Page 190 of The Highlander's Irish Bride

“I know, sweetheart.”

“I . . . I had to make up for how stupid I was. About everything.”

Grant’s heart ached for both Kathleen and her wee sister. “Och,” he said, “the man fooled all of us, ye ken. We were total nincompoops.”

David rose to his feet, looking grim. “He certainly fooled me. Sir Graeme, I cannot apologize enough for this disaster. I brought the snake into the garden.”

Graeme clapped him on the shoulder. “Hell, David, you’re as much a hero as Jeannie. You laid the bastard, er, your brother, out flat. I’ll see that you’re made a bishop after this.”

“Dear me,” said David, looking a bit scandalized by Graeme’s language. “That is very kind but certainly not necessary.”

While Graeme waved in two footmen and told them to secure the captain, Grant retrieved the literary bludgeon from where David had dropped it. When he read the title, he started to laugh.

“What is it?” Kathleen asked.

He held it up. “The book is Fordyce’sSermons to Young Women. Ironic, under the circumstances.”

“It’s such a heavy book. I pulled it out while you were all on the floor,” David said.

Kathleen gave him a grateful smile. “It was very well done, sir.”

“I couldn’t let my brother hurt you, Miss Calvert,” he quietly replied. “Or any of you.”

Grant extended a hand. “Thank you, sir. I will forever be in your debt.”

David gave him a rather shy smile and returned the handshake. “You’re most welcome, Mr. Kendrick. It’s the least I could do.”

He looked sadly at his brother as the footmen carted the captain away. “What happens now?” he asked Graeme.

“He’ll have to spend the night in the cellar. Then I’ll bring him to the authorities in Inverness tomorrow. And we might yet run the rest of the gang down. At the very least, there will be warrants out for them.”

David nodded. “I understand. Would you mind if I stayed with John tonight? I know he’s a dreadful man, but he’s the only brother I have.”

“Of course not,” Graeme kindly said. “We’ll have to keep him tied up, but I’ll try to make things as comfortable as possible for the both of you.”

Jeannie pulled out of Kathleen’s embrace and shyly approached the vicar.

“Sir, I’m sorry for all the trouble I caused,” she said. “I’m sure I must have seemed very silly to you. Of course you could never love me.”

David’s smile was infinitely kind. “That is only because you’re still quite young, my dear. I am very fond of you, and of your sister. But sometimes things don’t work out just as we would wish. That can be sad and disappointing, but it doesn’t mean the end. You have many things to look forward to, Jeanette. I foresee much good in your future.”

The girl awkwardly shrugged. “I know, but . . .”

The vicar held up a finger. “You have your dear sister. She loves you very much, and that is splendid.”

“And you have us Kendricks, Jeannie,” Grant said. “We love you very much, too.”

Kathleen flashed him a grateful smile.

“There now,” David said to Jeannie. “What could be better than having a family who loves you?”

“I am lucky,” she solemnly replied. “But I’m also very sorry about your brother.”

David sighed. “Me too.”

Graeme tactfully cleared his throat. “Vicar, if you’ll come with me, I’ll get you set up. And perhaps you’ll take a wee dram of whisky, just this once? I’m sure you could use it.”

“I think I will, Sir Graeme.” Then David gave Kathleen a courtly little bow. “Miss Calvert, please know that you have my best wishes for your happiness. And for your sister’s, as well.”

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