Page 54 of The Highlander's English Bride

“Well, he’s here now,” said Royal, taking pity on Graeme. “Everyone will be thrilled, especially the children. They’re out for a drive with Angus, but should be home any minute.”

“Grand. By the way, where are Kade and Braden?” Graeme was eager to see his youngest brothers.

When Vicky and Nick exchanged a quick glance, Graeme’s heart jerked painfully against his ribs. Kade had suffered from ill health when he was younger. Had he fallen sick again?

“What’s wrong? Is Kade all right?”

“He’s splendid,” Vicky reassured him. “He and Braden are in Hanover for a few months, where Kade is studying with a violin master in Göttingen. Braden went along to take additional studies at the medical school. I wrote to you about that last month, remember?”

Graeme winced. “Vaguely.”

Royal made an exasperated sound. “You clearly are working too hard.”

“I’m just busy. And disappointed that I’ve missed them.”

Nick was right. Graeme had stayed away too long. His family loved him and worried about him, which was not surprising after all the losses the Kendricks had suffered over the years. He made a silent vow to do better by them, once he found the time.

“I’m here,” Ainsley said as she sailed through the door. “And that surely more than makes up for any lack of Kendricks.”

“Does not,” Graeme muttered as he dutifully bent to receive her embrace.

She gave him a jab before hugging him. “None of your nonsense, Graeme Kendrick. As your grandfather would say, yer nae too big for me to paddle yer bum.”

“I’m still not sure why you ever married this woman,” Graeme said to Royal.

Ainsley raised a dramatic black eyebrow. “Really?”

Graeme waggled a hand, although he couldn’t help smiling.

His sister-in-law was an extravagantly beautiful woman, with a figure guaranteed to stun any man not half-dead into speechless admiration. She’d certainly stunned Royal, who’d fallen into a fierce, though initially unrequited love within days of meeting her.

Ainsley also possessed a mind as sharp as a finely honed blade and a tongue to match. Her family nickname wasSassenach saucebox, and the description fit. Graeme wasn’t too proud to admit she’d once intimidated the hell out of him. On two occasions, he and Grant had climbed out a window to escape a scold from her. It was hilarious and ridiculous, now that he thought about it.

“You look like hell,” she said. “What’s wrong?”

“I just got off the mail coach. Everyone looks like hell then.”

“No, it’s more than that,” she countered. “I can always tell, so don’t deny it.”

She could, too, which was incredibly annoying.

“Leave the poor lad alone, sweetheart,” Royal said. “Although itisannoying that he felt obliged to travel on the cheap. Doesn’t St. George pay you enough?”

“No one ever got rich being a spy,” Graeme quipped.

“You’renota spy,” Vicky said with a scowl. “You’re an inquiry agent contracted to the Home Office on a temporary basis. My brother specifically promised there would benospying.”

Ainsley steered Graeme toward one of the chairs. “Sit down and finish your drink. The countess can give you a proper scold later.”

“Graeme, do sit on one of the sofas. They’re quite sturdy,” Vicky hastily said.

Argh.

“I haven’t broken any furniture in months.”

“Of course not.” Nick guided him toward the sofa.

“I am hardly the largest Kendrick, you know,” Graeme grumbled.

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