Page 59 of The Highlander's Kilted Bride
“Aye, but there’s mystery afoot.” Angus rubbed his hands. “And it’s up to us to solve it.”
“We’re not solving anything,” Kade replied in a firm voice. “As I said, it’s none of our business.”
Angus curled his lip. “Fah.”
“Then, since you apparently have no interest in Charlotte,” Ainsley said, “you should do your duty and dance with some of the other ladies. You’re not holding up the Kendrick side, Kade. It is frankly quite embarrassing.”
“I’m not about to prance about a ballroom in full dress kilt, Ainsley. Besides, I just played a bloody recital. Let Royal hold up the family side.”
“Sorry, old son,” his brother said, adopting an insincere expression of regret. “My bad leg is rather giving me fits tonight. Really, I shouldn’t even be standing on it.”
“Your leg is perfectly fine and you know it,” Kade replied.
Ainsley ignored that interjection. “Grandda, please take Royal down to the supper room for a little rest, all right?”
“Why don’t we all go down to the supper room for a little rest,” Kade suggested.
She took a firm grip on his elbow. “You’re coming with me. There are two very nice young ladies who want to meet you and would love to dance with you.”
“Ainsley, I have no desire to meet young ladies or to dance,” he replied, getting annoyed.
“Of course you do. What man doesn’t like to dance with pretty ladies?”
“Our Kade, apparently,” Royal said in a droll tone.
Angus shook his head. “Sad, that.”
“Come along now, dear,” Ainsley said. “It’s time you had a little fun.”
As she towed him off, Kade threw a dirty look over his shoulder at his brother and grandfather. Of course they were having a good chuckle at his expense.
“Good God,” he muttered.
“You work too hard, Kade. If you won’t dance with Charlotte—although for the life of me I cannot deduce why not—then there are other pretty girls who will fit the bill. I’m going to make sure you relax and enjoy yourself, even if it kills you.”
“Then just shoot me now and get it over with.”
Ignoring his absurd comment, Ainsley hauled him off to his fate.
* * *
Kade danced two sets of country dances, made polite conversation with three sweet but excitable girls and their even more excitable mothers, and dodged Lady Constance when she tried to lure him into a curtained alcove. After that last episode, he informed Ainsley that he was retiring to the music room and insisted that, under pain of death, she was to keep his whereabouts a secret. His sister-in-law merely rolled her eyes before sauntering off to find Royal.
As he turned into the wing leading to the music room, he exhaled a sigh of relief. This part of the manor was blessedly quiet, with only a few lamps to light his way toward the back of the house. He would have the room to himself and the peace he needed to work.
But when he strode through the door, he saw someone who’d also taken flight from the ballroom—in this case, a Highland Cinderella.
Charlie was curled up on the velvet sofa next to the open French doors, which let in the garden-scented night air. Her shoes had been discarded in the middle of the floor, and she was reading by the light of one lamp. Its soft glow made her hair gleam like gold and her silk gown shimmer like moonlight. Away from the lamp and a branch of candles on top of the piano, the rest of the room melted into shadow.
Not wishing to startle her, Kade cleared his throat.
Charlie glanced over, then dropped her book on the cushions and started to scramble up. Then she froze, obviously remembering she wasn’t wearing shoes.
“Don’t get up,” he said. “It’s only me.”
He scooped up her shoes and brought them to her.
“Thank you,” she said, looking rather embarrassed. “How shocking to leave my shoes lying about. I just wasn’t expecting anyone.”
