Page 99 of The Highlander Who Protected Me

“I bloody well didn’t ask him to come,” Royal protested. “Why the hell are you here, Grandda? It’s practically the middle of the night.”

“Och, it’s not that late,” Angus replied with a casual wave. “I’ve been here for at least a half hour, after a nice ride up from Glasgow. And that glad I am to be away from the stinkin’ city and back home.”

Royal felt like the top of his head was about to fizz up like an exploding squib. “Butwhyare you here?”

“I couldna sleep knowin’ that the little lassie would be missin’ her grandda. So here I am.”

“Oh, my God,” Ainsley repeated, sounding utterly appalled.

“Do Nick and Victoria know you rode up?” Royal demanded.

Angus hunched his shoulders and gave him a placating smile. “Dinna fash yourself, lad. I left them a grand little note to explain.”

“Grandda, this is ourweddingtrip.” Never had Royal been closer to throttling Angus than he was at this moment.

“Aye, that’s the point. I can watch out for Tira while ye and the missus have a wee bit of private time. Ye’ll hardly even know I’m aboot the place.”

Ainsley switched her Medusa glare to Angus. “You are so irritating.I’msupposed to be looking after my daughter, in case you’ve forgotten.”

“Aye, and ye can bloody well use all the help ye can get,” the old man retorted, “especially since the puir wee bairn is feeling poorly. I could tell Tira was off her feed before ye left. It’s no wonder I decided to follow ye.”

When Angus tapped the side of his nose, trying to look wise, Royal had to hold back a scoff. The excuse sounded like complete bollocks to him.

Ainsley went from irate to anxious in a matter of seconds. “What do you mean poorly? I was with her an hour ago, and she was asleep.”

“She’s not sleepin’ now. That’s why I came down to fetch ye.” He flashed her a toothy smile. “As ye say, yer her mother. I knew ye’d want to be with her.”

Ainsley picked up her skirts and pelted out of the room.

Sighing, Royal followed in her wake, Angus falling into step beside him.

“Is Tira really sick, or was that just an excuse to come to Kinglas?” he asked his grandfather.

Angus shrugged. “Probably just another tooth coming in, but ye never know.”

Royal shot him a dirty look. “One of these days, Grandda, Iwillkill you.”

Angus snorted. “Laddie, none of ye would know what to do without me, least of all yer new missus. Even for aSassenach, she’s bloody hopeless.”

Chapter Fifteen

Royal placed his daughter stomach-down on the tartan blanket spread out on the floor of the family parlor. “There you go, little one. Be a good girl for Mamma when she comes down, will you? Papa will get you some nice biscuits to chew on if you promise not to cry or spit up on her.”

Tira pushed herself up on her hands and knees and chortled, as if agreeing with him.

“She canna understand a word yer saying, laddie,” Angus said with an indulgent smile. “And she’ll be doin’ whatever she wants, whether her mother wishes it or no.”

Royal settled wearily onto the settee. He studied the tea service, set before him on the low, satinwood table, and thought about ringing for something stronger. But since he’d had three cups of coffee this morning and one after lunch, trying to clear his bleary head, it was probably best to stick with tea or else end up with a case of the jitters. Ainsley was already jittery enough for the both of them.

“If she’d stop her fussin’ and carryin’ on, we might have a little peace,” Angus said. “And mayhap a good night’s sleep, for once.”

“Who? Ainsley or Tira?” Royal poured himself a cup.

His grandfather, seated in his favorite old armchair by the hearth, snorted. “Tira is a wee angel compared to her high and mightiness, and ye know it.”

“What I know is that my wife is doing her best. If you don’t stop picking away at her, I will throw you out of Kinglas on your arse. You can walk back to Glasgow for all I care or go stay in one of the crofters’ cottages.”

His grandfather’s whiskers bristled with offended dignity. “Iamonly tryin’ to help. But yer wife acts like she’s the only one who knows what she’s doin’ when it comes to Tira.Andas if she’s more rights than the rest of us.”

---