. “That is one of the topics I’d like to discuss with you, Miss Knight.” His mouth edged up in a rueful smile. “And apologize for. It seems I’ve had to do that quite frequently over the last twenty-four hours.”
“I assure you, sir, I am not keeping count,” she replied graciously. So far, he’d apologized at least four times, and she might have missed one or two.
His skeptical look suggested he realized that shewas, in fact, keeping count. That was rather embarrassing.
“That is most kind of you,” he finally said. “Now, do sit and join us for a cup of coffee. I’m sure you can use it.”
