Page 158 of The Highlander's Kilted Bride
“Och, lassie, yer sister’s a heroine,” Angus commented.
“That remains to be seen,” Papa said.
He rested his shotgun against a nearby chair and he poured himself a double tot of whisky. When he bolted it down in one go, Charlie mentally winced. She was in for it now.
“Goodness, Henry, what’s gotten into you?” Mamma exclaimed, scandalized.
“Ho, Kinloch, don’t be hoggin’ all the good stuff,” Angus put in. “We could all use a wee dram.”
“You can get it yourself,” her father rudely replied.
He stomped back over and dropped heavily into the leather club chair near the fireplace—not, however, without first glaring at Charlie.
“I’ll get you a glass, Grandda.” Kade glanced at Charlie.
“And for you as well, I think.”
She nodded. “Yes, please.”
“Where’s Sir Leslie now?” Johnny asked in a wary tone.
“Simmons and Tommy are locking him in his dressing room, and Tommy will stand guard,” Charlie said with a reassuring smile. “You’ve nothing to fear anymore, dearest. Sir Leslie told Kade everything, and Papa heard it all.”
Johnny sank down on the other sofa, exhaling a shaky sigh. “Thank God, but what happens now?”
“We’ll keep Morgan here overnight,” their father replied. “Then I’ll have the sheriff transport him to Edinburgh. As the local magistrate, I’ll write up a report and send it along to the Edinburgh Constabulary. I’d prefer to let them deal with the blighter.”
Johnny started to look anxious again. “But his family lives in Edinburgh, and they’ve quite a bit of influence. The constabulary might not believe me. And . . . and Sir Leslie’s bound to say some terrible things about me. Some of which are quite true,” he added on a miserable note.
“They’ll bloody well believe me,” Papa said. “I heard the whole deranged plan from start to finish. The magistrate in Edinburgh will hear it all, too, you can be sure.”
“My family also has a great deal influence in Edinburgh,” Kade said as he handed Charlie a glass of whisky. “They’ll see to it that justice is done, Johnny. Never fear.”
Papa bristled. “I’m perfectly capable of protecting my own son. I don’t need Kendricks doing it for me.”
“That goes without saying, my lord,” Kade replied, gracious as ever.
“There’s nae need to starch up, Kinloch,” Angus said. “After all, it was our Kade who found the broochandgot Morgan to confess.”
Papa snorted. “And Kendrick wouldn’t have had to do so if Charlie hadn’t stolen her own blasted brooch in the first place. This whole affair has been ridiculous from beginning to end.”
Melissa frowned. “But I thought Johnny stole the brooch. That’s what he was telling us before you came in.”
“Yes, but I stole it first,” Charlie explained. “And then Johnny stole it from me.”
“Hang on,” Colin said, looking confused. “Why would you steal your own brooch?”
Mamma let out an aggrieved sigh. “To put Richard Campbell off, obviously. Still, I would appreciate a clear explanation of the events, Charlotte.”
“Of course, Mamma.”
As succinctly as she could, Charlie outlined what had taken place over the last few weeks—an expurgated version that left out of the details of her intimate encounters with Kade.
“Mr. Kendrick, howcleverof you,” Melissa enthused after Charlie explained how Kade had deduced the initial whereabouts of the brooch. “I would never have guessed in a million years.”
“No one would have had to guess if Charlotte had behaved in a rational manner,” Mamma tartly noted.
Charlie crinkled her nose. “Sorry, Mamma. I didn’t mean for it to turn into such a mess.”
