Page 119 of The Highlander's Kilted Bride
“Now? I haven’t finished my breakfast.”
Kade held his gaze. “Yes, now.”
His grandfather rolled his eyes. “I have a feelin’ I’m goin’ to need that coffee.”
* * *
Kade glanced at his pocket watch as he left Royal’s room and headed down the hall. His family was almost ready to depart and so would soon be out of harm’s way. Now he needed to find Charlie and convince her to cease stirring the pot, at least for the moment. He had a plan and didn’t want unexpected bombshells disrupting it—no matter how entertaining those bombshells might be.
The entrance hall was a hive of activity, as two footmen were carrying luggage out the front door to be loaded onto the Kendrick carriage. A third footman was about to haul out two overstuffed bags under the anxious eye of a supercilious fellow who, if Kade wasn’t mistaken, was Richard Campbell’s valet.
The man himself emerged from the back hallway, garbed for travel in a voluminous greatcoat that featured enormous lapels.
As Kade reached the bottom of the staircase, Richard glanced over and scowled. “Kendrick. Of course I would have to run into you.”
“Going somewhere, Richard?”
“I’m leaving and returning to Edinburgh immediately.”
Kade leaned against the banister. “Then am I to believe that you’re giving up your courtship of Miss Charlotte?”
“Why I ever agreed to try to court the blasted woman is beyond me. The entire family’s deranged, and no amount of money could make it worth putting up with their mad antics.” He let out a derisive snort. “The Kinloch Fiddler. It’s pure insanity.”
“A very wise decision,” Kade said. “Who knows what kind of trouble you would attract by marrying Charlotte without the brooch. Doom would surely come upon you. You might even fall out a window or get flattened by a runaway carriage.”
“Being leg-shackled to Charlotte would be misfortune enough,” Richard tartly replied. “Her mother’s right. She’s a Highland hooligan.”
Kade affected a heavy brogue. “Aye, she’s a high-spirited lassie. She needs a true Highlander to keep up with her, ye ken.”
Richard sneered at him. “I suppose you’re just the man to do that, are you?”
“Ye canna blame her for having good taste, can ye?”
Richard’s furious gaze threatened death—or, at the very least, a proper scold.
“You’re an arrogant prat, Kendrick—intolerable, really. What Charlotte sees in you is a complete mystery.”
“It must be my sunny temperament and impeccable manners.”
“Bugger you,” Richard snapped. “You’re welcome to Charlotte and her crazy family. I’ve had more than enough.”
Then he turned and stormed out the door, almost tripping over his greatcoat as his valet scurried after him.
Kade couldn’t hold back a smile. Lord and Lady Kinloch might be dismayed by Richard’s precipitous retreat, but he hoped to soon convince them of the merits of his replacement as their daughter’s primary suitor. Of course, he would have to persuade the daughter of those merits, too.
He found Charlie in the music room, standing at the open terrace doors as she stared absently out over the gardens.
“Ho, lassie. What’s amiss?”
She glanced back at him, her expression slightly incredulous. “Do you truly need to ask?”
“No, but for once I bring good news.”
“I could use some,” she ruefully replied.
“Booby Campbell has just taken his departure in high dudgeon. I very much doubt he will return.”
Her eyes popped wide. “Truly?”
