She could hear voices below in the entrance hall. Ignoring them, she rested a gentle hand on Grant’s forearm. “What is it, my dear?”
He glanced past her, as if making sure they weren’t overhead. “You know that Nick was married.”
“Yes. I’m aware that the earl doesn’t like to speak of her loss.”
“That’s not the only loss he doesn’t like to speak about.”
“Go on.”
He seemed to debate with himself for a few moments before capitulating. “You’ll find out anyway, so I might as well tell you. Nick and his wife had a son—a little boy named Cameron.”
She stared blankly at him. Her brain couldn’t seem to catch up. “He died?”
“More than six years ago.”
Now it became clear. “About the time your brothers became estranged?”
He nodded as he cast an impatient glance over her shoulder. The voices in the hall were growing in volume. “Miss, I’ve got to get down there.”
“Very well, but just tell me . . . blast,” she muttered as Grant brushed past and ran down the stairs. She didn’t immediately follow, giving herself a moment to sort through all she’d just heard.
Despite the occasional flashes of genuine charm, Arnprior was a deeply somber man who carried a heavy weight of responsibility. Now she knew he carried a terrible weight of sorrow as well due to the death of both his wife and his son. Her heart ached for him, and for the rest of the family, who were all but drowning in painful secrets.
Victoria tucked a few stray hairs back into their pins and smoothed her lace cuffs, then took the stairs down to the entrance hall. Grant was probably correct—she should go back to her room and mind her own business. But she had no intention of abandoning Kade, or Lord Arnprior, for that matter.
In the center of the hall was a giant of a man dressed in breeches, boots, and a travel-stained greatcoat. Like all the Kendrick men, he was muscular and well built, but in this case exceptionally so. He topped the twins by at least two inches, and seemed even more brawny than the earl himself.
Kade had thrown himself into Logan’s arms and was all but swallowed up in the big man’s embrace. The twins and Angus hovered nearby, looking torn between excitement and apprehension. Several servants milled aimlessly and Taffy stood off to the side, dabbing a handkerchief to her eyes as she struggled to contain herself. The dogs added to the mayhem, tumbling about and adding to the din reverberating off the high rafters. With so much noise, it was all but impossible to hear voices.
The room was chilly, since the footmen, apparently as excited as the dogs, had forgotten to close the front door. Victoria hurried to shut the door, then sidled past the dogs and the servants to join the housekeeper.
Taffy gave her a watery smile. “Och, miss, we’re at sixes and sevens, what with Mr. Logan’s return home from Canada.”
Victoria leaned in close. “I take it no one was expecting him?”
“No.” The housekeeper gave her nose a quick wipe and then stowed her handkerchief up a sleeve. “Ye’ll be thinking I’m a silly nit for crying, but it’s been years since we’ve seen the lad. He’s been sorely missed, I can tell ye.”
“But not by the earl, I take it.”
Taffy shot her a wary glance. “What did Mr. Grant tell you?”
“Only that the earl and his brother are estranged. Oh, and that his lordship had a son,” she added. “That came as a bit of a shock.”
Taffy had the grace to look sheepish. “I’m right sorry for not telling you, lass. The laird doesn’t like us talking about the poor wee boy.”
“Or his wife or brother, apparently.”
The housekeeper raised her hands in a helpless gesture. “You have to understand how things were for the laird. First Lady Arnprior died so suddenly, and then—”
“Miss Knight,” Kade shouted over the noise. “Come meet Logan.” He waved excitedly at her from his brother’s embrace.
She smiled and waved back. “I’ll be right there.” She returned her attention to the housekeeper. “I take it that the earl is likely to be displeased about this development.”
“That, miss, is an understatement,” she said grimly. “Mr. Royal went to look for him and to try to prepare him.”
“Then might I suggest we at least try to enforce a little decorum before the earl arrives. This sort of upset is not likely to improve his already unhappy mood.”
“Right you are, miss. I’ll have tea brought to the family drawing room when things settle down.”
While the housekeeper set about restoring order among the servants and the dogs, Victoria made her way over to the family group.
Kade grabbed her hand. “Miss Knight, this is my brother Logan.” His eyes shone with excitement. “He’s been in Canada for over six years. And he’s apparently as rich as Croesus, which is rather fun.”
She dipped into a curtsy. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kendrick.”
“And you as well, Miss Knight,” he replied in a deep, resonant voice. He gave her a sweeping bow.
When he straightened, he towered over her, forcing her to peer up at him. She found herself looking into laughing blue eyes that were almost a match to the earl’s. In fact, Logan strongly resembled his brother, having the same rugged, handsome features and hair so dark it appeared blue-black.
Unlike the earl, however, he had an easy smile and a charming manner that suggested he was entirely at ease with the awkward situation. If Logan was worried about his older brother’s reaction to his sudden return to the ancestral home, he certainly didn’t display it.
“Kade, you neglected to tell me how pretty your new governess is,” he said. “No wonder you’re enjoying your studies so much. I might even ask Miss Knight to give me a few lessons too.”
Victoria blinked. Was he attempting to flirt with her in front of most of the family and half the servants?
The twins exchanged a disconcerted glance and even Angus looked nonplussed.
“Now, don’t ye be teasin’ the lassie,” the old man hastily said. “Miss Knight takes her duties verra seriously.”
“Yes, you mustn’t tease,” said Kade earnestly. “She’s a splendid teacher and an accomplished pianist. I’m very lucky to have her as my tutor.”
“Even better, since I love music. Will you play something special for me if I ask you very nicely?” he asked her.
When he punctuated that comment by giving Victoria a roguish wink, all she could do was gape at him. How could the man behave in so outrageous a fashion and under such fraught circumstances? She could only hope the earl wouldn’t expect her to try teaching Logan Kendrick how to behave with propriety. She already had her hands full with the rest of the family, and this new addition seemed like a particularly hard case.
Then again, it was possible that the earl would shoot his errant brother rather than attempt to reform his manners.
Suddenly the dogs stopped barking. At the same moment, Logan glanced beyond her, the rakish, charming smile fading from his features. She spun around to see the earl standing at the back of the hall, with Royal standing at his shoulder.
Her heart sank as she absorbed the cold fury that shimmered in the atmosphere around Arnprior.
“Ah, Nick,” Logan said in a quiet voice. “There you are.”
The earl finally moved, prowling forward into the center of the hall with Royal a protective shadow behind him. Angus and the twins retreated a few steps, and even the dogs had the sense to slink away.
Victoria took Kade’s hand in a comforting grip. His fingers wrapped around hers, his gaze steady on the earl.
“Look, Nick,” the boy said in a bright voice, as if his good cheer could chase away the approaching tempest, “Logan’s finally come home.”
“So I see.” The earl’s voice was a soft but terrifying growl.
He and his brother sized each other up. The silence in the room was so fraught that the back of Victoria’s neck started to prickle.
“My lord,” L
ogan finally said, giving his brother a correct bow. His casual manner was now considerably more wary. “It’s good to see you again.”
Arnprior’s flat gaze clearly indicated he felt the opposite. Though Logan was indeed the bigger man, the earl’s imperious, almost menacing presence made everyone else in the room seem small by comparison.
“Is it?” the earl replied. “Because I find myself most displeased to see you again.”
When Arnprior finally smiled, Victoria almost fainted. It was the sort of smile a cold-blooded killer might give a man just before he stuck a knife between his ribs.
“In fact,” the earl added, “I suggest you leave my house while you still have the chance to do so in one piece.”
Chapter Thirteen
Nick had spent years clawing his way out of a black hole of despair, a brutal climb through paths of heartache, bloodshed, and discipline. Now he could feel himself slipping back again.
Logan.
His brother’s appearance was the final insult coming on the heels of the ugly scenes of yesterday. It felt like an awful, cosmic joke, one that said he had no control over his life.
Logan stared at him with a wary gaze. “Nick, just let me talk to you,” he said gruffly. “Let me explain why I’m here.”
“There’s nothing to explain. My son is dead because of you. There is no forgiving that.”
In the silence that gripped the hall, Nick heard Victoria gasp. He’d been so focused on Logan that he’d almost forgotten her presence. She stood beside Kade, holding his hand. She looked shocked, of course. Likely she hadn’t even known about his son.
When their gazes met, she pointedly raised her eyebrows in a clear warning. He told himself he didn’t care about her opinion, or anyone else’s. Not with Logan inside Kinglas, where Nick had forbidden him ever to step foot again.
“I’d do anything to change what happened,” Logan said. “You know I would.”
“The only thing you can do is get the hell out of my house before I take my boot to your arse,” Nick replied.
Kade wrenched free from Victoria and rushed forward. “That’s not fair. You know it wasn’t Logan’s fault.”
“He needs to go, Kade,” he said, ignoring the pleading note in the boy’s voice.
Anger flared in Logan’s eyes. “How long are you going to punish me, Nick? For the rest of our bloody lives?”
Nick was vaguely surprised to hear a snarl emerge from his throat. “You won’t have much longer to live if you don’t leave right now.”
“My lord, surely such threats are not necessary.” Victoria’s cool, clear voice cut through the haze in Nick’s brain, like a bracing gust off the loch dispelled a winter mist.
He glanced at her, narrowing his eyes.
“And your little brother is present, in case you’ve forgotten,” she added, not the least bit intimidated.
“Then I suggest you get him out of here,” Nick snapped.
She stepped protectively in front of Kade. “I should be happy to do so, sir, once I’m convinced that neither you nor anyone else is going to commit murder.”
Royal let out an exasperated sigh. “Don’t worry about that.”
“Maybe she should,” Logan said with an ugly laugh. “Because it looks like I’ll have to beat some sense into my brother’s thick Scottish skull.”
The servants let out a collective gasp. Logan had never known when to keep his mouth shut, or show a reasonable amount of deference. Years of exile had clearly not made a difference in that respect.
“Here, now. Ye’ll be showing more respect to the laird,” Angus said in a shocked voice.
Nick flashed him a smile that was all teeth. “Never mind, Grandda. I was always able to take him. He’s clearly forgotten that.”
His brother’s gaze turned as flinty as slate. “I think you’ll find things have changed, brother.”
“Excellent,” Nick drawled. “Shall we give it a go?”
He started to move but jerked to a halt when Victoria slipped in between them. She pressed a slim hand to his chest.
“My lord,” she said quietly, “you are not thinking clearly.”
“Nick, please listen to her,” Kade said in an anguished tone.
Nick tore his focus from her calm face and glanced over at his little brother. Kade was now clutching Royal’s arm, his mouth pressed into a quivering line. Royal grimaced and jerked his head toward the boy, clearly asking Nick to stand down.
When Nick glanced back down at Victoria, he saw understanding and compassion in the depths of her cornflower-blue gaze. He felt something give way, as if a physician had lanced a boil. But left behind was a weariness that dragged at his soul—and a pain he knew would never fade.
His little governess carefully patted his chest, as if trying to soothe a half-wild animal. He couldn’t help but note the irony. On the battlefield, he’d always considered himself a civilized man, one who avoided wanton cruelty and brutality whenever possible. But now he still had to fight the urge to throttle his stupid brother.
“Are you all right, my lord?” Victoria asked.
“I’m fine,” he said curtly.
When her hand fell away and she stepped back, he had the feeling he’d just lost something vital.
“I’m relieved to hear that, my lord,” she said. “This sort of scene is not helpful to Kade’s recovery.” She flashed an imperious glare around the room, taking in his entire family. “The last few days have been exceedingly hard on him.”
When Angus and the brothers—including Logan—exchanged sheepish glances, Nick felt a little more of the poison inside him drain away. Every inch the governess in her neat brown dress and prim white collar, Victoria was fearless in her defense of Kade. His brothers could easily hoist her in the air with one hand, and yet she’d reduced them to shuffling their feet like naughty schoolboys.
She was simply . . . wonderful.
“I quite agree with you, Miss Knight,” Nick said. “And I apologize for my role in those unfortunate events. I suggest you take Kade upstairs so as to avoid any more upset.”
Kade threw him a defiant scowl. “I’m old enough to be part of any family discussion, Nick. And I’m not leaving until you promise not to hurt Logan.”
Logan’s anger had abated as well, and he now stood watching Nick with a sort of relaxed wariness, an easy smile lifting the corners of his mouth. Before tragedy had pulled their family to pieces, his brother had always believed that the world was a wonderful place indeed, full of beautiful women, fine whisky, and good cheer. He wondered if Logan still believed that.
Kade reached out and tugged on his waistcoat. “Nick, promise me.”
He forced a smile. “Lad, have you looked at Logan? He must outweigh me by more than two stone. He’d probably flatten me.”
“Too right,” Logan said, his smile stretching into a taunting grin.
“Stow it, you idiot,” Royal growled. “This is no time for jesting.”
“Why not?” Logan asked. “This is something of a farce, after all. We even have a pretty heroine to complete the scene.”
When he winked at Victoria, Nick’s desire to murder his brother flared hot again.
“I asked you not to tease Miss Knight,” Kade said. “It’s disrespectful, and she doesn’t deserve it.”
Logan winced. “Sorry, lad. I’m a bit off my feed, I suppose. It isn’t every day that a fellow returns to the ancestral home.”
“I understand, and I forgive you,” Kade said with touching dignity. “Now, please apologize to Miss Knight, as well.”
Nick didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. His little brother was putting them all to shame.
Logan gave Victoria a short bow. “Please accept my apologies for my unfortunate behavior, ma’am.” Then he flashed the rueful, charming smile that had been the downfall of many a Highland maid. “It’s simply that—”
“Apology accepted, Mr. Kendrick,” Victoria interrupted in a brisk tone. She clearly had Logan’s measure.
>
Nick ruffled Kade’s hair. “Go upstairs with Miss Knight, lad. I’ll come up in a bit.”
The boy flicked a worried gaze between Nick and Logan.
“Och, no need to worry,” Logan said. “We’ll just curse and shout and probably throw a few breakables, but that’s it.”
“You both promise?” Kade asked suspiciously.
“We promise, imp,” Nick said. “Now off you go.”
His little brother dashed over to give Logan a quick, fierce hug. “You’ll come see me before you go?”
“I promise, Kade.”
Logan’s reassuring smile fell away as soon as Kade turned his back. With a somber expression, he watched his little brother climb the stairs with Victoria.
Nick was furious with Logan for returning to Kinglas, but he was well aware of what exile had cost his brother. No matter his success in Canada, he’d lost the chance to see Kade and Braden growing up. He’d lost his family, the Highlands, and the home he loved above all else.
Nick ruthlessly snuffed out the flicker of sympathy. His brother didn’t deserve forgiveness. Logan was a constant, wrenching reminder of everything Nick had suffered and lost. To have him back at Kinglas was unacceptable.
He glanced around the hall. Once again, they had a large audience for another epic family brawl. “Taffy, I do believe today’s performance is concluded. The staff may return to their duties.”
The housekeeper gave a quick curtsy. “Aye, Laird. Shall I have the tea tray brought up?”
“That won’t be necessary. Mr. Kendrick will not be staying long.”
Logan’s face tightened. “Are you truly not going to hear me out?”
“I can tolerate a brief discussion, but I’ll be damned if I’ll sit about drinking tea with you, pinkies extended. What I need is a damn whisky.”
“At last, we agree on something,” Logan said sardonically.
After the last few days, Nick needed more than drink. He needed to climb into the bloody bottle and live there.
The Highlander's Princess Bride Page 17