The Highlander's Princess Bride

by Vanessa Kelly

  “It’s nothing.” Royal’s voice was tight, and his eyes looked weary and shadowed.

  “I can send for the surgeon, if you like.”

  “That old sawbones is useless.”

  “Very well. But don’t overdo it today. You’ll destroy that leg if you’re not careful.” Nick ignored Royal’s scowl and returned his attention to Alec. “Then we’ll present a united front to Miss Knight when she comes down?”

  “For God’s sake,” Royal said, “isn’t it time to give up this mad scheme to turn us into a pack of bloody debutants?”

  “Not to stir up the pot, Arnprior,” Alec said, “but why are you so determined to pretty up your brothers? They come from one of the most distinguished families in Scotland, so I’m sure they’re capable of making respectable marriages.”

  “What if some of us don’t want to get married?” Royal said sharply.

  Alec shrugged. “Then I expect you could all take up a profession. Make yourself useful instead of twitting governesses and pretending to be witless boors.”

  “The twins were just acting up to prove a point,” Royal said. “And you’re correct. If Nick would leave us alone, we’d figure something out.”

  Nick knew that wasn’t the case. “Royal, I know you don’t want to hear this, but your military career is over. You need to accept that.”

  “I was a good soldier, one of the best in our regiment,” he snapped. “It wasn’t my fault I was wounded.”

  “Of course it wasn’t. And what happened to you was incredibly unfair,” Nick said quietly. “As it was for many men.”

  “There is life after the military, Royal,” Alec said. “A good life, if you put some effort into finding it.”

  “That’s easy for you to say, Gilbride. You’re heir to a bloody rich earldom. I’m a younger son—just one of several. I don’t know how to do a damn thing except be a soldier, and my brothers know even less. That’s why Nick’s so keen to marry us off to wealthy wives. We’re not good for anything else.”

  Alec threw Nick a troubled glance. “Surely some of the lads could take up a profession. Make something of themselves.”

  “It seems not,” Nick said. “With the exception of Braden, who wants to be a physician, none of my brothers has shown any interest in the law, business, or even estate management. And God knows the Church is out.” He shook his head. “Could you imagine either of the twins as a minister? They’d probably ruin half the girls in the congregation.”

  It was only by some miracle that Graeme had yet to impregnate one of the village girls and get murdered by an irate father. Nick had been forced to put the fear of God into the twins, threatening to permanently run them off Arnprior lands if they so much as thought of taking advantage of one of the local girls.

  As for the local gentry, they already viewed his brothers as unacceptable mates for their daughters.

  “I see the problem,” Alec said.

  “Especially for poor Nick,” Royal said. “And he’s stuck with us for the foreseeable future since none of us can support ourselves.” He gave Nick a rueful smile. “I truly am sorry about that.”

  “No, I’m sorry. I’ve failed all of you.” He’d failed his entire bloody family, including his wife and little boy.

  Even Logan, the brother he’d once been closest to, had run away after Nick all but killed him. Overcome with self-hatred and guilt, Nick had then fled too, joining the army. He’d abandoned his family when they needed him most.

  “You did your best for us,” Royal said. “None of us ever blamed you. Never that.”

  In fact, they’d all worried about him, instead. Royal had even followed him into the army, largely to keep an eye on him. If not for that, Royal would have stayed at Kinglas, safe from the war that would rob him of his innocence, his health, and perhaps his future.

  Nick shook off the despair that was his daily companion. “Nonsense. As the head of this family, I am responsible for all of you. That means you and your brothers will do exactly as I say. You will submit to Miss Knight’s direction and hopefully become respectable gentlemen who give honor to the Kendrick name instead of pulling it into the damn gutter.”

  His brother rolled his eyes. “Bloody hell, you never give up.”

  “I’ll never give up on you, you idiot,” Nick said with a wry smile.

  “May I suggest we defer further argumentation until Miss Knight gives us her answer?” Alec said. “That should be momentarily, if I’m not mistaken.”

  Because Royal had left the door open, Nick could hear the murmur of voices in the hall before a determined set of feminine footsteps approached the library. A moment later Miss Knight sailed into the room, looking ready to fire all guns. It would be a broadside, from the scowl on her pretty face, a cannonade aimed right at him.

  Chapter Seven

  Victoria almost stumbled when she confronted three sets of intent male gazes. Once again, she’d been caught flat-footed.

  It was the right decision to leave Castle Kinglas, but it was never a pleasant thing to admit defeat, especially when doing so would disappoint those trying to help her. Victoria hated disappointing people, and she hated giving up. She had no desire to engage in what was sure to be a humiliating discussion in front of witnesses, even if one was Alec.

  The gentlemen rose from their seats, and Alec gave her a warm smile.

  “Good morning,” he said. “Why don’t you join us for a cup of coffee?” He glanced at the large coffee service. “As you can see, his lordship has been expecting us.”

  The earl stood quietly behind his desk, regarding her with an unnerving, calculating gaze.

  Blast.

  He wasn’t going to make it easy on her, even though she had a stack of objections that, if written down, would be a foot high. Enumerating all those objections—and her reluctance to deal with them—would be embarrassing enough in private.

  “I beg your pardon for the interruption, Lord Arnprior,” she said, edging backward toward the door. “I can return later after your business with Captain Gilbride and Mr. Kendrick is concluded.”

  “Miss Knight, you are the business under discussion,” the earl said, a growly note coloring his voice. “Please join us.”

  The shadows under his eyes and his unshaven jaw gave him an unexpectedly rakish and arrogantly masculine appearance. That she found it a dangerously appealing look was a disturbing discovery.

  It’s just your nerves, you nitwit.

  Lord Arnprior was not the sort of man she normally found attractive. “Thank God,” she muttered.

  “What was that, Miss Knight?” the earl said.

  “Only that I’m sorry I interrupted you, my lord. Again, I’ll be happy to return later.”

  “Nonsense. We need to have this discussion immediately, and it makes perfect sense for Captain Gilbride to remain.”

  He flicked a covert glance at Alec, who continued to regard her with a deceptively innocent expression, as if they were all at a jolly little tea party. Victoria had the distinct impression that the men were conspiring to manipulate her. Well, except for Royal, who simply looked bored.

  “Arnprior thought you’d be more comfortable with me here,” Alec said. “We’re just going to have a little chat about the situation and see how we can improve things.”

  Oh, dear. Her cousin had clearly gone over to the other side.

  “Situation?” she inquired politely. “Would that be the circus troupe that performed underneath my window last night?”

  Alec winced and Arnprior looked even more annoyed.

  Royal, however, chuckled. “I heard there was something of a ruckus in the courtyard. So sad that Taffy had to move you to a bedroom in the tower. It’s always much quieter in the east wing of the house.”

  The earl slowly turned, his gaze narrowing to ice blue slits as he stared at his brother. Royal shrugged, but a flush crept up the young man’s cheeks.

  Arnprior’s attention came back to her. “That is one of the topics I’d like to d
iscuss with you, Miss Knight.” His mouth edged up in a rueful smile. “And apologize for. It seems I’ve had to do that quite frequently over the last twenty-four hours.”

  “I assure you, sir, I am not keeping count,” she replied graciously. So far, he’d apologized at least four times, and she might have missed one or two.

  His skeptical look suggested he realized that she was, in fact, keeping count. That was rather embarrassing.

  “That is most kind of you,” he finally said. “Now, do sit and join us for a cup of coffee. I’m sure you can use it.”

  That was true.

  Alec came to escort her to one of the leather club chairs. Arnprior’s library, while not large, was well organized with inset, glass-fronted bookshelves that carried an impressive number of volumes. The walls were painted a deep burgundy, and the fireplace boasted a beautiful and elaborately carved granite surround topped with a handsome timepiece in dark polished wood.

  The centerpiece of the room was the earl’s desk, an impressive piece of cabinetry with medieval-looking carvings on the legs and across the front. Ledgers and papers were stacked in neat piles on its leather-bound surface, hinting of the earl’s active role in estate business. The room seemed a reflection of its occupant—a serious man who kept close watch over everyone and everything in his domain.

  The rather somber atmosphere was lightened by the view of the loch out bay-fronted windows. That view was compelling, with white-crested waters, and craggy hillsides covered in bright autumn foliage rising up on all sides. Sunlight streamed into the room, making the dark red walls and polished floorboards glow with warmth. If she were alone, Victoria would be tempted to sink down on the comfortable-looking chaise in front of the window and allow herself to be lost in the beauty of water, hills, and sky.

  Then again, within a matter of weeks the winds would howl and snow would pile up around the high castle walls. Then she’d be trapped for months with demented strangers. Not that she would call Lord Arnprior demented, but spending the winter in close quarters with him was not a comfortable prospect for reasons she had no intention of admitting to anyone.

  “All right, lass?” Alec murmured.

  She nodded.

  “Good,” he said. “And you’re not to worry. We’ll figure it all out.”

  Victoria eyed her cousin with suspicion as she sat down in the club chair in front of the desk, but he refused to meet her eye.

  She took the cup of coffee the earl offered her. When their hands touched, her insides skittered and her cup rattled. The earl, blast him, raised an ironic eyebrow, which she did her best to ignore—even though she was tempted to scowl at his arrogance.

  The coffee, blessedly hot and strong, gave her a needed jolt. Arnprior and Royal resumed their seats, while Alec propped a shoulder against a bookshelf. She couldn’t help feeling a bit abandoned, although she knew that was silly. Alec might try to persuade her to take the position, but he would never attempt to force her.

  The earl lounged back in his chair, lacing his hands across his flat stomach. “I take it you’ve reached a decision, Miss Knight.”

  She set down her cup on the corner of his desk. “I have, my lord. As much as I regret doing so, I find I must turn down your kind offer.”

  Royal let out a snort. “Regret escaping from our circus, as you called it? I highly doubt it. You’d be an idiot for staying, and I don’t think you’re an idiot, are you?”

  Victoria almost gaped at his appalling display of honesty. If she did stay—which she wouldn’t—she’d certainly have her work cut out teaching him proper manners.

  Arnprior simply gave her a shrug and a polite smile.

  Well. Two could play at that game.

  “You are correct, sir,” she said to Royal with a polite nod. “But I did not wish to give offense by stating how I truly felt about his lordship’s offer of employment.”

  “Your feelings on the matter are already quite clear, Miss Knight,” the earl said. “After all, you did label my family a circus.”

  She’d walked right into that one.

  “I beg your pardon, my lord,” she said as heat crawled up her neck. “I am not myself this morning. Last night obviously unsettled me more than I realized.”

  His eyes gleamed with sudden amusement. They really were the most extraordinary shade of blue, deep and yet clear, like ice on a mountain lake. He had the eyes of a Viking, perhaps a Nordic ancestor who had crossed the frigid seas of the north centuries ago, bent on plunder and conquest.

  “I think we can also agree that ‘unsettled’ is an understatement,” he said. “And ‘circus’ fits quite handily as a description.”

  “Perhaps next time you could sell tickets,” Alec suggested.

  “There won’t be a next time,” Arnprior said. “Miss Knight, if last night’s unfortunate events caused you to decline my offer, I would ask you to reconsider.”

  “Forgive me, my lord,” she said, “but I don’t think you can guarantee that a similar commotion will not occur again.”

  “Trust me,” the earl said in a cool voice. “My brothers will do as I tell them, or suffer the consequences.”

  She stiffened. “I don’t want them to suffer any consequences. Not on my behalf.”

  Royal snorted. “He’s not going to beat us or throw us in the dungeon, Miss Knight.”

  “Actually, I considered the dungeon,” the earl said.

  Royal ignored him. “No, my sainted brother will simply scowl and lecture, and convey a great sense of disappointment until he has us begging for mercy. Or else he’ll scold us until my brothers and I throw ourselves off the castle battlements. Problem solved.”

  “Thank you for that charming depiction of my character,” Arnprior said. “I’m sure you’ve done much to convince Miss Knight to stay.”

  Royal smiled. “You’re welcome.”

  A muscle ticked in Arnprior’s jaw as he quite evidently ground his molars. Victoria couldn’t help feeling sorry for the poor man. He was trying to do his best for his family, and they were fighting him every step of the way.

  Still, that was not her problem.

  “Forgive me for speaking bluntly, my lord,” she said. “But I believe Mr. MacDonald will do everything he can to undermine me, and at least some of your brothers appear greatly influenced by him.”

  “She’s got you there, Arnprior,” Alec said from his corner. “Old Angus will drive you all crazy if she stays.”

  The earl shot him a nasty look. “You’re supposed to be helping me, remember?”

  “He is, is he?” Victoria wasn’t surprised but couldn’t help feeling annoyed.

  Arnprior nodded. “Captain Gilbride feels it would be in everyone’s best interests—including yours—if you were to take up the position.”

  She glanced over her shoulder to glare at Alec, who was looking sheepish. “I didn’t put it quite like that,” he said.

  “I should hope not, since it’s not your decision to make,” Victoria said.

  “No, but his advice is worth noting,” Arnprior said. “And following.”

  “My lord, it is not up to you or my cou—” She caught herself just in time. “It’s not up to you, Captain Gilbride, or anyone else to decide what is best for me.”

  The earl’s gaze narrowed thoughtfully. When he finally lifted a hand in a dismissive gesture, she could breathe again.

  “Of course,” he said. “But we don’t always know what is truly in our best interests, do we?”

  She stared at him, amazed by his casual assumption that he would know what was best for her. Arnprior’s response to her stare was a slight but infuriatingly arrogant smile.

  “Best give it up, lass,” Royal said, looking sympathetic. “When Nick decides on something, you might as well surrender. He generally takes the field no matter the odds.”

  “I am hardly a battlefield, Mr. Kendrick,” she snapped. “Nor do I have any intention of surrendering anything.”

  “Well, since you are neither a battl
efield nor an opposing army,” the earl said, “there is no need for surrender. I think we can, however, have a reasonable conversation about the advantages of taking up a position in my household, can we not?”

  Argh. The blasted man would not give up.

  Victoria rose to her feet. “No, my lord, we cannot. Please accept my apologies, but I must definitively state that I cannot—”

  When a knock on the door interrupted her, she was tempted to pick up her cup and throw its contents at Arnprior—or Alec, or Royal, or any other stubborn, arrogant man who came within throwing distance.

  Mrs. Taffy bobbed a curtsy. “Begging your pardon, but Mr. Braden and Master Kade are here. The footmen are helping the wee master into the entrance hall.”

  The earl was already striding around his desk.

  “What the hell are they doing here so early?” Royal said, hauling himself up. “Surely to God they didn’t travel through the night. Not with Kade still so weak.”

  “We’ll soon find out,” Arnprior said. He paused at the door. “Forgive me, Miss Knight. We’ll have to finish this discussion later.”

  “My lord, I believe you already know . . . oh, blast,” she muttered as he disappeared. To her mind, the discussion was over but Arnprior was clearly not ready to concede. She would probably have to sneak out to the stables and pole up the horses herself in order to make good her escape.

  Royal limped to the door. “Come along, Miss Knight. You might as well meet the pupil you’re going to abandon.”

  She stared at him in disbelief. “Excuse me, but I thought you wanted me gone.”

  Royal shrugged. “I’m fine with you teaching Kade. I simply don’t want you teaching me.” Then he followed his brother out of the room.

  Victoria pressed a hand to her forehead. “The Kendricks are all quite mad, if you ask me.”

  “No more than the average Highlander,” Alec said, coming to join her.

  She glowered at him. “I thought you were going to support me, no matter what I decided.”

  “And I will. But if we can manage to sort Angus MacDonald out, I do think there are advantages to you remaining at Kinglas.”