Page 83 of Her Magnificent Mistake
“Welcome to Tostinham,” Hawk said, offering the newcomer his hand, and appreciating that none of them stood on formality. It was such a relief to not have to constantly be considering social niceties or worrying about who gets introduced first. “I’m glad to finally meet ye.”
Hunter snorted and rolled his eyes at his sister. “I feel as if I ken ye already, thanks to my sister. We call herGabbybecause she willnae shut up?—”
With a muffled shriek, his sister kicked him in the knee. Since he was wearing the Lindsay plaid, like Bull, Hunter made a show of hopping about and cursing as the others chuckled.
Hawk offered Gabby a slight bow. “Andye, Miss Smythe-Smath-Smootch, ye are welcome to Tostinham any time ye want.”
Bull clucked his tongue dismissively. “Gabby has agreed to take on more cases with us, since Marcia will be based here in Scotland. Hunter fought me on it, but I need a medic. Of a sort.”
“Because I dinnae want my baby sister putting herself in danger—” the other man began.
“Baby?” Gabby glared. “I am older than you! And Marcia taught me jiu-jitsu, so shut up!”
Hawk’s only sibling had been a cold and distant older brother, one he had grown less and less like over the years, and he had no childhood memories with his cousins. So he was surprised to discover that being surrounded by such chaos was…fun. While he was pleased Marcia had decided to take a smaller role in the Lindsay Group, Hawk was determined to welcome her family here at Tostinham as often as possible, and visit them at their homes as well.
Christ, what was he becoming—a family man?
Perhaps he was. He wanted Allie to grow older knowing she had the support and friendship of such a remarkable extended family. Speaking of whom… “Where’s Allie?”
Gabby nodded across the room to where a cluster of people were laughing together. “She is telling the story of how Rupert saved her—I swear, each time one of them retells that story, it becomes more epic.”
“I heard his whole arm was blown off,” Hunter deadpanned, “and he’s now wearing a prosthesis.”
Marcia nodded sagely. “The retelling also involves rather more snappy quips than I recall. In fact, I do not recall Rupert saying much after he was shot.”
She slipped her arm back through Hawk’s, and he held on tightly, knowing she still occasionally suffered nightmares from Artrip’s attack. So he hummed, trying to make light of the memory. “Rather more whimpering and moaning, as I recall.”
“Anyhow,” Gabby continued, “Merida asked a question, which led to another one, and now the two of them are looking at Merida’s painting supplies, I believe. Allie said she wanted to try her hand at capturing the beauty of Pook’s Glen.”
“They will be good for one another,” Marcia assured him quietly. “Merida is used to running wild at Hangcok Hill, but thanks to her mother, she knows how to be a perfect lady. Most of the time.”
“Rupert will be disappointed,” Gabby pointed out. “He has been attached to Allie’s side since we all returned to Tostinham.”
Hawk, knowing Allie had missed Rupert in equal measure, even as she claimed loudly that she had no interest in marriage, merely grinned.
Marcia, however, sighed dramatically. “Will we ever see the outcome of those two? I hope this does not drag out.”
“Ye mean, like over several volumes?” Hunter quipped. “Teasing us with a will-they or will-they-no’ conundrum over hundreds of pages, each episode never quite reaching a resolution? To be continued, sort of thing?”
As they all laughed, Hawk decided he liked this new member of his family very much. From what Marcia had told him, Hunter was as easy going and mischievous as Gabby was determined. Perhaps he’d like to visit Tostinham more often.
While the others joked, Bull shifted closer to Hawk and lowered his voice. “I shouldnae taint yer wedding day with bad memories?—”
“I would like any information ye could give us,” Hawk interrupted truthfully. His arm tightened around Marcia.
As Gabby and Hunter bickered about something which had happened years ago, which was evidently both—or neither—of their faults, Marcia nodded. “Did you hear from your contact?”
She’d told Hawk everything, once they were engaged, and he still couldn’t believe a royal princess was leading a spy ring.
Bull’s expression was serious as he explained. “She was certain her initial condemnation was correct.” Which meant a royal princess had thought Hawk guilty. “But luckily, Artrip kept meticulous notes and receipts.Receipts! For poison! For a special pillow!” Scoffing, Bull shook his head.
Marcia, however, shrugged. “We have often been surprised by what will trip up a criminal.”
“How about Marianne?” Hawk asked quietly. “Were ye able to speak with her?”
His cousin, Uncle William’s eldest daughter, would have been in line to inherit after Allie. And Artrip’s claim was damning.
Bull nodded solemnly. “Her Highness actually interviewed her personally. I had the impression yer cousin was considering it an honor…but whatever she confessed has the princess convinced of the truth, and Marianne is planning an extended visit to a friend in America.”
