Page 71 of The Highlander's Kilted Bride
“So do I, pet.”
Charlie suddenly glanced at Kade. Her lips were compressed into an irritated line, but she now seemed to have full control over her temper. She was, in fact, the calm eye of the storm.
“This is such utter nonsense,” she said.
Then she stalked from the room, and because of the general uproar, no one seemed to notice but Kade and Tira.
“I think you should go after her, Uncle Kade,” Tira said.
“Right as always, lassie. You stay here and report back to me later.”
She gave him a salute. “Aye, aye, sir.”
Kade pushed back his chair and strode after Charlie. Exiting the dining room, he saw her whisk around the corner of the hall. He caught up with her just as she was about to fling open one of the doors that led out to the gardens.
“Mind if I join you?” he asked. “It was getting rather fraught in there. Not good for my nerves.”
“Yournerves? You’re not the one whose father is trying to auction you off to the highest bidder.”
“Sorry to contradict a lady, but it seems rather the opposite,” Kade said as he followed her out onto the terrace.
She huffed. “Sadly true. He’s trying to bribe someone—anyone—to take me off his hands.”
“He did stipulate eligible gentlemen only.”
Charlie stopped short at the path that wound through the flower beds. “Are you intentionally trying to annoy me, Mr. Kendrick? If so, I will regret having left my oyster fork in the dining room.”
Kade held up his hands. “Sorry, lass, but I couldn’t help teasing. The whole thing is farcical.”
Her lips twitched into a reluctant smile. “You’re right. It is a farce. The only question is why my normally level-headed father came up with the deranged notion. I’ll admit that I am rather outrageous on occasion, but this does seem an overreaction to events.”
“It is odd, indeed.”
“Mamma and Melissa have been endlessly pestering him to do something, so that’s part of it. Then I suppose he got the idea from Sir Leslie’s stupid suggestion.” She gazed out into the garden, now softly shrouded in evening shadows. “I’m so sorry that you and your family were subjected to such a foolish scene.”
“Don’t be. Scenes are a Kendrick specialty.”
She started down the path. “I suspect that Kendricks do not descend into hysterics.”
“Only because Angus would run us through with a dirk.”
“His intervention just now was very colorful.”
“Aye, he’s a wonder. But truly, Charlie, I hope you’re not too upset. Your father surely does not intend to go through with that mad scheme.”
“I’m afraid he does,” she ruefully replied. “Once he makes up his mind, he tends to bull ahead.”
“But hecannotforce you to marry.”
She waved a hand. “Of course not. But what this harebrained idea will do is bring more suitors to our doorstep, andthatmy mother will approve of. She’ll natter at me endlessly, driving me quite mad.”
“And let’s not forget Melissa and her poor nerves.”
“Oh, Lord. Poor Colin.”
“He married her, so he can’t give her back. That must be a great comfort to your parents.”
She laughed. “You are a very bad man, Mr. Kendrick.”
