“Oh, God,” Aden said with mock alarm. “I hope my wife doesn’t fleece them.”
“Is Vivien good at cards?” Victoria asked.
“You have no idea,” Aden said.
“Perhaps I’d better check on them.” Her aunt Rebecca, although a very sensible woman, was something of a gambler, though usually for low stakes.
“Don’t worry. Edie will keep an eye out,” Chloe said. “Your only job tonight is to enjoy yourself.”
“Yes,” Alec said. “You’re off duty for the night, Cousin.”
Kade came hurrying into the room and over to the table. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you, Victoria.”
She took his hand. “Do you need something, dearest?”
“No, but Nick is waiting for you outside the ballroom. He says you’re to stop hanging about with this group of reprobates and come talk to him.”
“Goodness,” Chloe said, “I hope he doesn’t include me in that description.”
Kade snapped his fingers. “Right. Nick said I was specifically to say that you are not a reprobate, Lady Hunter, and to beg your pardon.”
Chloe wiped her brow with exaggerated relief. “Thank goodness. But do tell your brother that this set of reprobates is actually very nice.”
“I think so too,” Kade said with a shy smile.
“After you deliver her ladyship to the earl, why don’t you come back and join us?” Aden said.
Kade’s eyes went wide. “Thunderbolts, I’d like that. Maybe you could tell me more about your adventures during the war?”
The boy had taken quite a shine to Victoria’s mysterious brother, something she found both touching and amusing. Aden had been incredibly kind to Kade, entertaining him with highly exaggerated stories of his prowess on the Continent. At least she hoped the stories were exaggerated.
She stood. “I’m sorry, everyone, but I must see what my husband wants.”
“Oh, I can hazard a guess what he wants,” Aden said.
“Please remember that children are present, my dear,” Chloe said in a firm tone.
“I’m not a child,” Kade protested.
“Of course not,” Chloe said without batting an eyelash. “I was speaking of Alec.”
“That’s me, innocent as a babe in arms,” Alec said with a grin. “Although, last night Edie and I—”
“I’ll see you later,” Victoria said, cutting him off.
“I like your family,” Kade said as she linked arms with him and walked out to the hall. “They’re jolly.”
“Almost as jolly as your family.” Victoria smiled at a few guests who were going into the card room.
“Not Royal, though. He’s even gloomier these days. But when I ask him, he always says nothing’s wrong.”
“I believe he’s missing his friend, Lady Ainsley,” Victoria said.
Ainsley had departed a few weeks ago for her great-aunt’s manor house up north. She’d refused to stay for the ball, despite pressure from Victoria and Edie. When Victoria asked Royal if he knew why she was in such a hurry, he’d scowled and said that Ainsley did whatever she wanted, whether it made sense or not.
“I thought he and Lady Ainsley hated each other,” Kade said.
“No, but they do seem to have a complicated relationship, don’t they?”
“Rather,” Kade said in a dry tone, sounding much older than his years.
“Where is Royal?”
“He’s in the ballroom with Graeme. Royal said that invalids have to sit together and keep each other company.”
Victoria mentally sighed. She would have to pay greater attention to Royal. The man was clearly suffering, and his brothers didn’t know how to help him. At the moment, neither did she, but she had no intention of letting that get in her way.
“You let me worry about Royal. I promise he’ll be fine.”
“I hope so,” Kade said. “It’s splendid that we’re all together again, and I want him to be happy too.”
“He will be, someday.”
“There’s Nick and Grandda,” Kade said when they reached the top of the central staircase.
Hearing his brother’s voice, Nicholas turned. Any worries Victoria had about Royal or the family faded under the warmth of her husband’s gaze.
“About time, my love.” Nicholas bent to press a quick kiss to her lips. “I’ve hardly seen you all evening.”
“Don’t be silly. It’s only been half an hour since we danced.” She went up on tiptoe to whisper in his ear. “But I’ve missed you, too.”
“The Kendricks are yer family now,” Angus said. “Yer the Countess of Arnprior, lass, and one of the finest ladies in the land. Yer place is by yer laird’s side, not hanging aboot with a bunch of frippery Englishmen.”
She almost choked at that description.
“Victoria’s family is very nice, Grandda,” Kade said.
“Indeed they are, and one can hardly describe Sir Dominic and Aden as frippery,” Nicholas said.
“I’m going back down to join them,” Kade said. “Why don’t you come along, Grandda?”
Angus expelled a much-put-upon sigh. “All right, lad, if that’s what ye want. I suppose I can put up with a few Englishmen for my lady’s sake.”
“Thank you, Grandda,” Victoria said, giving him a hug and a quick kiss on his whiskery cheek.
“None of that now, lassie,” he said gruffly. Still, he patted her on the back, and she could tell he was pleased.
“Another Kendrick male wrapped around your finger,” Nicholas said as they watched the old man and the boy clatter down the stairs.
She rested a hand on his broad chest, relishing the feel of hard muscle under fine silk and linen. “There’s only one Kendrick man I wish to wrap around anything.”
His gaze smoldered like molten silver. “I think we can safely say I am wrapped around your finger, and I can’t wait to be wrapped around the rest of your body, too.” He leaned in close. “While I’m deep inside you.”
“Hush,” she said, glancing around as her cheeks flushed with heat.
“Have I told you tonight how beautiful you look?” His gaze ran admiringly over her figure.
She smoothed a hand over the flowing skirts of her creamy-white dress. Since she’d not had a proper wedding, she’d allowed Edie to talk her into splurging on a beautiful and very expensive satin and lace ball gown. The look in her husband’s eyes as she’d come down the stairs before dinner had more than made up for the cost.
“You have, my lord.” She cast an appreciative eye over his kilted physique. “You’re looking rather splendid yourself.”
“We’d look even more splendid out of these fine clothes,” he said with a roguish smile. “Are you ready to slip away, my love?”
She blinked in surprise. “Isn’t it a bit too early?”
“No one will miss us.”
“But it’s our party,” she said with a laugh as he started to gently pull her down the hall.
“I asked Logan and Grandda to play host. In fact, Logan asked me what I was doing hanging about instead of carrying you off to bed.”
She wrinkled her nose. “He didn’t.”
“He certainly did. So, what do you say, my love? Shall we sneak off and leave our guests to their own devices?” His gaze was alight with love and laughter. To know she’d helped Nicholas find happiness again made Victoria’s heart fill with joy.
And even though they’d been married for almost a month, she was eager to be alone with him. In fact, lovemaking with her husband had become rather an obsession for her.
She faked a yawn. “Now that you mention it, I am feeling rather fatigued. Bed sounds like an excellent idea.”
“Sassenach, I couldn’t agree more,” Nicholas said.
And then Victoria’s handsome laird swept her into his arms and carried her off to paradise.
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The Highlander's Princess Bride Page 39