Page 39 of The Highlander's Kilted Bride
That was certainly news to Kade.
“My dear, why are you keeping our poor guests standing by that drafty door?” called Lady Kinloch from across the room. “You’ll give young Mr. Kendrick a chill. We cannot have him falling sick before the festivities.”
Kade mentally sighed. God only knew what Angus had told Lady Kinloch about the state of his health.
“Come along, lads,” Kinloch said.
“Not to worry,” Royal murmured as they followed their host. “I’ve got smelling salts if you’re feeling faint.”
“Yes, and you know where you can put them,” Kade murmured back.
Royal simply chuckled.
“Here we are, everyone,” Lord Kinloch said as they joined the others at a grouping of sofas and armchairs at the far end of the cavernous space.
The formal drawing room was massive, with high stucco ceilings, gilded trim, two fireplaces, and several elegant seating arrangements that together could comfortably hold at least fifty people. Bay windows overlooked the back garden, affording a spectacular view of the mountains of Glencoe in the distance.
Lord and Lady Kinloch were clearly pulling out the stops to impress Richard Campbell.
The prospective fiancé rose to his feet and offered a smile that resembled nothing so much as a supercilious sneer. While Kade hadn’t been friendly with Richard on that childhood visit, he’d found him more innocuous than not. So why the sneer now?
“Kade Kendrick,” Richard said. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance again. I was just regaling the ladies with some amusing stories of our youthful hijinks. All quite in good fun, you know.”
Angus, seated next to Ainsley on a sofa, glared at Richard. Grandda was obviously in a stew, provoked either by those stories or by the mere presence of a Campbell in their midst.
“About time ye lads showed up,” he barked. “I was beginnin’ to think ye’d given us the slip and headed out to the local pub. Not that I could blame ye, except for not takin’ yer old grandda with ye.”
Ainsley patted his hand. “You know the lads would never go to the pub without you. What would be the fun in that?”
“Ye got that right,Sassenach. And an evenin’ in the pub sounds just the ticket at the moment, ye ken.”
Richard gave an indulgent chuckle. “Why, Mr. MacDonald, I would think you’d enjoy hearing stories from the old days. You have quite the talent for telling tales yourself.” He winked at Kade. “At great length, I recall.”
Angus narrowed his gaze on Richard, no doubt lamenting the fact that he’d failed to tuck a knife into the pocket of his coat. “And I recall that yer a pom—”
“And I recall that I don’t have a drink,” Royal cheerfully interrupted. He turned to Kade. “Can I get you something, old son?”
“Allow me,” Richard said. “Something mild for Kade, I would imagine. We don’t want to upset his delicate constitution. A sherry, perhaps?”
While Richard was some three inches shorter than Kade, the man seemed to be trim and fit, although it was a bit hard to be sure, given his fashionable outfit. The shoulders of his coat were well padded, and his trousers flared out from an oddly narrow waist. He was probably wearing stays, a recent and unfortunate development among the stylish set. Richard’s thick red hair, which had been straight as a stick when he was a boy, was fashionably curled, and he sported thick sideburns that curved down almost to his chin.
Coxcomb.
Lord Kinloch waved Richard back down to his seat next to Charlie on a cozy divan. Although, to be fair, the lass had edged as far away from him as she could get without actually tumbling over the edge.
Charlie was looking very pretty in a yellow silk dress that did an excellent job of showcasing her lithe figure and gentle curves. Her usual gold braid highlighted her elfin features and enchanting, tip-tilted nose. Tonight, though, she’d threaded a Kinloch plaid ribbon through the braid. Her simple yet elegant styling stood in marked contrast to the elaborate and mostly ridiculous coiffures that adorned the heads of the other women.
She glanced up at Kade and smiled, and then rolled her eyes in Richard’s direction. Kade had to swallow a laugh. Clearly, she was unimpressed with her new suitor.
“No, I’ll fetch the drinks, Richard,” said Lord Kinloch. “Can’t have our guest of honor toadying for the rest of us.”
Johnny, who’d been standing politely by, suddenly frowned. “I thought Kade was the guest of honor. After all, he’s the big draw for Melissa’s wedding. No offense to Richard, of course,” he added with a placating smile.
“One never takes offense at these things, you know,” Richard said, sounding quite offended. Then he turned to Charlie. “And I’ve claimed the greatest honor of the evening, which is the privilege of sitting with Miss Charlotte. Anything else pales in comparison to that, including one’s tinklings on the piano.”
Angus bristled like a jumped-up rooster. “Tinkling? Why, ye—”
When he suddenly clamped his mouth shut and scowled at Ainsley, Kade was quite sure she’d just elbowed him in the ribs.
