Page 128 of The Highlander's English Bride

Now she was gone, and that was the way it needed to be.

Pull yourself together and get on with it.He needed a good, dangerous mission to keep his mind from the lass.

As he started up the steps, the door opened, and Grant appeared. “All right, laddie? You’re looking a bit fashed.”

“Just thinking.”

His twin lounged on the doorstep, a sly grin shaping his mouth. “Thinking of anyone in particular? A lady, perhaps?”

Graeme stopped one step below him. “No, and you can sod off with the rest of them if you even mention her name.”

For two days, his family had relentlessly pestered him about Sabrina. Nick and Angus had been the worst. His grandfather had sighed gustily, lamenting Sabrina’s impending departure and making annoying comments aboutmissed opportunitiesandlove’s labour’s lost, whatever the hell that meant. Nick had simply lectured, insisting that Graeme apologize for his rude behavior. Graeme had finally pointed out that Sabrina was avoiding him, so his family could just bugger off and leave him alone.

After that, everyone had.

“All right, then I won’t,” Grant replied. “Where’s Nick? I thought you went to the docks with him to see the great and glorious departure of our great and glorious king.”

“He stopped to see his banker on the way home. I decided to walk and have a think about the next steps on this blasted case. Just because the king is gone, it doesn’t mean it’s solved.”

Actually, Graeme had been in such a foul mood after discovering he wouldn’t have a chance to say good-bye to Sabrina that Nick had thrown him out of the carriage. Big brother had suggested that a long walk up the hill might encourage Graeme to cease acting like an addlepated chucklehead.

“Anything useful come to mind?” Grant asked.

“Not really. It’s not as if I have anything solid to go on.”

“Perhaps you might write to Lady Sabrina’s father. His lordship could give some guidance.”

“Not a chance. That man can’t stand me.”

“Then have Aden speak with him.”

Graeme snorted. “Lord Musgrave, did you know someone is trying to murder you, or possibly your daughter? Oh, and you might have smugglers on your lands, not to mention you’re a wee bastard for evicting your tenants.”

“I’m sure Aden can phrase it more elegantly.”

“Doesn’t matter if he serves it up on a gold platter. Besides, I doubt the old fellow even knows what’s going on up at Lochnagar. Man’s a complete ninny.”

Grant flashed a grin. “That’s no way to talk about your future father-in-law.”

“I’ll toss you down these blasted steps, laddie boy. I’m stronger than you are, don’t forget.”

His twin relented with a laugh. “Sorry. I shouldn’t be ribbing you.”

“Especially since yonSassenachhas set sail, ye ken,” Graeme dryly replied.

“We’ll see,” Grant cryptically replied.

Graeme frowned. “See what?”

“Never mind. If neither Musgrave nor Aden can help, there’s got to be something that will resolve this blasted nonsense.”

His twin was holding something back, and that was annoying. They had never held anything back from each other, though that had changed over the last few years.

Graeme had been the one holding back, and from all his family, not just Grant. It felt odd and wrong.

“I’m not sure what to do next,” he finally said. “Not something I enjoy admitting.”

“Aye, you never like to admit you might be wrong.”

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